Legislation allowing any patient with a debilitating condition to receive medical marijuana from any state licensed doctor is headed to the governor’s desk. The bill’s author Stonewall Rep. Larry Bagley has previously voted against the use of medical pot, but says now that it’s legal, it should be an option for more people.
“Do you want to try medical marijuana or would you like to try to continue opiods? Which, I was in health and wellfare and we knew we were losing that battle, so to me it was a pretty easy jump,” said Bagley.
Bagley says the bill’s removal of the need for doctors to register with and receive authorization from the State Board of Medical Examiners to recommend cannabis to patients will open up a patient’s access to a doctor who can make that decision.
“Any doctor could recommend it for any ailment that the doctor felt like because as I see it, who knows you better than your doctor,” said Bagley.
Bagley says the measure has the opportunity to combat the opioid crisis.
“Rather than going to opioids, and we all know the answer to that, that is addiction, it could be death, marijuana has never caused anyone to die in three thousand years,” said Bagley.
With a 74-16 vote, the bill heads next to the Governor’s desk, who is expected to sign it.
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