[420 Girl]

HELENA - A bill that would increase the amount of medical marijuana that registered patients can possess cleared its first hurdle on Friday as the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety Committee passed the measure on a 5-2 vote. Advertisement

The bill also adds to the list of chronic or debilitating medical ailments the drug could be used to treat, including diabetes, post-traumatic stress disorder, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, agitation of Alzheimer's disease, nail-patella syndrome, dysmenorrheal, anxiety and insomnia.

The original form of the bill sought to increase possession limits from 1 ounce to 12 ounces. The committee passed the measure after adding an amendment by Sen. Dave Lewis, R-Helena, which limits to 3 ounces.

Lewis told the committee that he didn't intend to look carefully at the bill until after hearing from a friend and constituent who suffers from ovarian cancer.

"She slipped a note in my pocket that said this method of treatment was the only thing that was keeping her sane," Lewis said.

He said he then spoke with law enforcement officials who said they would be satisfied with a 3-ounce possession limit.

"I'm hoping to ... at least try to get some support for the bill," Lewis told the committee.

The measure passed with Lewis and Sen. Terry Murphy, R-Cardwell, siding with the three Democrats on the panel to vote in favor of the bill.

Patient caregiver May Simmons of Hamilton said she was very happy with the outcome.

"This makes it a lot easier for those of us who are caregivers to provide compassionate care to patients," Simmons said. The bill still must to pass the full House and Senate and be signed by governor before becoming law.

"I have a patient in Anaconda who I couldn't serve because her medical needs required a greater amount than I could legally deliver," Simmons said. "Under this bill, I could have served her."

Possession or use of marijuana for any reason is a violation of federal law. However, a spokesman for the Obama administration previously said the president may be moving toward recognizing state laws that legalize medical marijuana.

White House spokesman Nick Shapiro recently told the Washington Times that President Barack Obama "believes that federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws, and as he continues to appoint senior leadership to fill out the ranks of the federal government, he expects them to review their policies with that in mind."

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