Patrick Nightingale testifying at the State Capitol in Harrisburg. Hearing on SB 3, Medical Marijuana, February 25, 2015.
It has been a long road to this watershed moment for the medical marijuana movement in Pennsylvania. It took far longer than it had to be, but that is often the way of the world. Often that which truly matters take the longest to achieve. It sounds a tad corny in today’s instantly available digital interface world we live in, but it’s timelessly true, like a black and white grainy film of a Vince Lombardi speech. The hard work, the dedication, the commitment… it’s the longer, harder road that leads to the individual victories that lead to the ultimate goal, the ultimate victory.
There are those voices who would downplay this momentous occasion, lamenting the inequities that inevitably accompany compromise in the world of political maneuvering. Some of our fellow activists in states like NJ and NY have seen good intentions founder on the shores of political obstruction. Their criticisms have reminded us that this bill can still fail to serve the patients here in PA. For today, however, we will savor a hard won victory.
We fully expect that as acceptance of medicinal marijuana grows in the medical community patient access will increase and qualifying conditions will continue to be added to the existing 17 conditions. It will happen.
Some justifiably criticize the high licensing and operation costs built in to the legislation. Obviously “home grow” is the most patient friendly model, but our Legislature decided that if it was going to approve medicinal cannabis it intended to regulate it as MEDICINE. Though highly regulated, PA patients will know that the cannabis products they are relying upon to treat their intractable epilepsy, their chronic pain, their multiple sclerosis, have been tested by third party testing facilities and are free from pesticides and mold.
Which brings me to the civility of all this.
Marijuana is the most sociable and civil of recreational drugs. It is freely shared. That doesn’t happen much with hard drugs. That alone should take it off Schedule 1. People don’t rob gas stations for more weed.
It’s a friendly and, especially in light of truly deadly drugs like Meth and Heroin, a ridiculously harmless drug. I’m talking Barney Fife, Arnold Horshack, Scooby Doo and Shaggy harmless. The medicinal benefits completely outweigh the few potential side effects. Frankly, in comparison to what is regularly advertised on TV by Big Pharma, the potential side effects of medicinal marijuana read like a comic book versus the Bible. Ironically, perfectly legal erection meds leaps to mind. The religious right is really weird.
Fortunately for Pennsylvanians in need of medicine, our Governor is a man of conscience, and he’s kept his word. He is signing the bill as promised.
I cannot think of higher praise one could offer any political figure.
Even more though, we need to recognize the grass roots efforts (pun intended) of ordinary people who, through organizations like Pittsburgh NORML, etc., have worked so hard to bring about this legislation. Let us not bemoan the inequities that will lead to further work towards full legalization, but celebrate the victory our hard work has wrought.
Let us all be grateful Governor Wolf is a decent, compassionate and caring human being. A man who is willing to trust the judgment of countless medical professionals and over 80% of Pennsylvanians in saying, “Give these people this medicine”.
So congratulations, Pennsylvania!
Enjoy this important victory.
It’s still illegal for recreational use, but it’s decriminalized in Philly and Pittsburgh and we’re seeing less urban communities moving that way. Now we have a victory on the medicinal front, and it’s important we stay focused on ensuring patient friendly regulations are put into place over the next 24 months. We need to continue working to open the medicinal marijuana marketplace to all Pennsylvanians who need this valuable medicine.
We’re winning.
My sincere thanks to all who have worked so hard to bring this about.