The Ohio House of Representatives has approved bill on Tuesday legalizing marijuana for limited, medicinal uses. The bill has been passed with 70 votes in its favor while facing opposition from 25 members. The bill will now be placed at the Ohio senate for further scrutiny.
The historic voting in the conservative legislature puts Ohio closer to get acknowledged as the 25th US state to legalize limited forms of marijuana. Republican Senator Dan Ramos from D-Lorain has described the bill as 'life-altering' for the families intending to apply the drug, reports Columbus Business First.
The Republican lawmakers have apparently changed their course after opposing the bill for quite a long time. Possibility for constitutional amendment following a consensus poll expected to take place in November, has apparently prompted the Republican lawmakers to vote in favor of the bill. A constitutional amendment may never be changed, argues Republican Senator Stephen Huffman (R-Tipp City), sponsor of the bill, according to a report published in The Review.
Prior to approving the bill, the house members have heard sufferings of the ailing children even passing through 300 seizures a day. Cannabis derivatives may be used in treating such ailment related to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The house approved bill legalizes medicinal marijuana for treating a wide range of illness including cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, and brain injury, Parkinson's disease, HIV and AIDS. Patients with specific prescription from licensed doctors will be allowed to purchase medicines containing marijuana derivatives from drug stores, reports Green Rush Daily. The bill has gone through its first major revision before the law makers have decided banning smoking pot while allowing vaporization during last week. The Ohio lawmakers have also prohibited use of marijuana derivatives in candy to attract toddler consumers. The approved bill also empowers doctors prescribing cannabis oil, tinctures, plant materials, edibles or patch to limit diseases and disorders requiring smoked marijuana. Notably mentioning, Tuesday's bill doesn't support recreational use of marijuana by any mean. Prescribing doctors will be regulated strictly while holding accountable for providing medical marijuana in non deserved illnesses. The strict underlying conditions and tight regulation for marijuana distribution have attracted heated debates during recent days. However, the bill approval has been applauded by the campaigners in favor considering medicinal requirement of the ailing people.
Campaigners backing the use of medical marijuana has been expecting holding consensus poll during November for constitutional amendment. Probability for constitutional amendment has apparently prompted Republican members of the Ohio House to approve bill legalizing medicinal use of marijuana derivatives on Tuesday. However, the approved bill imposes certain restrictions in prohibiting possible abuse.
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