“House votes to legalize medical marijuana in Pennsylvania” i

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A bill to let Pennsylvania patients who suffer from a list of ailments obtain marijuana for therapeutic purposes easily passed the state House on Wednesday, leaving only approval by the Senate, which overwhelmingly passed a similar bill last year. The House voted for legislation that would set standards for growers, dispensaries and physicians. Patients could take the drug in pill, oil or liquid form, but would not be able to obtain marijuana they could smoke. Supporters said it would help relieve the suffering of sick people. Opponents argued the Legislature should not be approving a drug that is illegal under federal law. The bill would allow people to buy marijuana from a dispensary after they have been certified by a medical practitioner to have one of the 17 enumerated conditions. Those conditions include cancer, epilepsy, autism, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, sickle cell anemia, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, glaucoma and chronic or intractable pain. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, who has urged passage of legalized medical marijuana, released a statement that applauded the House vote and predicted the bill would provide "essential help" to patients.

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