Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles has taken up the issue of allowing patients access to medical marijuana this year, after a high-profile debate on the issue in the last regular session. Her bill, SB 6265, was heard in the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee this morning.

Here’s the Associated Press’ coverage:

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — State lawmakers pursued a new plan Wednesday to provide medical marijuana patients with easier access to the drug and the governor's office said staff members were contributing to the bill just months after she vetoed a different proposal.

 

Democratic Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles said she is optimistic that the Legislature can make some improvements to the system. The new proposal would allow local governments to regulate nonprofit patient cooperatives, which could grow up to 99 plants.

She acknowledged that the bill could undergo changes as it has some support and some opposition from both sides.

"I am very frustrated," Kohl-Welles said. "This is like a big puzzle, trying to put together the pieces into a coherent whole that will make sense for all the different groups. It is an extremely daunting challenge."