MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL PASSES SENATE

Dover, Del. -- The Delaware Senate passed legislation today that
would legalize the use of marijuana to treat severe medical conditions.

All but three of the chamber's 21 members voted in favor of Senate
Bill 17, which would set up a network of tightly regulated marijuana
dispensaries that could sell the drug to authorized patients.

Lead sponsor Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington East, said the
legislation is about providing relief to the seriously ill, not
legalizing drugs.

"It's really a compassion bill. It addresses the suffering that many
Delawareans endure," she said.

According to the bill, doctors could endorse marijuana as a treatment
for "debilitating medical conditions" such as cancer, HIV/AIDS and
multiple sclerosis, or any disease that causes severe chronic pain or
nausea. Marijuana also could be used to treat similar symptoms that
result as side effects of treatments like chemotherapy.

To be prescribed marijuana, a patient must have been under his or her
doctor's care for at least three months and have tried other
treatments unsuccessfully.

The legislation would establish one "Compassionate Care Center" in
each county, which would be authorized to grow and sell marijuana
under the supervision of the Department of Health and Social Services.

Authorized patients would be issued ID cards that would entitle them
to possess up to six ounces of marijuana at a time.

The bill does not exempt marijuana patients from the state's
driving-under-the-influence law, nor does it require employers to
allow a worker to be impaired on the job.

Sens. Colin Bonini, R-Dover South; Joe Booth, R-Georgetown; and Dave
Lawson, R-Kenton, voted against the measure.

Bonini said SB17 sends the wrong message to children.

"We're saying, 'Marijuana is medicine, it's OK,'" he said. "How many
kids will internalize that message and start on the path to drug use?"

The bill now heads to the House for consideration.