SR 112 (LSB 6176XS (5) 85)

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 112

BY  BOLKCOM, SCHNEIDER, McCOY, BREITBACH, ZAUN, COURTNEY, ROZENBOOM, HATCH, SINCLAIR, and DOTZLER

A Resolution requesting the legislative council to establish a legislative interim study committee to study the feasibility of establishing a medical use of cannabis program in this state.

   WHEREAS, modern medical research has confirmed the beneficial uses of cannabis in treating or alleviating the pain, nausea, and other symptoms associated with a variety of debilitating medical conditions, including epilepsy, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and HIV/AIDS, as found by the national academy of sciences’ institute of medicine in March 1999; and
   WHEREAS, studies published since the 1999 Institute of Medicine report continue to show the therapeutic value of cannabis in treating a wide array of debilitating medical conditions including relief of the neuropathic pain caused by multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, and other illnesses that often fail to respond to conventional treatments, increasing the chances of patients continuing on life-saving treatment regimens; and
   WHEREAS, cannabis has many currently accepted medical uses in the United States, having been recommended by thousands of licensed physicians to at least 600,000 patients in states with medical cannabis laws; and
   WHEREAS, the medical utility of cannabis is recognized by a wide range of medical and public health organizations, including the American Academy of HIV medicine, the American college of physicians, the American nurses association, the American public health association, the leukemia and lymphoma society, and many others; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the legislative council is requested to establish a legislative interim study committee for the 2014 legislative interim to make recommendations on the feasibility of establishing a medical cannabis program in this state allowing qualifying resident patients to purchase and possess cannabis for medical purposes, and to file a final report including recommendations with the general assembly by December 30, 2014.