Delaware becomes the 16th state to allow medical marijuana

Governor Markell signed a bill making Delaware the 16th state to allow the use of medical marijuana. The new law allows qualified patients 18 and older to use and possess marijuana and goes into effect on June 1st, 2011. Patients in Delaware can possess up to six ounces of marijuana.

The qualifying conditions include people diagnosed with cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, decompensated cirrhosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, PTSD, intractable nausea, severe seizures, severe and persistent muscle spasms, wasting syndrome, and severe debilitating pain that has not responded to other treatments or for which other treatments produced serious side effects.

Patients will not be able to grow marijuana for themselves, but will be able to obtain the medicine from state-licensed and regulated “compassion centers” in each of the state’s three counties, that will grow and distribute medicinal marijuana to qualified patients.

Senate Majority Whip Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington East, who sponsored the legislation was quoted by the Marijuana Policy Project saying “There are so many people in Delaware who are suffering unimaginable pain that this will help, and we want to be able to do what we can to provide much-needed relief for those citizens. I am very grateful that so many of my colleagues were able to look past the myths surrounding marijuana and into the eyes and hearts of those who were crying out for our help. Needless to say, I am profoundly grateful to Gov. Markell for his support of this important legislation.”

A spokesman said Governor Markell wanted to sign the bill into quickly because of the long period of time it will take to set up the state-run system.

by Eddie Haskill, AZmarijuana.com | Arizona Medical Marijuana