Lots of states and countries are finally coming around on the medical use of marijuana, as laws are being passed acknowledging medical use of marijuana. Following last week’s Global Marijuana March, this comes as a welcome surprise to the multitude who stand to benefit from the medicinal qualities of cannabis. Here’s a round-up of the latest marijuana laws effected around North America.
Denver, Colorado
The Colorado Senate, in a unanimous vote, passed a bill that demands school districts to develop policies that allow young medical marijuana patients to take their prescriptions on school grounds. In a show of respect and empathy, the Senate directed the ‘yes’ vote to the gallery occupied by proponents of the bill.
Dubbed the House Bill 1373 or Jack’s Law, the law requires all school districts in the region to allow the use of non-smoke-able medical marijuana for its student community in Colorado public schools. The law also doesn’t require school administrators to oversee the consumption of the marijuana-infused products. Rather, it suggests parents and primary caregivers supervise and administer the products.
Alabama Approves Leni’s Law
Leni’s Law made it through the Alabama Legislature on Monday 9, April, allowing people with seizures or other debilitating medical conditions to use products sourced from a similar plant to marijuana. The law was approved by a 29-3 Senate vote, and later The House voted 95-4 sending it to Governor Robert Bentley who signed it into law. The bill will decriminalize the possession of cannabidiol, a by-product of cannabis used for the treatment of severe seizures.
Pennsylvania Passes Medical Marijuana Law
After the Pennsylvania Senate passed an amended legislation allowing the use of medical marijuana by a vote of 149-46, all that stands in the way of the Bill is the signature of the State’s Governor, Tom Wolf. According to one of the Governor’s spokesman who spoke to the press a few weeks ago, Wolf is familiar with recent alterations in the bill and will sign it. The Governor signed the bill, and Pennsylvania is now the 24th state to legalize marijuana for medical use.
Illinois House Votes To Decriminalize Possession of Up To 10 Grams of Marijuana
The current Illinois law makes it a criminal offense to be in possession of up to 2.5 grams of marijuana. The Senate Bill 2228 will in effect change the current criminal penalties associated with possession of such amounts of marijuana. The penalties include possible jail time for repeat offenders while fines are upwards of $1, 500.
These laws are good news for everyone, especially people who rely on the drug to ease pain or manage debilitating diseases.