Danielsen Vows To Push For Medical Marijuana Expansion Bill’s Approval

State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen said he is undeterred in getting his medical marijuana expansion bill passed by the state Legislature. (File photo)

A local state Assemblymen who played an integral role in proposed legislation designed to expand medial marijuana opportunities in the state said he’s not deterred by the bill’s failure to be voted on this week.

The bill, A-10, was paired with another bill that would legalize recreational marijuana. The measures were scheduled to be put up for a vote on March 25, but state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-3) pulled the bill in his chamber for lack of the necessary 21 “yes” votes.

State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) said that there were enough votes in the lower chamber for passage.

“While I am disappointed that legislation which would have expanded the scope of medical cannabis was not ready for Senate passage, I remain steadfast to showing all my colleagues the time is now,” Danielsen said in a prepared statement. “Hundreds of my constituents and thousands of citizens in our state need greater accessibility to medicinal cannabis.”

“The bill which I spent 14 months writing is a model for small business growth, and guarantees women, people of color, and disabled veterans an opportunity to participate in this growing field,” said Danielsen, who is a Franklin resident. “The bill also invests in research and development for patients, introduces pricing control models, expands the number of purchasing locations, expands the allowance for more prescribers, eases the number of trips to the doctors in order to qualify for the program, and offers job protections for certain occupations.”

“These are some of the reasons why I will continue to push forward for its passage in the coming weeks,” he said.

Danielsen, who chairs the Assembly’s Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations committee, held a number of public hearings across the state in 2018 in preparation for writing the bill.

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