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The Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee will consider a proposal next week that protects users of medical cannabis from the state’s “zero tolerance” penalties for drunk driving.
The main sponsor, Senator Camera Bartolotta, R-Washington, said the state’s DUI law does not distinguish between medical and recreational use of cannabis, leaving registered patients at risk of prosecution.
Nearly 368,000 medical cannabis patients are registered in Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Bartolotta’s proposal, Senate Bill 167, would amend Title 75, the Vehicle Code, to remove medical cannabis from the law’s definition of a controlled substance and insert wording that says “if the individual is a medical marijuana patient in accordance with the provisions of the Medical Marijuana Act, proof of actual impairment will be required.
This is similar to how drivers found in possession of prescribed medication are treated, Bartolotta said in a co-sponsorship note in December. The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association is among the supporters of the measure.
“Given the very serious consequences of a conviction for impaired driving, my legislation will provide essential protections for patients with medicinal cannabis by ensuring that responsible use of their legal medicine does not result in a criminal conviction. “said Bartolotta.
The commission hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 10:30 am The committee will also consider proposals that address repeat DUI violators and recent court challenges to the state’s DUI law.
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Key words: States, News, Pennsylvania, Marijuana, Medical Marijuana
Original author: Christen Smith, The Central Square
Original location: Senate proposal protects medical cannabis users from DUI penalties in Pennsylvania
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