Editor's Note: With 20 of 27 Republicans voting yes, this is a big indication of cross-party gains in MJ support. It's tough to comprehend how, with 23 states plus D.C. already legalizing medical marijuana–and patients of all types, with all manners of diseases and ailments being helped, their pain and other symptoms alleviated–how some state politicians can still have the "there's not enough research to support this" mindset. While many new studies are coming out with plenty of evidence to support MJ's ample benefits, until the Feds remove MJ's schedule 1 classification, sources of significant funding for medical research will continue to be limited. Kind of a Catch-22, unfortunately.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – After an emotionally charged debate, Pennsylvania state senators overwhelmingly passed legislation Wednesday to legalize several forms of medical marijuana, although the legislative session is growing short, House Republican leaders are skeptical of the bill and Gov. Tom Corbett opposes it.
Although supporters of the bill viewed the vote as historic, Pennsylvania is behind other states: More than 30 others already have legalized some form of medical marijuana, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
Every Democrat voted "yes," as did 20 of 27 Republicans. Several "yes" votes came from senators who have law enforcement backgrounds.
