An Idaho bill would legalize cannabis-derived pain relief spray for individuals with multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders, were it to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Lewiston Tribune reports. State Sen. Fred Martin, the Republican chairman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee said that while he doesn’t support legalizing cannabis, he does “support the appropriate use of ingredients found in marijuana that can be beneficial.”
The bill, specifically, carves out a code in Idaho law for nabiximols, which is developed by GW Pharmaceuticals, the same company that developed Epidiolex, which is the only cannabis-derived drug with FDA approval.
“Upon passage of this legislation, nabiximols will become available for prescription-only after approval by the FDA and scheduling as a controlled substance by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration,” the bill’s statement of purpose reads.
State Rep. Fred Wood (R), who chairs the House Health and Welfare Committee said GW expects to get the drug approved by the FDA this summer. He added that the drug would likely be Schedule II on the federal Controlled Substances List.
The legislation was introduced in the lower chamber’s Health and Welfare Committee on a voice vote and can return to the committee for a public hearing, the report says.
Idaho has not legalized cannabis in any form. A bill to legalize medical cannabis was introduced in the House Health and Welfare Committee last year but never advanced to a full hearing. Advocates are collecting signatures to put the issue on ballots during this year’s midterm elections.
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