Post by Logan on Jun 27, 2016 0:40:08 GMT -6
Medical Marijuana Bill Faces Fierce Opposition At First Hearing
ST. CROIX — When the Senate killed an industrial hemp bill (which was later resurrected, tapered, passed and signed into law by Governor Kenneth Mapp), it served as a precursor to what a medical marijuana industry hearing — the first being heard today at the Fritz Lawaetz Legislative Hall here — would look like: fierce debates for and against the measure.
Today, the opposing forces came ready to dismantle the legislation, painting a picture of a drug that may cause the territory irreversible harm and places the islands — which are heavily dependent on federal dollars — in the cross hairs of the federal government.
A myriad of testifiers came in opposition, including the Juan F. Luis Hospital and the Schneider Regional Medical Center, whose officials contended that being involved in the medical marijuana industry would be detrimental to their operations, and could even cause them to lose Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services, a federally administered program which, for J.F.L. at least, accounts for some 60 percent of the hospital’s account receivables.
Other testifiers piled on, including local doctors and other groups, pummeling the measure as bad for the Virgin Islands, its youth and future.
Read more: viconsortium.com/health/medical-marijuana-bill-faces-fierce-opposition-at-first-hearing/
ST. CROIX — When the Senate killed an industrial hemp bill (which was later resurrected, tapered, passed and signed into law by Governor Kenneth Mapp), it served as a precursor to what a medical marijuana industry hearing — the first being heard today at the Fritz Lawaetz Legislative Hall here — would look like: fierce debates for and against the measure.
Today, the opposing forces came ready to dismantle the legislation, painting a picture of a drug that may cause the territory irreversible harm and places the islands — which are heavily dependent on federal dollars — in the cross hairs of the federal government.
A myriad of testifiers came in opposition, including the Juan F. Luis Hospital and the Schneider Regional Medical Center, whose officials contended that being involved in the medical marijuana industry would be detrimental to their operations, and could even cause them to lose Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services, a federally administered program which, for J.F.L. at least, accounts for some 60 percent of the hospital’s account receivables.
Other testifiers piled on, including local doctors and other groups, pummeling the measure as bad for the Virgin Islands, its youth and future.
Read more: viconsortium.com/health/medical-marijuana-bill-faces-fierce-opposition-at-first-hearing/