Committee urges new policy on medical marijuana

The state Senate Health Committee voted 7-3 on Wednesday on a joint resolution that urges the federal government to end medical marijuana raids in the state and to "create a comprehensive federal medical marijuana policy that ensures safe and legal access to any patient that would benefit from it."

Senate Joint Resolution 14, introduced in June by State Senator Mark Leno, D-San Francisco,, comes at a time when the Obama Administration has signaled a willingness to change federal policy, but has yet to come forward with an actual implementation plan.

The resolution now proceeds to the Senate Judiciary Committee then, if passed, to the Senate floor.