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Second ' listening session' on med marijuana

BOSTON (AP) - The Coalition for Responsible Patient Care, an advocacy group for the medical marijuana industry, is expected to be among those who will testify at a hearing aimed at getting public input into regulations currently being drafted to regulate the medical marijuana in Massachusetts.

The Department of Public Health will hold the hearing Thursday in Boston.

Massachusetts voters approved the legalization of medical marijuana through a ballot question in November. Civil and criminal penalties were eliminated for the use of marijuana by people with cancer, Parkinson's Disease, AIDS and other serious conditions.

Rob Hunt, chairman of the coalition, said the group will urge the creation of regulations that strike the right balance between patient access and public safety.

Thursday's hearing is the second in a series of "listening sessions" hosted by the DPH.