Pennsylvania Legalizes Medical Marijuana, Hopes To Curb Opioid Abuse Newsy
Pennsylvania Legalizes Medical Marijuana, Hopes To Curb Opioid Abuse Newsy
Pennsylvania became the 24th state to legalize medical marijuana. The bill breezed through the House and Senate last week. This law hopes to lower opioid abuse in the state.
Transcript:
On Sunday, Pennsylvania became the 24th state to legalize medical marijuana. Gov. Tom Wolf signed the bill into law after it breezed through the House and Senate last week.
Pennsylvanians will only be able to access the medicine if a doctor determines they suffer from a list of 17 conditions. Those conditions include cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, intractable seizures and severe chronic pain.
Some lawmakers hope marijuana will become a popular alternative to opioid painkillers to treat chronic pain. Opioid abuse is a big problem in the Keystone State. Pennsylvania had the ninth-highest rate of fatal drug overdoses in the U.S. in 2014.
A study from the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center found that “states with medical marijuana laws had a 24.8 percent lower average annual opioid overdose death rate compared to states without such laws.”
Former U.S. Marine Mike Whiter helped push for medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. After serving in Iraq, he was diagnosed with PTSD.
To fight that, doctors prescribed dozens of drugs that Whiter says nearly ruined his life. He credited marijuana with helping him recover.
“I was in such a bad place and I’m not there anymore. And I want to help other veterans get to where I am now,” he told WPMT.
With Pennsylvania’s newest law, medical marijuana is now legal in 24 states and Washington, D.C. But VA doctors still can’t officially recommend cannabis to patients since pot is illegal at the federal level.
Patients who do get access to marijuana in Pennsylvania won’t be able to smoke it. Instead, they’ll have to use a pill, oil, ointment or vaporizer. Lawmakers said it could take up to two years before the state’s marijuana system is up and running.
This video includes images from Getty Images and clips from WPXI and WPMT.
Sources:
WNEP
http://wnep.com/2016/04/17/medical-marijuana-legalized-in-pennsylvania/
WPXI
http://www.wpxi.com/news/pennsylvania-becomes-latest-state-to-legalize-medical-marijuana/222428390
Getty Images
http://www.gettyimages.com/license/98529926
Pennsylvania General Assembly
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2015&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=0003&pn=1690
Videoblocks
https://www.videoblocks.com/video/medication-bottle-full-of-medical-marijuana-dqo1h2c/
The Daily Item
http://www.dailyitem.com/opinion/medical-marijuana-may-decrease-drug-abuse/article_e1fff2e6-034f-11e6-96b9-8726a5648bdd.html
Getty Images
http://www.gettyimages.com/license/98049945
Getty Images
http://www.gettyimages.com/license/91997121
Getty Images
http://www.gettyimages.com/license/91997107
WPMT
http://fox43.com/2015/07/02/pa-veteran-aims-to-curb-suicide-through-medical-marijuana/
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Part 3 … So The doctors will tell chronic pain patients to take a hike as now they can get pot. Doctors HATE chronic pain patients. The state will tax you 40% for cannabis purchases. The chronic pain patients cant afford that and besides they don’t want to get stoned they just want some regular pain reduction and now all the good pain relieving pot has disappeared because the big money is in the THC. On top of all that they can no linger get adequate doses of opioids for pain relief because the feds have thrown them under the bus. SHEESH AMERICA .. SHAME ON US.
Part deux..When marijuana is legalized for recreational use the supply of high THC strains will drastically increase and the supply of good medical CBD strains will disappear. The high THC strains will knock a lot of people off kilter and many will be driving when it happens. No. It won’t affect them like alcohol and that is good but at freeway speeds when it happens you can bet there will be death and body crushing injuries.The promise of high CBD for chronic pain will virtually disappear. Be careful what you wish for. We will be reminiscing about the good old days when it was illegal but very available and affordable. Grow your own for personal use and keep government and for profit companies out if it. And for all of you stoners using chronic pain patients to get your way. Thanks but no thanks. Cont….
all my friends tell me these dope stories… so sad
Fuck this state…
What a fuckin joke I rather be able to smoke, eat and drink it
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Fuck this backward ass state I just want to buy shatter and nugs smoke a twax joint and chill without buying off some thug on a corner FUCK!!!
I was going to consider trying to replace my opioid prescription with medical marijuana if it would work for my pain until I found out the State Police would confiscate my firearms, including my hunting rifle. What’s wrong with this picture?
isnt vaporizing it the same as fuckin smoking it? if not pls expain
Stay out of Pennsylvania it is very corrupt. Let their people pay those crazy fees, but don’t buy the junk they dispense. They have a stranglehold as usual in this state. Pennsylvania is a failure. I live here I know!!!!! This state is filled with suited thieves.
http://triblive.com/politics/politicalheadlines/8832802-74/former-state-corruption
ARE WE REALLY THIS STUPID?! Okay , C’mon now Pennsylvania think this through. First we kindhearted people legalize marijuana for medical patients. What these chronic pain sufferers really need is good quality medical care and an appropriate and well monitored dosage of short and long acting opioids, monitoring and screening for risk of respiratory depression, which is the main cause of death by opioids, cognitive therapy, rest and safe regular physical activity that doesn’t make them worse and therapeutic massages by a qualified care provider. A good medical strain of CBD rich cannabis would also be very helpful, and it doesn’t get them stoned . Heck if you would just volunteer to do their dishes and laundry once or twice a week and mow the lawn you would help them more than doctors are. NOW THE BAD NEWS ABOUT LEGALIZING POT FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. The good strains of medical cannabis will disappear, because THEY DON’T GET YOU HIGH. cont.
still gonna smoke