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State Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon

State Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon County, will co-sponsor a bill to legalize medical marijuana in Pennsylvania.

The other sponsor will be state Sen. Daylin Leach, a Philadelphia-area Democrat who previously introduced such as a bill. Leach and Folmer plan to detail their proposal on Monday.

Previously, there has been little support from Republicans for medical marijuana, although proponents including Leach say that is starting to change.

In an interview this week, Folmer said there are many legally-prescribed drugs, including painkillers, which have negative side effects such as high potential for addiction. But because of their medical benefits, doctors can prescribe them, said Folmer, who argued doctors should similarly be able to tap medical benefits of marijuana.

Folmer said, “medical cannabis is a plant that has been put here by God to be used for our benefit.”

Leach said in a news release, “By working together on this important issue, my colleague and I are breaking new ground and taking huge strides toward allowing Pennsylvanians access to this life-changing and beneficial alternative form of treatment. That is nothing short of earth-shattering in the realm of Pennsylvania government.”

The announcement comes as a contingent of central Pennsylvania parents have been urging legislators to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. Many of them have children with a severe seizure disorder that can’t be well-controlled with other drugs.

The have been swayed by a Colorado-based movement to treat such seizures with an oil derived from a specially-developed strain of marijuana plant.

People involved in the Colorado movement are expected to attend a rally and series of events at the Capitol in Harrisburg on Monday.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican and former prosecutor, has said he opposes legalizing marijuana for medical purposes and will veto a bill.

Note: this story was corrected to state that Daylin Leach is a member of the state senate, not the house.