The Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee on Wednesday endorsed two medical-marijuana bills approved Tuesday by the House of Representatives.
House Bill 1026 by Rep. Doug House, R-North Little Rock, would delay medical-marijuana implementation by 60 days from March 9 to May 8.
It allows the Medical Marijuana Commission the time it needs to come up with sufficient regulations and to allow public comment, House said.
House Bill 1058 by Rep. House is aimed at ensuring that medical-marijuana records -- while confidential -- are not subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. The bill also would remove a requirement that doctors determine if the "potential benefits of the medical use of marijuana likely would outweigh the health risks for the qualifying patient."
The bills go to the Senate for further consideration.
-- Brian Fanney