Massachusetts lawmakers are planning to hold a hearing on a ballot question that would legalize the medical use of marijuana. WAMC's Tristan O'Neill reports...
The ballot question would allow patients with debilitating medical conditions such as cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis to get permission from their doctors to use marijuana.
The plan also calls for the state to register up to 35 nonprofit medical treatment centers around the state to distribute the marijuana.
Attorney General Martha Coakley has certified the initiative to appear on the November ballot.
Tuesday's hearing by the legislature's Committee on Public Health is scheduled to take place in Gardner Auditorium at the Statehouse.
The ballot question is being bankrolled almost entirely by Ohio billionaire Peter Lewis, chairman of the board of the auto insurer Progressive Corp.
Tristan O'Neill, WAMC News.
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