Aug 19 Public hearing for medical marijuana bill scheduled - 8/11/10

[Derek Rosenzweig]

PA: Public hearing for medical marijuana bill scheduled
8/12/2010 - The Pennsylvania House Health and Human Services Committee will hold a satellite hearing on medical marijuana in Pittsburgh, PA on August 19, 2010.

HHS Committee Chair Rep. Frank Oliver issued a memo yesterday:

Please be advised that on Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. in the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health at 130 Desoto Street, Room G-23, Pittsburgh, PA 15320, there will be a public hearing on House Bill 1393.

Representative Mark B. Cohen introduced HB1393 and the first public hearings took place in Harrisburg last December. Residents living with chronic medical conditions, doctors, medical professionals and attorneys testified in favor of the bill. Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana (PA4MMJ) is a statewide non-profit advocacy group promoting passage of the bill. Patrick Nightingale Esq., a criminal defense attorney in Pittsburgh, serves on the Board of Directors for PA4MMJ and coordinates efforts in Western Pennsylvania.

Nightingale commented on the memo, "We at Pittsburgh NORML and Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana are thrilled to learn of the upcoming hearing. We have heard from dozens of current medicinal patients or potential medicinal cannabis patients - veterans, retired school teachers, young people, grandparents, professionals and blue collar workers - all united by the belief that marijuana can provide relief for their medical conditions."

Nightingale added, "We believe that passage of the Barry Busch Compassionate Use Act will greatly benefit the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania just as it benefits the citizens of 14 other states and the District of Columbia who's legislatures have enacted medicinal marijuana laws."

A Franklin & Marshall poll conducted recently shows that 80% of PA residents support the medical marijuana legislation.

The twenty-six-member House HHS committee includes HB 1393's sponsor Rep. Cohen and co-sponsor Rep. Tony Payton Jr.

Senator Daylin Leach introduced the companion bill, SB 1350, earlier this year. Senate committee hearings are expected in the fall, and Senator Jim Ferlo of the Pittsburgh area recently co-sponsored the medical marijuana legislation.

Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana will be holding rally events, information seminars and fundraisers across the Commonwealth to raise awareness for HB 1393 and SB 1350.

PA4MMJ welcomes the opportunity to put legislators and the media in contact with local patients and cannabis experts.

CONTACT: Pittsburgh: Patrick Nightingale pknlaw@mac.com 412-225-7959,  Philadelphia: Derek Rosenzweig  derek.rosenzweig@gmail.com 215-586-3483

[jackcat]

A hearing is good, but I believe the patients of Pennsylvania would be far better served having the legislature vote for passage while Rendell is governor.  Or, you may be faced with what is going on in New Jersey with those who are vying to replace him.  

this says the 19th.

http://stopthedrugwar.org/trenches/2010/aug/11/public_hearing_scheduled_medical

[Quietus]

Will there be a vote during this hearing?

[Derek Rosenzweig]

No, it's not a voting session. But, hopefully it will lead to one in the fall.

[ravenwing]

Well Hell it only took 9 months for another hearing ... I think that you should try to convince them that if Medical were to be put in effect TODAY, and had dispensaries lined up to open all over PA, and have, a say 10%-20% tax (city and state taxes) on it that it would take most of PA out of debit. Most of the Reps that would vote "No" don't understand that ! I would love to go the hearing, and give a piece of my mind to thous who think that Medical Marijuana is just another excuse to get marijuana on the streets, but alas I can not go. But please Derek, CHANGE THEIR MINDS about Medical Marijuana, PLEASE!!!

[nightwitch]

Medical marijuana has Colorado Springs seeing green. 

The June sales of the green leafy substance and marijuana-infused products like brownies generated nearly $51,500 in sales tax revenue. 

It's a record high -- and a 21 percent increase from the month before.  Still, it's a miniscule bit of the $10.5 million the city collected for all June sales. 

Since January 2009, the city has pocketed nearly $327,500 in sales tax revenue from the sale of medical marijuana and marijuana-laced products. 

Last year, the city collected $111,000.  So far this year, the city has collected nearly twice that amount. 

"I never thought that watching our local economy go up in smoke would be a good thing, but now I need to reconsider," mayoral candidate Buddy Gilmore said jokingly on Facebook. 

The jump in sales tax revenue may be tied to a June 30 deadline for medical marijuana businesses to register with the city.  Businesses had to certify "the timely remittance of sales tax."

But officials aren't ready to say whether that contributed to the 21 percent increase. 

"We need some time to confirm that it was because of the June 30th deadline," Candice Bridgers, the city's revenue and collections manager, said Thursday in an e-mail. 

"We had a number of prior period filings, and we want to check and see if they were from existing or new customers," she said. 

[blue802]

My Name Is Mary McKinney,I am 53 years old.In August. of 2007 I was diagnosed with Pramany Pertinal cancer,In January 2009 i was diagnosed with colon cancer and in remission as of now,I was told that i have a 20% chance of living after 56 months,On a Daley basis i suffer from severe noropthy in my hands and feet and in a lot of pain in my feet and back.I take 160 MG of Methadone every day for my pain and i smoke in between Marijuana.The only thing that really helps me is the Marijuana,I can eat much better and i feel much better,I pray that they legalize Marijuana and i may be able to stop taken the methadone,and my family will not be so scared about me growing a pot plant and getting a rested and losing our place to live.If i could only tell you how much better my life has been since i been smoking pot,I cant take sleeping pills or zanex for sleep because they keep me awake and i had a problem as a child with drugs,and i stay away from Zanex and sleeping pills,and i smoke pot before i go to bed .I may get up 2or 3 times a night but its much better then being up all night because i hurt so much.Pleas pass the law and let people like myself be able to smoke pot and not have my hole family living in fear of me getting a rested,Thank you for your help,Mary McKinney 267-934-2225

[jackcat]

Looks like great news for Pa Patients.  some heavy hitter coming up to bat!!! 

http://stopthedrugwar.org/trenches/2010/aug/17/doctors_police_will_support_medi

[nightwitch]

yes jack cole i sent Leap an email but have not seen a reply

[Derek Rosenzweig]

Yea between Philly and Pittsburgh we were able to pull together another great list of people this time.

[nightwitch]

nice work glad your working with pitts I'm a member of both now

[Derek Rosenzweig]

Pa rep. Quinn from doylestown is officially the first republican to cosponsor HB1393

[Derek Rosenzweig]

View the hearing live at 3PM at www.pa4mmj.org!

[nightwitch]

anybody watching ?

[BillG]

I'm watching, although the stream seems a bit glitchy.  It appears to be looping 16 minutes of video. Is it that way for anyone else, or do I have a problem on my end?