It’s important to urge your representatives to vote “Yes” on C.S.H.B. No. 46 for several compelling reasons—while also recognizing areas where the bill could still be improved. Here's a breakdown:

Why People Should Urge Their Representatives to Vote Yes

1. Expanded Medical Access

• Adds critical new conditions & Veterans specifically included—Why it matters: It brings care to patients who currently suffer without access or are forced into dangerous opioid use.

2. Opioid Alternative

• Explicitly allows low-THC cannabis as a replacement for opioid prescriptions. Why it matters: This addresses the opioid crisis directly with a safer, non-lethal alternative.

3. Geographic Equity

• Requires one dispensary per public health region before any group can build multiple sites in a single area. Why it matters: This prevents rural and underserved areas from being excluded due to business consolidation.

4. Veteran Protections

• Offers a pathway to treatment based on need rather than diagnosis for veterans. Why it matters: Acknowledges the unique, often complex needs of veterans suffering from PTSD, chronic pain, and service-related injuries.

5. Clearer Path to Future Inclusion

• Empowers the Department of State Health Services to add new conditions. Allows physicians to petition for additional uses with peer-reviewed research. Why it matters: Keeps the program responsive to evolving medical evidence.

6. Patient Privacy Protections

• Prevents public release of registry data and protects patients from stigma or discrimination. Why it matters: Fear of exposure keeps many from seeking treatment.

7. Allows Inhaled Administration (Not Smoking)

• Enables vaporized/aerosol forms—the most effective and fast-acting method for many patients. Why it matters: This is especially useful for seizure disorders and nausea in cancer care.
  
  
  

  What Needs Improvement or Clarification

  1. THC Cap Reversal is Problematic

  • Reverting from 20 mg per unit to 1% by weight adds confusion and restricts product diversity.

  • Executive commissioner can define pulmonary dose equivalency, but no transparency on what limits might be set. Improvement: Reinstate 20 mg per unit cap or raise the % limit; clarify or codify THC equivalence for inhaled routes.

  2. No Patient-Driven Appeals Process

  • If future conditions are denied inclusion by the state, patients have no clear recourse.

  Improvement: Add a formal patient or physician appeals board for condition inclusion.

  3. Dispensary Cap Remains Arbitrary

  • The bill mandates 11 dispensaries, but doesn’t guarantee expansion even as population or patient need grows.

  Improvement: Set a minimum per capita or regional ratio for automatic license expansion based on demand.

  4. Still No Home Cultivation or Independent Testing Labs

  • Patients must rely entirely on licensed providers; this keeps prices high and limits supply chain transparency.

  Improvement: Explore a limited home-grow clause for qualified patients, and allow third-party labs to test products for safety.