Senate adopts finance committee changes to medical cannabis allocations, redirecting funds

The Senate on second reading adopted a finance committee amendment that changes how proceeds of the state medical cannabis program are allocated. The Junior Senator from the Sixteenth told the chamber the amendment raises an allocation from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 for a pilot project administered by the Supreme Court of Appeals to establish a child-protection commission, and eliminates two previously proposed $10,000,000 allocations to Marshall University and West Virginia University for 'Abigail' research.

The sponsor said the amendment modifies two allocations and urged adoption; no floor questions were raised and the Senate adopted the committee amendment and advanced the bill to third reading. The transcript does not include the legislative bill number for the specific amendment language in this excerpt beyond the house bill reference on the floor.