Delaware Becomes 16th Medical Marijuana State

Submitted by Phillip Smith on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 7:22pm (Issue #684)

Drug War Issues

Politics & Advocacy

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell Friday signed into law a medical marijuana bill approved the legislature. Delaware now becomes the 16^th state, along with the District of Columbia, to approve medical marijuana.

They got 'er done in Dover. Delaware now joins the ranks of medical marijuana states. (Image via Wikimedia.org)

The bill, Senate Bill 17, allows people 18 and older who suffer from specified serious or debilitating medical conditions to possess up to six ounces of the herb, but they cannot grow their own. Instead, qualifying patients will be referred to one of three state-licensed and -regulated "compassion centers," one for each county in the state.

"There are so many people in Delaware who are suffering unimaginable pain that this will help, and we want to be able to do what we can to provide much-needed relief for those citizens," said Senate Majority Whip Margaret Rose Henry (D-Wilmington East), who sponsored the legislation. "I am very grateful that so many of my colleagues were able to look past the myths surrounding marijuana and into the eyes and hearts of those who were crying out for our help. Needless to say, I am profoundly grateful to Gov. Markell for his support of this important legislation."

"Today is an amazing victory for seriously ill Delaware patients, who have been waiting a very long time for the chance to use the medicine they need without fear," said Noah Mamber, legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project, who lobbied and mobilized patients, professionals, and grassroots activists in support of the bill. "SB17 is the most comprehensive, tightly-written medical marijuana bill in the country, and with this vote, the Delaware Legislature proved that compassion is not a red or a blue issue. It's a human issue."

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Comments

Tony Aroma (not verified)

Way to Thumb Their Nose at the Feds!

I hope governor Gregoire in Washington is paying attention. It's great to see a state/governor that's standing up for states' rights and not caving because of threats from the feds.

Fri, 05/13/2011 - 10:37pm Permalink

Shell (not verified)

Congratulations

It's a start, But this is only the beginning to the end of the horrors of the Drug War . I know there are millions and millions of victims across your great state , as there are millions and more all over the world . The way these men have affected our lives when they started this war , I only hope their motive was only greed and not as sinister as it has ended up being . Thanks for being the 16TH member of the United States of revolution for freedom !!!!!!

Sat, 05/14/2011 - 5:42am Permalink

joe oint (not verified)

woo hoo! way to go!

Sat, 05/14/2011 - 11:10am Permalink

Moonrider (not verified)

Very well put, Shell

However, I think it was as sinister a plan in the beginning as it has turned out to be in our time, and I am afraid it is going to get worse, still, before it's over.

Sat, 05/14/2011 - 2:18pm Permalink

Giordano (not verified)

Thirty-Two Percent

Counting Delaware, 32-percent is the official percentage of states that allow the personal use of medical cannabis.

Roughly one-third of the country has now recognized the citizen’s right to access a superior medication for symptom relief despite federal interference in exercising that right. Only 10-percent of a population is needed to back a winning revolution in most cases. The progress being made here for the liberation of our own bodies and for liberty and justice for all is on a roll and heading toward critical mass.

Giordano

Sun, 05/15/2011 - 3:04pm Permalink

BallBag (not verified)

Yeah!!!

Way to go Delaware! Many more states will follow. All the liars at the DEA can suck it....

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 1:46pm Permalink

Jeff Brown (not verified)

federal rescheduling

Yes, hats off to Delaware for doing what is right. Now they need to petition the DEA for federal rescheduling. After all 16 states and DC says marijuana has medical use. To remain in federal schedule I a substance can have no medical use in the United States. Once the feds are forced to reschedule the much needed research into this miracle herb can begin with earnest in the United States and all those states that follow federal scheduling will have to reschedule as well.

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 6:05pm Permalink

William Randy Powell (not verified)

1998 DE STATE NEWS "ONE MAN'S FIGHT AGAINST AIDS"

THIS HAS BEEN A FIGHT FOR ME EVER SINCE I HAVE HAD AIDS FOR 21 YEARS! AMEN!

I WAS THE EAST COASTS MOST FAMOUS ACTIVIST AND ESPECIALLY DELAWARE..YOU CAN GOOGLE MY STORY THAT WAS IN THE DELAWARE STATE NEWS ON SEPT. 6TH 1998... GOOGLE

WILLIAM RANDY POWELL DELAWARE AIDS MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

THANK GOD & PEOPLE WITH AN OPEN MIND THAT FINALLY SEE THIS AS A MEDICAL TOOL THAT HAS HELPED KEEP ME ALIVE FOR OVER 21 YEARS WITH AIDS.

THANK YOU DELAWARE...... MY STATE HAS HEART.....THANK YOU ALL

Mon, 05/23/2011 - 3:31am Permalink

sicntired (not verified)

It's not like it's a hollow threat

It's also doubtful that anyone would be fool enough to shine that kind of light on the out of control DEA and it's agents who feel they are a law unto themselves.Gregoire is knuckling under to a threat that is surely nothing more than that,a threat.Call their bluff and the winner will be everyone but the DEA.No one will stand for that kind of violation of State rights,right?