To better help desperate moms and dads who are seeking relief for children who suffer from countless seizures and to help many other Pennsylvanians who need relief from chronic illnesses, Sen. Judy Schwank today urged fellow lawmakers to finally adopt a bill that would legalize medical cannabis.
“One thing that I’ve learned after discussing this legislation over the past year is to never underestimate the power of a mother or father who wants to see a sick child get cured,” Schwank said to applause. “You really have been the reason why this legislation has moved as quickly as it has and is before us now.”
Sen. Schwank joined fellow Sens. Daylin Leach (D-Delaware) and Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) as the lawmakers reintroduced their proposal to allow plants containing cannabidiol, Tetrahydrocannabinol or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol acid to be used for medical purposes.
The new legislative vehicle to legalize the use of what has been called “Charlotte’s Web” is Senate Bill 3.
“This treatment is legitimate, its time has come, and our medical professionals ought to have the opportunity to prescribe it as they see fit for patients with many different kinds of illness,” Schwank said.
After visiting a medical marijuana dispensary in New Jersey last week, the Berks County Democrat said her understanding deepened on how Tetrahydrocannabinol works and how it can be supervised and managed.
“What I learned is the use of medical cannabis can be done legally similar to any other pharmaceutical,” Schwank said. “The chemical can be tracked from the growth stage all the way to dispensing. There can be state oversight, as required, to make sure that people are able to use this and … they get a safe dosage.
“I urge my fellow legislators, particularly in the House, to get this going as soon as possible,” Sen. Schwank concluded.
