O’Malley administration backs medical marijuana bill – A year after opposition, health secretary endorses dispensing through academic medical centers

By Timothy B. Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun
 
Gov. Martin O’Malley‘s administration withdrew its opposition to legislation allowing doctors and nurses to dispense medical marijuana to patients through academic medical centers, raising prospects for passage this year.
Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, the state secretary of health and mental hygiene, said Friday that the administration could support the bill but only if it gave the governor the “flexibility” to suspend the program if the federal government threatened legal action over what it still classifies as an illegal drug.
“If it’s clear it’s not something that’s going to bring prosecution on state employees, we can go forward,” Sharfstein told members of the House Government Operations and Judiciary committees, who held a joint hearing on the issue.
 
Full Article:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-md-sharfstein-marijuana-20130308,0,5771894.story