The months-long debate on legalizing medical marijuana in Pennsylvania could come down to a vote in Harrisburg in a few weeks.

The Gov. Tom Wolf administration is pushing the state House of Representatives to quickly pass legislation, and the measure could be introduced the week of March 14, when lawmakers return from recess.

Already, the state Senate approved in May Senate Bill 3 with support by a majority of Democrats and Republicans.

“I remain open to legislation that would allow doctors to prescribe cannabis to people for medical purposes, as long as it is closely regulated,” said state Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint. “It’s really not clear how many people could benefit from this option, and there is serious disagreement even among the medical community about whether the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.”

However, Causer said he believes medical marijuana should be able to be prescribed by doctors for patients suffering ailments such as seizures, cancer, certain auto-immune diseases or chronic pain. Working together, the doctor and patient can choose if medical marijuana is the best method for treatment, Causer said.

One area resident said it would help him with his medical problems.

“It would help coping with cancer and pain treatments for me. I hate taking 10 to 12 pills a day to deal with it!” Kevin Ott of Kane said via The Era’s Facebook page.

But for state Rep. Matt Baker, R-Wellsboro, who is the chairman of the House Health Committee, he said he is opposed to medical marijuana.

“Although most doctor and medical groups do not view marijuana as medicine, they do believe derivatives of marijuana can be potentially approved as medicine by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), such as Marinol and Cesamet, which have been approved and are used to help cancer and HIV patients,” Baker said.

Legalizing medical cannabis would bring many challenges, said Baker. He pointed to testimony that came from joint Health and Judiciary committees: Conflict with federal law; increased crime; lack of local control and zoning issues; increased costs to human services; and increased emergency room and hospital admissions.

“Medicine should be left to the medical and scientific experts and not politicians,” Baker said.

But Lori Rose Bebko of Bradford said she feels that science has just started to unearth the benefits of the cannabis plant.

“Natives all over the world used it for healing properties,” she said. “So many advancements and discoveries in the past decade make it imperative that we research and test more. It is not a gateway drug, and truly, alcohol has been proven to impair and harm people more. We must step away from the hysteria and sensationalism of ‘Reefer Madness.’”

For his part, Jim Gourley of Bradford said he supports medical marijuana, adding pills are more dangerous.

“Cannabis has been shown to have many, many medical benefits. And no one has died from it. Alcohol is legal. Let that sink in,” Jag McGew via The Era’s Facebook page.

In her view, Shelly Brugh of Eldred said medical marijuana could benefit many individuals.

“It’s an herb. An herb with amazing qualities for those that are sick,” Brugh said.

Their thoughts are in line with those of the governor. In part, Wolf said in a prepared statement that the legalization of medical marijuana is long past due.

“It is time to legalize medical marijuana because we should not deny doctor-recommended treatment that could help people suffering from seizures or cancer patients affected by chemotherapy,” Wolf said.

As a matter of fact, the Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society believes an effective medical marijuana program could bring relief and palliative care for adults and children suffering from chronic pain.

“The proposed legislation, which PAMCS supports, reflects some lawmakers concerns that permitting treatment for chronic pain will result in potential abuse with putative patients seeking a medical cannabis recommendation for minor aches and pains,” said Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society Media Director Sven Hosford.

He continued: “The resulting language of the omnibus amendment, which PAMCS also supports, would limit a physician from making a medical cannabis recommendation for chronic pain treatment until he or she has exhausted other options.”

Though this language is not one the organization would have chosen, officials consider it a great beginning step in implementing a non-existent industry in Pennsylvania, Hosford said.

However, the Pennsylvania Medical Society spokesman Chuck Moran indicated the organization knows physicians in other states are not in a race to prescribe and/or recommend medical marijuana.

“From our perspective, the problem facing those pushing SB (Senate Bill) 3 isn’t getting it to the finish line,” said Pennsylvania Medical Society spokesman Chuck Moran. “The problem will be physician buy-in afterwards. While there are smaller studies and anecdotal stories suggesting some degree of success in helping some individuals, most of the research on marijuana as a medicine does not reach the level often associated with the practice of medicine.”

“Likely, you’ll see a small percentage of physicians prescribing/recommending it,” Moran said.

But Hosford said the Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society believes the medical marijuana bill is critical to residents across the state.

“We are awash in a heroin abuse epidemic that most agree is a direct result of the over-prescription of pharmaceutical opioids,” he said.

In fact, those states with medical cannabis program, for instance, the rate of prescription opioid overdose fatalities has declined by 25 percent, according to Hosford.

“We estimate over 200,000 Pennsylvanians could benefit from this non-toxic, natural treatment alternative,” he said. “We are not naively suggesting that medical cannabis is a panacea for all ailments, but we are absolutely confident that the science demonstrates its efficacy as a safe, natural medicine.”