Medical Marijuana Bill Advances Again In Pennsylvania Senate
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- A bill to legalize medical marijuana in Pennsylvania has cleared a key Senate committee -- and the sponsor says he's upbeat about getting a bill to the governor in the coming months.
A medical marijuana bill passed the full Senate but failed to get through the House in the last two-year session of the legislature. A new bill has passed the Senate State Government Committee, chaired by Lebanon County Republican Mike Folmer, who is also the sponsor of the medical marijuana bill. As he works to address concerns of members of the House, Folmer says he believes a bill can get to the governor's desk before lawmakers begin their scheduled summer recess.
"I really do. I know I'm being optimistic," he says. "I get that. But I really do, because I believe there are good people over there."
Folmer believes communication and education will make the difference with skeptics. His Senate committee made changes to bill to address House concerns about control of medical marijuana. Folmer says there will be more changes before the bill comes up for a full Senate vote.