Gov. Wolf signs Pennsylvania medical marijuana bill into law

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WPVI) --

Governor Tom Wolf has signed a bill legalizing medical marijuana in Pennsylvania into law.

 

The bill was approved by the House last week which sent it straight to the governor's desk for his signature.

The law sets standards for tracking plants, certifying physicians and licensing growers, dispensaries and physicians. Patients can take marijuana in pill, oil, vapor or liquid form but are not able to legally obtain marijuana to smoke or to grow their own.

Pennsylvania is the 24th state to legalize a comprehensive medical marijuana program, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

 

 The issue has been driven by parents who believe a marijuana oil extract can help relieve the daily seizures that have left their children in wheelchairs or functioning far below their grade level. Some say they worried that the next seizure will kill their child and had traveled countless times to the Capitol to press their case.

The legislation's list of 17 qualifying diagnosed conditions include cancer, epilepsy, autism, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, sickle cell anemia, multiple sclerosis, AIDS and glaucoma.
Physicians must be registered by the state to certify that a patient has an eligible condition and a patient must get a Department of Health-issued ID card.

The legislation's drafters say they expect it would be two years before regulations are written and retailers are ready to sell to patients. However, a safe harbor provision in the bill would allow parents to avoid the wait by legally buying medical marijuana from another state for their child.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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