Respicio said the bill, if enacted into law, would allow local physicians the ability to prescribe, but not legalize, cannabis.
Respicio clarified misconceptions that the bill seeks to legalize cannabis. The bill, he said, seeks to take advantage of a change in federal policy.
Late last year the Justice Department announced that it would no longer pursue and arrest doctors, patients or cannabis dispensary operators if they were operating legally under local laws.
“The Obama administration has decided to concentrate its resources on the big dealers, and ignore medicinal use,” Respicio said.
In addition, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a doctor is constitutionally allowed to recommend cannabis to patients.
“My bill will permit licensed, registered care centers to grow cannabis, and dispense it to patients. This paves the way for tightly controlled non-profit Compassionate Care Centers to provide cannabis for sale to those patients who are certified by their doctor as in need of medicinal cannabis,” said Respicio.
He said during his research on the issue, he found that about half of the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon and Washington, have either allowed for medicinal cannabis, or have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of the herb.
