Senate and House lawmakers have failed to take action on legislation to protect qualified patients who consume cannabis under a physician’s written authorization. The 2016 legislative session has now come to a close.
The proposed House measure, House Bill 584, would have permitted qualified patients to possess a 90-day supply of usable cannabis for therapeutic purposes. It also sought to allow for the licensed production and distribution of cannabis to authorized patients. Qualifying conditions included under this measure included cancer, HIV, Crohn’s disease, hepatitis C, seizures, post-traumatic stress disorder, and debilitating pain, among others.
The proposed Senate measure, Senate Bill 263, would have permitted qualified patients to possess 12 ounces of usable cannabis at the site where it is cultivated and 3 ounces elsewhere. It also sought to permit the cultivation of up to 24 plants (12 mature and 12 immature) for therapeutic purposes. Similar to the House legislation, it also sought to allow for the licensed production and distribution of cannabis to authorized patients and includes an expansive list of qualifying conditions.
NORML would like to thank those of you who contacted your lawmakers and urged their support for this legislation.
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns
