The life of a little girl in Aberdeen is closer to changing for the better now that two medical marijuana bills passed out of the Washington House of Representatives earlier this week.
“I’ve been pushing these bills for a couple of years and I am truly happy that this body gave them the green light this time,” said Rep. Brian Blake, D-Aberdeen, sponsor of both measures and chair of the Rural Development Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. “Like Ducky, there are other children in our state who struggle with seizures or other disorders and I am convinced that these bills will make their lives better.”
Blake sponsored House Bill 1095 after hearing from a constituent whose daughter’s condition, involving seizures, only responds to treatment with cannabidiol, or CBD oil, a medical marijuana concentrate. The girl, affectionately known as Ducky, gets relief after ingesting a few drops of CBD in a cookie or a cup of juice. But sometimes Ducky needs repeated doses in a day and has to miss classes because medical marijuana cannot be administered at the school.
“It doesn’t have to be this way,” said Blake. “We can help these kids so they can have the same opportunity to learn and enjoy school as any other Washington student.”
Blake’s legislation would require school districts to allow students to consume marijuana concentrates for medical purposes on school grounds, aboard a school bus, or while attending a school-sponsored event. The measure also directs school districts to establish policies related to the consumption of marijuana by students for medical purposes if requested by the parent or guardian of a student who is a qualifying patient.
House Bill 1094, Blake’s other measure, would exempt a qualifying patient from having to be physically present when renewing registration in the Medical Marijuana Authorization Database if a health care professional finds that it would likely result in a severe hardship to the patient.
“This bill is about compassion, it just tries to facilitate the renewal process for people with physical or emotional difficulties,” Blake added.
If the Senate approves these bills and the governor signs them, Ducky and other children with similar afflictions could see dramatic differences in their lives.
Here’s a quick list of all Drug-related bills considered in Olympia this session:
Advertising of pharmaceuticals, sale of, B&O tax surcharge, revenue use: SB 5659 |
| Cannabis, cannabis science task force, establishing: HB 2052 |
| Cannabis, medical use, provisions: HB 1060, HB 1094, ESHB 1094, HB 1095, SHB 1095, SB 5234, SB 5442, SB 5498, SB 5599 |
| Cannabis, product testing laboratories, accreditation program for: HB 2052 |
| Cannabis, Washington cannabis commission, creating: HB 1974 |
| Controlled substances, illegal consumption in child’s presence, sentencing: HB 1700 |
| Controlled substances, uniform act, property forfeiture under: SB 5060 |
| Food and drug administration, U.S., disclosure exemption for certain records: HB 1385, SB 5455 |
| Illegal drugs, past manufacture on residential property, seller disclosure: SB 5391 |
| Illegal use, safe injection sites, prohibiting, and state regulatory preemption: HB 2112 |
| Insulin drugs, wholesale price increase notification: SB 5371 |
| Marijuana, business or nonprofit entity, licensing and residency: HB 1236, HB 1289, SB 5202, SB 5409 |
| Marijuana, businesses, administrative violations: HB 1237, SHB 1237, SB 5318 |
| Marijuana, businesses, advertising to minors, prohibiting: HB 1238, SB 5201 |
| Marijuana, businesses, advertising via billboards, prohibiting: HB 1466 |
| Marijuana, businesses, advertising via billboards, provisions: SB 5785 |
| Marijuana, businesses, agreements with, trademarks and intellectual property: HB 1794 |
| Marijuana, businesses, budtender permits for retailers and employees: HB 1370, SHB 1370, SB 5678 |
| Marijuana, businesses, cannabidiol products: HB 1238, SB 5201 |
| Marijuana, businesses, compliance and enforcement reform: HB 1237, SHB 1237, SB 5318 |
| Marijuana, businesses, delivery endorsement to retailer license: HB 1358 |
| Marijuana, businesses, labor peace agreements: HB 1289 |
| Marijuana, businesses, licensee limits, prohibitions: HB 1289 |
| Marijuana, businesses, marijuana merchandise: HB 1238, SB 5201 |
| Marijuana, businesses, outdoor advertising at stadium or raceway, when: SB 5969 |
| Marijuana, businesses, retail employee crimes involving underage persons: HB 1792 |
| Marijuana, businesses, siting and advertising near children: HB 1003 |
| Marijuana, businesses, transfers, holding companies, and management: HB 1289 |
| Marijuana, cannabis science task force, establishing: HB 2052 |
| Marijuana, cultivation or possession in a residence: HB 1131, SB 5155 |
| Marijuana, enforcement, powers of liquor enforcement officers: HB 1626 |
| Marijuana, excise tax provisions: HB 1959 |
| Marijuana, financiers of licensees, money source and criminal history of: HB 1963 |
| Marijuana, medical use, compassionate care renewals: HB 1094, ESHB 1094, SB 5498 |
| Marijuana, medical use, consumption by students: HB 1060, HB 1095, SHB 1095, SB 5442 |
| Marijuana, medical use, estimating medical market demand: SB 5599 |
| Marijuana, medical use, medical marijuana authorization database, funding: HB 1415, SHB 1415, SB 5482 |
| Marijuana, medical use, recognition cards and excise tax exemption: SB 5234 |
| Marijuana, possession, misdemeanor convictions, vacation of: HB 1500, SB 5605 |
| Marijuana, producer or processor license, direct sales endorsement: HB 1945, HB 1995 |
| Marijuana, product labels and labeling, requirements: HB 1250, SB 5298 |
| Marijuana, product testing laboratories, accreditation program for: HB 2052 |
| Marijuana, products/infused products, various liquor and marijuana permits: HB 1945 |
| Marijuana, products/infused products, various provisions: HB 1945 |
| Marijuana, retail license, for municipal corporation, commission, or authority: SB 5599 |
| Marijuana, retail license, marijuana consumption lounge special endorsement: HB 1945 |
| Marijuana, traceability system, state auditor to audit and report: HB 2076 |
| Marijuana, Washington cannabis commission, creating: HB 1974 |
| Naloxone, grades 7-12 and higher education access: SB 5464 |
| Naloxone, K-12 and higher education access: HB 1039, SHB 1039 |
| Offenses, criminal, persons convicted of, resentencing hearings for: SSB 5848, SB 5867 |
| Offenses, seizure and forfeiture of property: HB 1269 |
| Opioid overdose medication, grades 7-12 and higher education access: SB 5464 |
| Opioid overdose medication, K-12 and higher education access: HB 1039, SHB 1039 |
| Opioid overdose medication, provisions: HB 1331, SHB 1331, 2SHB 1331, SB 5380 |
| Opioid pollution, reduction permits for pollution control facilities: SB 5657 |
| Opioids, prescription, B&O surtax on persons warehousing and reselling: SB 5940 |
| Opioids/other drugs, athletic trainer purchase/administration of, when: HB 1689, SB 5688 |
| Opioids/other drugs, crisis services, enhanced 211 drug line pilot project: SB 5546 |
| Prescription monitoring program, insulin drug wholesale price increases: SB 5371 |
| Prescription monitoring program, opioid prescribing and health records: HB 1331, SHB 1331, 2SHB 1331, SB 5380 |
| Prescription, athletic trainer purchase/administration of, when: HB 1689, SB 5688 |
| Prescription, compounding of drugs, requirements: HB 1352, SHB 1352, SB 5663 |
| Prescription, cost and utilization data, reporting: HB 1224, SHB 1224, E2SHB 1224, SB 5251, SB 5292, SSB 5292, 2SSB 5292 |
| Prescription, cost transparency, reporting for: HB 1224, SHB 1224, E2SHB 1224, SB 5251, SB 5292, SSB 5292, 2SSB 5292, SB 5422 |
| Prescription, drug utilization management protocol, use of: HB 1879, SB 5806 |
| Prescription, electronic communication to pharmacy of: 2SHB 1331, SB 5446 |
| Prescription, high-annual-cost, emerging therapies work group, establishing: HB 1869 |
| Prescription, mail order services, unintentional use/enrollment: SB 5184, SSB 5184 |
| Prescription, mercury-containing, prohibitions and requirements: HB 1276 |
| Prescription, naturopath drug and controlled substance prescribing: SHB 1630 |
| Prescription, naturopath legend drug and controlled substance prescribing: HB 1630, SB 5752 |
| Prescription, opioids, prescribing of, requirements: HB 1331, SHB 1331, 2SHB 1331, SB 5380 |
