I thought this response from Daylin Leach on a recent article was insightful and wanted to share it: As one of the prime sponsors of the bill, I can say that much of this article is factually incorrect or misleading. First, Mr. McQuade said that the conditions that were removed by amendment were removed by Senator Folmer and me. Thats simply wrong. There was an amendment in the appropriations committee offered by Senator Argle at the behest of the Senate Republican leadership. The amendment passed. Neither Senator Folmer nor I are on the appropriations committee. Neither of us even had a vote on the amendment. One of the commenters then claimed that with a 43-7 margin of victory, no compromise was necessary to gain enough votes to win. This is simply not how the legislature works. It wasnt a question of getting votes. If the amendment was not passed, leadership would have just pulled the bill. There never would have been a vote. Mr. McQuade also omits the liberal protocol contained in the bill for adding conditions. If you have..say...Crohns disease. To get it added you go to the board with a note from your doctor saying that cannabis would help you, and you attach any relevant studies showing a benefit. The board can then ad your condition and as many conditions as they wish. My sense is that within a few years, most if not all of the conditions omitted from the original bill would be covered. Finally, Mr. McQuade quotes a Medical Marijuana Activist named Jay Lassiter as calling this bill an atrocious and cruel compromise made for political expediency. This statement could not possibly have been made by anyone who has read the bill or understands the process. To pass a bill setting up a protocol to grow, process and dispense marijuana to thousands of sick people in Pennsylvania, in a Republican controlled Senate, is nothing sort of a miracle. ITs not a perfect bill. And I have no doubt that if Mr. Lassiter and Mr. McQuade were Senators, wed already be living in a utopian society where all of our problems would already be solved, and no bill that was not absolutely perfect, without a hint of compromise would be passed. But given the unfortunate fact that they are not running the show, this is a HUGE victory for the sick people of Pennsylvania.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 17:29:17 +0000
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