senate bill 386 Archives

West Virginia Medical Marijuana Legalization Bill Approved by Legislature, Governor Expected to Sign

April 6, 2017

West Virginia’s legislature has approved a bill that would make West Virginia the 29th state to adopt an comprehensive medical marijuana law. Governor Jim Justice is expected to sign it into law.

Senate Bill 386 received final approval in the West Virginia Legislature on Thursday and is headed to the desk of Governor Jim Justice. Justice has publicly expressed support for legal access to medical marijuana and is expected to sign the bill into law.

Senate Bill 386, introduced by Sen. Richard Ojeda (D-Logan), received initial approval from the Senate last week (28-6). The House substantially amended the bill before approving it on Tuesday (76-24). The Senate passed the new version on concurrence Wednesday afternoon (28-6), along with some minor amendments, and the House signed off on the final version Thursday (74-24).

West Virginia House Approves Amended Medical Marijuana Bill

April 3, 2017

An amended version of a medical marijuana legalization bill that recently passed West Virginia’s Senate has received approval from the House of Delegates.

An amended version of Senate Bill 386 was passed by the House of Delegates today through its second reading. The measure recently passed the full Senate with a 28 to 6 vote. It will now need to be passed through one more reading in the House, before being sent back to the Senate now that it’s been amended. If it passes the Senate again it will go to the desk of Governor Jim Justice, who is supportive of medical cannabis.

Initially, the measure would have legalized medical cannabis for those with a qualifying condition who receive a recommendation from a physician and register with the state. The West Virginia Medical Cannabis Commission would have been established to oversee a system of licensed and regulated medical cannabis dispensaries, which would have been supplied by cannabis cultivation centers.

West Virginia House Gives Initial Approval to Medical Cannabis Legalization, Governor in Support

March 30, 2017

A bill to legalize medical marijuana was given initial approval today by the West Virginia House of Delegates.

In a rare procedural move, the House of Delegates voted 54 to 40 today to bypass the committee process and bring Senate Bill 386 directly to the floor of the House. The vote comes just a day after the measure was passed by the state’s full Senate with a 28 to 6 vote.

A second reading of the bill is planned for tomorrow. If approved through its second reading, the measure will need to be passed through one more vote in the House before being sent to Governor Jim Justice for consideration; Governor Justice says he supports medical cannabis, and is likely to sign it into law if it reaches his desk.

Legislation to Legalize Medical Marijuana Passed by Full West Virginia Senate

March 29, 2017

Medical marijuana would be legal under a bill approved today by West Virginia’s full Senate.

Substitute Senate Bill 386 was passed through its third and final reading today with a 28 to 6 vote, sending it to the House of Representatives. Passage in the House would send it to Governor Jim Justice for consideration.

The proposed legislation would legalize medical marijuana possession and use for those with a qualifying condition who receive a doctor recommendation. The West Virginia Medical Cannabis Commission would be created to oversee a regulated and licensed system of cannabis cultivation centers and dispensaries. Dispensaries would be authorized to distribute cannabis and cannabis products to qualifying patients.

West Virginia Senate Votes to Legalize Medical Cannabis

March 29, 2017March 29, 2017

West Virginia’s Senate has voted in favor of a measure to legalize medical cannabis.

The Senate passed Senate Bill 386 through its second reading yesterday, shortly after it was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bipartisan measure must now be passed through one more vote in the Senate before moving to the House of Representatives; this vote will likely come later today, as it was placed on today’s calendar for a third reading.

Senate Bill 386 would allow those with a recommendation from a physician who register with the state to possess and use cannabis and cannabis products for medical purposes. The measure would establish a system of licensed cultivation centers and dispensaries, to be overseen by the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Commission, which the bill would create.

West Virginia Legislation to Legalize Medical Cannabis Advances

March 25, 2017

Legislation to legalize medical cannabis has advanced in West Virginia’s Legislature.

Senate Bill 386 to legalize medical cannabis has been advanced out of the Senate Health and Resources Committee, and is on its second reading in the House Judiciary Committee. Passage in the Judiciary Committee will send it towards a vote in the full House of Representatives, where passage will send it to the Senate.

The proposed law – sponsored by a bipartisan group of nine senators – would legalize the possession and use of medical cannabis for those with a qualifying condition who receive a recommendation from a physician. A system of licensed growers and dispensaries would be authorized to distribute the medicine to qualified patients. The West Virginia Medical Cannabis Commission would be established to oversee to medical cannabis industry.

Bills to Legalize Medical Cannabis Filed in West Virginia’s House and Senate

March 6, 2017

Bills that would legalize medical cannabis have been filed in West Virginia’s House of Delegates and Senate.

Delegate Mike Pushkin (D) filed House Bill 2677, and Senator Richard Ojeda (D) filed Senate Bill 386. Both would legalize medical cannabis, albeit in different manners. HB 2688 has no cosponsors, whereas SB 386 is cosponsored by a bipartisan coalition of nine senators.

HB 2677 would legalize the possession of up to six ounces of cannabis, and the cultivation of up to 12 plants, for those with a qualifying condition who receive a recommendation from a physician. Qualifying conditions include: