×
×
homepage logo
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE

Path is clear for marijuana bill

By Staff | May 8, 2013

The smoke is finally starting to clear at the Statehouse, where lawmakers are ready to pass a long-awaited medical marijuana law.

It’s about time.

The Senate Health, Education and Human Services Committee on Tuesday became the latest panel to endorse the proposal that allows seriously ill patients to use marijuana. Earlier this year, the New Hampshire Medical Society dropped its outright opposition, and last month, the House of Representatives approved the bill by an overwhelming 286-64 margin.

The full Senate, likely to consider the bill in the coming weeks, should do the same.

Legalizing medical marijuana made sense in 2009 and 2012 when the legislature passed similar proposals only to watch then-Gov. John Lynch use his veto pen. And it is even more vital now that New Hampshire remains the only New England state without a medical marijuana law.

Lawmakers in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont and other states all have seen the wisdom in allowing patients to ease their pain with safe and controlled marijuana treatment prescribed by board certified doctors.

Current Gov. Maggie Hassan has seen the light, as well. Hassan, who supported earlier measures during her years as a state senator, has offered her support for “tightly regulated” distribution through state-governed dispensaries. But, she has expressed concerns over a provision included in the senate bill that would allow patients to grow their own plants for medical use.

At her urging, the senate health committee voted Tuesday to remove that provision.

Ideally, we would have liked to see the bill pass as initially proposed with a home-grown option. Some chronic pain patients may not be able to wait the three years it’s expected to take to get the dispensaries off the ground. Other states have allowed home-grown options for many years without serious repercusions.

But, even without the provision, the bill is a good and important starting point. Legislators can always amend the law in future years. In the meantime, approving medical marijuana use is the right and compassionate thing to do.

Newsletter

Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter.

Interests
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *