A Department of Health meeting with interest groups about a legal limit on medical-marijuana supplies has been opened for the public to observe from an separate room today.
The agency expects to miss its July 1 deadline for setting a limit for a 60-day supply for medical-marijuana users. But a draft rule is expected to be submitted by then for public hearings and rule-making later this summer, DOH spokesman Donn Moyer said.
Activists want to see a larger supply of pot allowed for patients under the 1998 voter-approved medical-marijuana law. But some expressed fears that state health regulators would meet behind closed doors with police and prosecutors to discuss a lower-than-appropriate limit.
Moyer said there is no intent to exclude activists and no requirement by law to open the informal meetings. But he said the work group meeting scheduled for 3 p.m. today will be opened so observers can watch via video from a separate room. The meeting is at DOH headquarters, 101 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater.
Expected participants include DOH staff, prosecutors, medical professionals and perhaps the American Civil Liberties Union, he said.
An earlier recommendation to the governor's office set a limit of almost 2 pounds, or 35 ounces, but the governor asked the agency to start over because its calculations had not included comments from law enforcement or medical doctors.
Joanne McKee, co-founder of the Green Cross Patient Co-op of Seattle, which helps patients get marijuana supplies, said the 35-ounce limit is half what it needs to be.
She is part of the stakeholder group that has given comment to the DOH. She said there are thousands of patients in Western Washington who could be affected.
Under Senate Bill 6032, the agency was supposed to report to the Legislature by July 1.
"It's sad that the Department of Health can't get the work the Legislature asked them to do in a timely and professional fashion," Fred Mayer of Olympia said, adding that he had trouble getting information about the meeting.
State seeks medical pot limits - State Government - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington
Hopefully they do what is right for the patients.....
Have a good one!
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