State Sen. Margaret Rose Henry has introduced legislation to provide for the controlled distribution of marijuana to relieve chronic pain in people suffering from serious medical conditions. Ginger Gibson writes in today’s News-Journal article:
Under Senate Bill 94, residents would be allowed to have up to 6 ounces of marijuana, considered a month’s supply, Henry said, and would be issued identification cards to prevent them from being prosecuted for having that amount or less. The state would also license centers to grow and sell marijuana to be sold for medicinal purposes.
Nationwide, efforts like Henry’s got a boost last week when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to California’s medical marijuana law, allowing the law to stand and the sale of medical marijuana to continue.
He concluded the post with this question:
With 13 states already having adopted compassionate use act legislation, Delaware might be ready to permit this humane treatment for people suffering from acute pain. Any legislative interest?
Turns out the answer was ‘yes’.
‘Bulo’s take: He doubts that the votes are there yet to enact this legislation. However, it is the type of bill that will grow support as hardened perceptions change, not unlike other bills that have become important to readers of this blog. Sen. Henry correctly points out that it took years for her ‘needle exchange’ legislation to be enacted, but that the empirical data shows (show?) that it has been a big plus for public health.
Which brings ‘bulo to an…AIMLESS MEANDER: One of the ways to identify the better legislators is to view their ability to keep at something when it doesn’t pass the first (sometimes second, third, fourth…) time. Karen Peterson on Open Government, Bob Marshall on Nursing Home Reform, Margaret Rose Henry on Needle Exchange. It’s easy when the wind is at your back, the Governor is in full support, and the media has anointed it as Worthwhile and Important. But it’s tough when you start with, at best, a small band of supporters, and ultimately build it into a successful coalition.
The Beast Who Slumbers suspects that Sen. Henry will face long odds again. However, she’s already overcome a similar challenge, so ‘bulo wouldn’t bet against her in the long run.