Legislation to establish a Medical Marijuana Research Center at a campus of the University of California fell by the wayside Tuesday when the Senate adjourned prematurely. The bill, S.B. 535, sought to provide $1 million to fund an ongoing study on the medical value of whole smoked marijuana on seriously ill patients.
“The Legislature’s inaction ignores demands from the public and scientific community to conduct unbiased research on the efficacy and safety of medical marijuana,” NORML Director R. Keith Stroup said.
Introduced by Sen. John Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara) in 1997, S.B. 535 enjoyed strong support from the medical and law enforcement communities. Backers of the proposal included the American Cancer Society, Attorney General Dan Lungren, the California Narcotics Association, the California Medical Association, and the California District Attorneys Association. The Senate previously passed the bill in 1997, but adjourned before approving amendments proposed by the Assembly. Reportedly, the bill enjoyed majority support from Assembly members.
Robert Harris of Americans for Medical Rights said that he expects Vasconcellos to re-introduce similar legislation next year. “We will bring this up again,” he said. “Stage three clinical trials have to be done.” He said that he expects new legislation to have a higher likelihood of becoming law because both gubernatorial candidates support medical marijuana research trials.
The California Legislature previously funded clinical patient trials on the medical benefits of whole smoked marijuana and THC capsules from 1980 to 1986.
For more information, please contact either Paul Armentano NORML @ (202) 483-5500 or Robert Harris of American for Medical Rights (Sacramento office) @ (916) 449-6190.