S.B. 17 TIME HAS COME; THE HOUSE SHOULD FOLLOW SUIT

Senate Bill 17 represents a mature 21st century understanding of
developing medical science and the beneficial value of substances that
are illegal.

The Delaware Senate's vote decriminalizing marijuana for specific
medical purposes represents a mature understanding of the beneficial
use of a popular illegal substance.

The House should follow up on this week's vote with its own long
overdue acknowledgement of developing medical science and acceptable
public policy in other states to comfort those with debilitating illness.

Under the bill, patients with qualifying illnesses would be issued
identification cards and be limited to purchasing up to six ounces of
marijuana each month. Marijuana could only be purchased from a
dispensary, and home cultivation would be prohibited.

Qualifying conditions include cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS,
hepatitis C, post-traumatic stress disorder, glaucoma, Crohn's
disease, Lou Gehrig's disease or other chronic wasting diseases.

Concerns that S.B. 17 will fuel illegal pot growing for nonmedical
purposes are suitably addressed by a restriction against "home
cultivation" of what is commonly known as weed.

But as the bill moves to the House, state representatives should
include an opt-out amendment or checkpoints to prevent S.B. 17's
compassionate intent from being co-opted by criminal enterprise.