The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today will hold its first-ever hearing on a bill that would legalize marijuana for medical purposes.

The House Health and Human Services Committee will hold a public hearing at 11 a.m. in Room 140 of the Main Capitol in Harrisburg on a bill from state Rep. Mark B. Cohen, D-Phila., H.B. 1393, which would permit the use of medical marijuana in Pennsylvania.

Cohen will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. with people who say they would have their suffering reduced or eliminated if they were allowed to use medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. The news conference will be at the East Wing Rotunda at the Capitol.

"The time has come for Pennsylvania to join 13 other states that allow patients suffering from cancer, glaucoma, HIV or other physically painful diseases to use medical marijuana," Cohen said in a press release. "It is important the committee and the public hear the powerful stories from these patients about the beneficial use of medical marijuana in treating pain and other symptoms of debilitating medical conditions."

The House Health and Human Services Committee hearing on H.B. 1393 will be streamed live on

www.pahouse.com

.