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Amended medical marijuana expansion bill gets Senate approval

Delaware Public Media

After a failed attempt on Tuesday, state senators revived a bill expanding access to Delaware’s medical marijuana program for those with PTSD.

Despite emotional testimony from military veterans on Tuesday, the Senate blocked the bill over concerns that it was too broad and hadn’t gotten approval from state health officials.

 

But Senate Majority Leader Margaret Rose Henry (D-Wilmington East) forged a compromise.

 

“We’ve also met with the Medical Society representative and we’ve met with the state and we’ve come to an agreement. We will not at all address anxiety,” said Henry.

 

Before an amendment limiting the bill to PTSD, it would’ve allowed those with anxiety disorders or obsessive-compulsive disorder to apply for a medical marijuana card, to the chagrin of medical professionals.

 

Now, the bill allows a family doctor to diagnose someone seeking a medical marijuana card with PTSD instead of a psychiatrist.

 

Veterans had said a visit to a psychiatrist was too expensive and a shortage of them across the state made it difficult to even get an appointment.

 

The amended bill passed unanimously and now goes to the House for consideration.

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