Bill to protect medical marijuana patients, caregivers scheduled for State House hearing

[unhappycamper]

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/07/bill_to_protect_medical_mariju.html

A bill before the Massachusetts legislature would tweak and clarify the 2012 medical marijuana law to further protect patients and caregivers.

Bill to protect medical marijuana patients, caregivers scheduled for State House hearing
Mary Serreze
on July 13, 2015 at 4:31 PM

BOSTON — A bill designed to protect patients and caregivers involved in the state's medical marijuana program will be the subject of a hearing before the Legislature's Joint Committee on Public Health Tuesday.

House Bill 2065 would bar discrimination against medical marijuana patients and caregivers in the areas of housing, employment, school admissions and child custody hearings.

In registered "hardship" cases, it would also allow personal caregivers to cultivate marijuana for up to 10 patients, as opposed to the current limit of one. A year ago, the state sent letters to more than 1,300 patients, plus 17 caregivers, warning that state regulations prohibit any caregiver from selling marijuana to more than one patient.

"The bill acknowledges that the one-to-one ratio is not workable," said a legislative aide to Rep. Frank I. Smizik, D-Brookline, on Monday. Smizik filed the measure along with 15 co-sponsors, including Amherst Democrat Ellen Story.

[drm604]

1. The employment protections are important.

Many employers require urine tests before hiring, and sometimes during employment. A person with a legitimate need shouldn't be locked out of employment because of it.

[merrily]

2. Thanks for this info, unhappy camper. I appreciate your efforts so much.