Virginia House Unanimously Approves Cannabis Oil Bill
Virginia parents with kids suffering from epilepsy potentially could be permitted to have a non-intoxicating strain of cannabis extract that has shown to be effectiveness in controlling seizures. On Tuesday of this week, the Republican-controlled House of Delegates collectively approved a measure, 98 to 0, that would grant parents of epileptic children to keep in their possession an excess amour of cannabidiol, or CBD oil, without having the risk of prosecution.
While the advancement in Senate Bill 1235 is an obvious win for parents of kids with epilepsy, the move also shows a change in behavior surrounding pot laws in Virginia. State lawmakers, including Delegate Dave Albo, are suffice with the results of the vote, as it is the initial piece of effective medical cannabis legislation in the state to earn such a high volume of support.
Medical marijuana for the treatment of cancer and glaucoma has been legal in Virginia for years, but there is no statewide program in place, and prescriptions are only available through a licensed doctor. Of course, this has tainted the potential of having marijuana treatment because no licensed physician is willing to risk federal trouble to write a prescription. Yet, the current plan offers to remedy this problem to some level by taking away the need for a prescription – the new law would only ask to show certification to legally possess cannabis oil.
In addition to permitting the possession of CBD, the bill was initially written to change the current medical marijuana law, requiring only a cannabis certification for cancer and glaucoma patients. Yet, this concept scared some lawmakers who stated their concerns over the changes leading to a substantial amount of medical cannabis making it to the black market.
This legislation now goes before the Senate, who just last week passed a similar measure in a vote of 37 to 1. If it gains approval there, which is expected, it will be sent to Governor Terry McAuliffe office for either a signature, making it law, or a veto, which could send lawmakers back to twquare one. Yet, a spokesperson for the governor has shown every indication that the bills will be signed.
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