The State Senate Health and Human Services Committee rejected legislation to curb the use of medical marijuana in California.
Senate Bill 2113, introduced by Sen. Richard Rainey (R-Walnut Creek), sought to restrict the number of patients who qualify to use marijuana legally under state law to only those suffering from HIV, cancer, glaucoma, or spasticity disorders. The legislation omitted several medical conditions for which marijuana often provides relief such as chronic pain, neuralgia, migraines, and some psychiatric disorders.
“The passage of this legislation would have made criminals overnight out of thousands of patients now legally using marijuana as a medicine,” said NORML Executive Director R. Keith Stroup, Esq. “The Health Committee made the courageous and compassionate choice to oppose this measure.”
Committee Chairwoman Diane Watson (D-Culver City), explained that the Senate had “in depth concerns” with the intent of S.B. 2113 and warned Rainey that he faced a “heap of opposition.” Rainey later withdrew the bill from consideration.
“The Senate Health Committee took a stand to preserve the will of the voters as expressed by the passage of Proposition 215,” Stroup said.
For more information, please contact either Dale Gieringer of California NORML @ (415) 563-5858 or Keith Stroup of NORML @ (202) 483-5500.