Virginia lawmakers unanimously pass medical pot bill

The Virginia Senate voted unanimously Monday to pass a bill that would permit the use of medical marijuana, days after the House of Delegates passed a similar measure.

S.B. 726 will let Virginia doctors recommend the use of cannabidiol oil or THC-A oil for the treatment of any diagnosed condition or disease. The companion bill, H.B. 1251, unanimously passed Friday.

If approved by Gov. Ralph Northam, Virginia would become the 29th state to allow medical marijuana. The bills have not been placed on the governor’s calendar as of Wednesday.

Gov. Northam on Monday told the Richmond-Times Dispatch that he is in favor of decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana and that he thinks “we need to be open-minded about using marijuana for medical purposes.”