Bill to Allow the Medical Use of Cannabis Oil Passes Virginia Senate with 37 to 1 Vote

Bill to Allow the Medical Use of Cannabis Oil Passes Virginia Senate with 37 to 1 Vote

With a 37 to 1 vote, Senate Bill 1235 was passed today by Virginia’s Senate. The proposal would allow for the use of of high-CBD and high-THCA cannabis oil for those with epilepsy who receive a recommendation from a physician.

Specifically, Senate Bill 1235 would allow those with epilepsy who receive a recommendation from a physician to possess and use cannabis oil that has at least 15% cannabidiol (CBD) or 15% THCA (tetrahydrocannabinol acid), and no more than 5% THC. The measure doesn’t, however, authorize dispensaries to produce or distribute the medicine, so patients unfortunately will be left to either importing it, producing it themselves illegally or purchasing it illegally.

Senate Bill 1235 now heads to the state’s House, where it’s passage will send it to Governor Terry McAuliffe.

Although the measure is clearly a step forward, and will undoubtedly help many individuals, advocates of medical cannabis must continue to urge their lawmakers (which they can look up by clicking here) to support further reform before the state will have a workable medical cannabis program, including expanding the qualifying conditions to more than just epilepsy, allowing safe access points and allowing for the use of the cannabis plant and not just oil.

– TheJointBlog