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Philly Hosts 'Crash Course' On Pa. Medical Marijuana Law

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A few dozen people attended a medical marijuana seminar in Center City today.

Visitors learned about all they need to know about the newly enacted law in Pennsylvania. It was a crash course on everything one would need to know about medical marijuana in Pennsylvania.

Under the law, doctors would only be allowed to recommend marijuana to patients, they won't be able to prescribe it, and they can't include marijuana in advertising. Becky Dansky with the Marijuana Policy Project says there is a list of 17 approved conditions.

"Cancer, HIV, AIDS, seizure disorders, MS, ALS and three that are particularly of note are PTSD, chronic pain, and Autism. Pennsylvania is the first state to include autism as a general category in their medical marijuana law."

Cara Salemme is the mother of a 9-year-old boy who suffers seizures. She's been told by doctors that marijuana would probably help her little guy but she can't get it for him.

"It is so frustrating and it makes you angry and it makes you want to fight. I see him suffer. He had a seizure on the floor at the state capital building when were there at a rally to fight for his life."

The first dispensaries won't be opening for at least 18 months.

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