Public Comments

• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• Androgen insensitivity syndrome
• Gonadal dysgenesis

• Hormone therapy
• Endocrine stabilization
• Corrective or reconstructive genital surgery
• Ongoing metabolic monitoring

• Physician shortages
• Limited specialty care access
• Long travel distances for endocrinology and surgical services

• 14th Amendment – Equal Protection Clause
• 14th Amendment – Due Process Clause
• Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. §18116) prohibiting discrimination in federally funded healthcare programs

• Referral requirements
• Continuity of care
• Non-abandonment protections
• Emergency stabilization clarity beyond federal minimums

• Beneficence (acting in the patient’s best interest)
• Nonmaleficence (do no harm)
• Justice (fair access to care)
• Respect for patient autonomy

• Documentation standards
• Notice requirements
• Timely referral
• Assurance that another provider is reasonably accessible

• Equal protection under the law
• Access to medically necessary treatment
• The state’s obligation to ensure nondiscriminatory healthcare access

The state of WV was built on the backs of coal miners. As the mines close, the workers are still affected. They have immense chronic pain, and lung conditions that prevent them from consuming the cannabis plant. Not only for pain relief, but for ptsd management. Please allow the production of Edibles in this state, so that we may further help people who have sacrificed their bodies, for our state to grow. Another side of the coin, think about all of the cancer patients that can not consume cannabis easily. These patients have lung cancer, or throat cancer. If they were able to add an edible to their tea, or be able to drink a thc drink. The relief they could feel for a time, would be wonderful for them. It may give them enough encouragement to keep fighting these diseases. My grandma could have used it, she fought for 8 years with various cancers. She didn’t get to see the wonders of cannabis, because she died in 2008, after a doctor told her she was going to die and there was no saving her. It was a harsh reality, and she had no relief, just pills. These pills/chemo through all 8 years ate her alive, she was skin and bones, puking every night. I was in middle school and was with her every night for the last 4 years of her life. She was in agony, and all I could do was rub her back and lay with her on the couch, while she moaned and cried in pain. My grandma deserved relief from her daily torture, but no, the state waited too long to give her a more natural remedy; she died in agony. No one deserves that, no one should be forced to swallow 30 pills a day, just to become addict and overdose. You don’t overdose on cannabis, you consume it, and you eat, that’s a game changer for cancer patients who have lost their appetite. Edibles aren’t for kids or teens just trying to get high, they’re for your grandma with arthritis, your grandpa who just had a hip replacement, your uncle who has black lung from the coal mines, your dad who has a bad back from working construction, and your mom who nearly broke her back caring for you and your constituents.

As a nurse, I support House Bill 5260 and the inclusion of edible forms of medical cannabis in West Virginia’s medical cannabis program. In my clinical experience, patients have diverse medical needs and tolerances, and no single form of medication works for everyone. Edibles offer a non-inhaled option that can be more appropriate for patients with respiratory conditions, chronic pain, neurological disorders, or difficulty swallowing.

I appreciate that House Bill 5260 establishes clear safety measures, including limits on THC per serving, standardized labeling, child-resistant packaging, and state oversight of products. These safeguards align with responsible medication practices and help ensure patients receive consistent, predictable dosing.

From a healthcare standpoint, expanding access to regulated edible options allows providers and patients to make individualized treatment decisions and may help reduce reliance on higher-risk medications such as opioids or sedatives. This bill represents a patient-centered, safety-focused improvement to West Virginia’s medical cannabis program.

I encourage lawmakers to support House Bill 5260 in the interest of patient safety, access, and evidence-based care.

As a veteran, I strongly support House Bill 5260 and the inclusion of edible forms of medical cannabis in West Virginia’s medical program. Many veterans live with chronic pain, PTSD, anxiety, sleep disorders, and service-related injuries that make daily life difficult. Edibles provide a non-smokable, discreet, and longer-lasting option that can be especially helpful for managing symptoms overnight or when other forms are not appropriate.

I appreciate that this bill includes strict safeguards such as limits on THC per serving, clear labeling, child-resistant packaging, and oversight by the state. These regulations ensure that edibles remain a responsible medical option and not a risk to public safety.

Veterans should have access to the full range of medically appropriate cannabis products so we can choose what works best for our individual conditions. Allowing regulated edibles gives veterans another tool to reduce reliance on opioids and other medications that often come with serious side effects.

Please support House Bill 5260 and continue improving access to safe, effective medical cannabis options for West Virginia’s veterans.

• W. Va. Code § 27-5-7(c) presently requires evaluation of dangerousness by a mental hygiene commissioner before involuntary treatment orders; HB 5370 removes this procedural safeguard by permitting a mandatory hold prior to any formal evaluation.
• Involuntary confinement absent individualized findings of imminent risk of harm raises serious due-process concerns analogous to standards enunciated in Addington v. Texas, 441 U.S. 418 (1979), requiring clear and convincing evidence before civil commitment.

• There is no requirement that an impartial decision-maker determine that the individual poses a present danger to self or others before confinement.
• Neither W. Va. Code § 27-5-8 (emergency admission criteria) nor subsequent sections provide a judicial review mechanism prior to or during the mandatory hold.

• W. Va. Code §§ 27-5-1 et seq. establish explicit criteria for involuntary admission — including “danger to self or others” — which are absent from the proposed 24-hour hold.
• Rewriting these standards through emergency holds without clearly defined thresholds undermines the legislative framework and creates parallel detention authority not contemplated by existing law.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and SAMHSA explicitly recognize that stigma is a barrier to treatment and recovery. When law itself treats individuals with SUD as categorically dangerous, it reinforces prejudicial attitudes that deter help-seeking.
• Empirical studies show that involuntary treatment models are less effective than voluntary, evidence-based models in achieving long-term recovery outcomes.

• Individuals at risk or in need of care may avoid disclosing symptoms or risk factors to professionals for fear of involuntary confinement.
• This undermines the success of preventative and collaborative interventions embodied in West Virginia’s broader behavioral health policies.

1. Reject HB 5370 in its current form; OR
2. Amend it to include:
   • Objective statutory criteria requiring clear evidence of imminent danger before hold is authorized;
   • Prompt judicial review prior to or within 24 hours of detention;
   • Explicit protections for voluntary care pathways;
   • Language that avoids presuming dangerousness solely based on health conditions.

1. I just want to respond to Cindy M comment,.. she says our state is low ranking in healthcare & we have one of the highest mortality rate.. for infants? Would those deaths include after theyve received their vaccinations ? Healthy babies dont just die. Vaccine side effects that can contribute to infant deaths.. include APNEA , BRADYCARDIA,  MIs, BRAIN SWELLING,  & uncontrollable SEIZURES. & more.
2. The apnea can happen at night or right in front of your eyes, after their well visit.
3. The ingredients in the vaccines can upset the heart, causing children to have heart attacks or drop a babies heart to where its crucial to get intervention.. meaning CPR. A lot of cases.. this happens at home,  where they are not trained on CPR & unfortunately the EMS is too, late. Resulting in death.
4. Please let the parents decide whether or not they want to vaccinate.

1. Please take up this bill ! We shouldn't even have a law that refuses the right of students to attend school. About 700 families have a religious exemption. And the legislators are ignoring every single one of them & more. Some families want one but haven't gotten one because of what the legislators are doing .. & the board.

HB 4073 provides a clear, reasonable, and respectful path for families with sincerely held religious beliefs to access a religious exemption from compulsory school immunizations. Children should not have their education interrupted or denied because their parents are exercising deeply held religious convictions. This bill ensures that families are not forced to choose between faith and their child’s ability to attend school.

Importantly, HB 4073 maintains existing public health safeguards. Medical exemptions remain in place, vaccination requirements are unchanged, and schools continue to receive proper documentation. The bill simply adds a transparent, standardized religious exemption process that respects parental rights while preserving order and clarity for schools.

West Virginia families are diverse, and our laws should reflect respect for conscience, religious liberty, and uninterrupted access to education. HB 4073 strikes that balance thoughtfully and responsibly.

I respectfully urge House Delegates to vote in favor of HB 4073. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Good afternoon. My name is Noel and I am a resident of Berkeley County, West Virginia. I am here to express my strong support for House Bill 4947.

HB 4947 protects the fundamental right of West Virginians to live according to their sincerely held religious beliefs without being forced to choose between faith, education, or employment. Religious freedom is a cornerstone of both the United States Constitution and the West Virginia Constitution, and this bill reinforces that principle in a fair and reasonable way.

Children’s education should never be hindered or interrupted because they are unable to receive a vaccine due to prior injuries, adverse reactions, or their parents’ sincerely held religious beliefs. Children should not be punished for circumstances beyond their control. HB 4947 ensures that families are not forced out of schools, childcare settings, or educational environments simply for exercising medical caution or religious conviction.

This bill strikes an appropriate balance by preserving public health protections while respecting individual conscience and parental rights. It provides clarity, consistency, and protection against discrimination, ensuring that West Virginia families and workers are treated with dignity and fairness.

I respectfully urge House Delegates to vote in favor of HB 4947 and protect religious liberty, parental rights, and uninterrupted access to education for all West Virginians. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

• Employment discipline or termination
• Housing instability
• Conflicts with probation, parole, or recovery housing
• Public stigma and selective enforcement

• Lawful certification
• Off-duty use
• No observable impairment

• Does not establish current impairment
• Can persist for days or weeks after lawful use
• Does not correlate reliably with cognitive or motor function

• Clear impairment-based standards
• Protection from nanogram-only punishment
• Clarification of patient rights in employment and public settings

• Their medication and their livelihood
• Their treatment and their housing
• Their health and their legal safety

• does not require evidence-based treatment,
• does not track patient outcomes,
• does not ensure access to medication-assisted treatment,
• does not protect medically necessary patient transfers.

• inter-facility transfers,
• cross-county transfers,
• transfers due to medication incompatibility,
• transfers required for co-occurring medical or psychiatric conditions.

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §12132, which requires public programs and services to provide reasonable accommodations and avoid discriminatory exclusion based on disability, including substance-use disorder.
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §794, which prohibits denial of benefits or services under federally funded programs due to disability.
• EMTALA, 42 U.S.C. §1395dd, which establishes obligations related to stabilization and appropriate transfers when medical necessity requires it.

• filled beds are treated as success,
• patient outcomes are irrelevant,
• relapse, deterioration, or forced program retention go unmeasured.

• Article III, §10 of the West Virginia Constitution (due process), and
• Article III, §17 (equal protection),

• saturation in already over-burdened neighborhoods,
• “LLC rebranding” to avoid scrutiny,
• patient brokering / incentive-driven referrals, and
• Medicaid/payer waste that ultimately hits taxpayers.

• requires registration of recovery residences (§16-59-4), and
• prohibits state entities (including WVDCR, parole board, probation offices, etc.) from referring parolees/probationers/patients to a recovery residence unless it holds a valid certificate of compliance (§16-59-3(a)), and
• restricts state-treasury and state-benefit funding to uncertified residences (§16-59-3(b)-(c)).  

• mandatory public reporting of ownership, staffing ratios, capacity, and outcomes;
• coordination requirements with local EMS/public safety;
• distance/compatibility standards tied to local zoning and safety planning (without discrimination);
• strict anti-fraud and anti-brokering enforcement aligned with WV’s patient-brokering prohibitions (see §16-62-2 in SB 475’s enacted framework).  

• Men’s reproductive responsibility should be reduced primarily to sterilization,
• Gender equality is achieved by isolating procedures rather than addressing systemic bias,
• Biological sex determines appropriate roles or decisions in family planning.

• Address reproductive healthcare access across all genders, not isolate one procedure,
• Invest in education, counseling, and prevention, not only surgical outcomes,
• Avoid reinforcing gender stereotypes that already contribute to unequal treatment in workplaces, healthcare settings, and the legal system.

1. Please pass this bill.
2. We need it coded into law

I fully support 5260. As a medical card holder having the option for edibles would allow myself and other that do not like vaping or oils a better option. Not to mention the just keeping WV money in WV rather than individuals traveling to border states to buy edibles.

Greetings,

Sincerely,

Greetings,

I am writing as a constituent, and most importantly, as a follower of Jesus Christ and an Episcopalian in the state of West Virginia.  Jesus drew near to the hurting and the addicted, and confronted the shame and stigma that so many people face. 

I urge you to oppose House Bill 4413, which would repeal West Virginia’s existing syringe services program statute and make syringe services programs unlawful.  Without syringe services, many high-risk individuals disengage entirely, increasing unsafe injection, needle litter,  and preventable disease transmission—costs that will ultimately be borne by taxpayers and the health care system.

There are few syringe exchange services in our state who already operate under very restrictive guidelines.  According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), syringe services are associated with a 50% reduction of HIV and Hepatitis C incidence.  They also note that those who access syringe services are five times more likely to seek recovery services than those who do not.  

West Virginia continues to face some of the highest rates of overdose, HIV, and hepatitis C in the nation. Syringe services programs are proven to reduce the spread of infectious disease, prevent overdose deaths, and serve as a primary point of contact connecting people to treatment, naloxone, and medical care.

Replacing regulation with prohibition and civil penalties will not eliminate syringe access.  It will push it underground, reduce oversight, and worsen public health outcomes. The 120-day transition period offered in the bill is also unworkable, as providers are barred from offering the very services patients rely on during that transition.

West Virginia should strengthen and improve oversight of syringe services programs—not ban them outright. I urge you to oppose this bill and support policies grounded in evidence, fiscal responsibility, and the health and safety of our communities.

You will be in my prayers through the legislative session.  

Sincerely,

The Very Rev. Tommy Sheppard Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church Moundsville, WV

Greetings,

I am writing as a constituent, and most importantly, as a follower of Jesus Christ and an Episcopalian in the state of West Virginia.  Jesus drew near to the hurting and the addicted, and confronted the shame and stigma that so many people face. 

I urge you to oppose House Bill 4413, which would repeal West Virginia’s existing syringe services program statute and make syringe services programs unlawful.  Without syringe services, many high-risk individuals disengage entirely, increasing unsafe injection, needle litter,  and preventable disease transmission—costs that will ultimately be borne by taxpayers and the health care system.

There are few syringe exchange services in our state who already operate under very restrictive guidelines.  According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), syringe services are associated with a 50% reduction of HIV and Hepatitis C incidence.  They also note that those who access syringe services are five times more likely to seek recovery services than those who do not.  

West Virginia continues to face some of the highest rates of overdose, HIV, and hepatitis C in the nation. Syringe services programs are proven to reduce the spread of infectious disease, prevent overdose deaths, and serve as a primary point of contact connecting people to treatment, naloxone, and medical care.

Replacing regulation with prohibition and civil penalties will not eliminate syringe access.  It will push it underground, reduce oversight, and worsen public health outcomes. The 120-day transition period offered in the bill is also unworkable, as providers are barred from offering the very services patients rely on during that transition.

West Virginia should strengthen and improve oversight of syringe services programs—not ban them outright. I urge you to oppose this bill and support policies grounded in evidence, fiscal responsibility, and the health and safety of our communities.

You will be in my prayers through the legislative session.  

Sincerely,

The Rev. Scott F. Williams

Priest-in-Charge, Trinity Episcopal Church, Morgantown

Dear West Virginia House of Delegates Health Committee,

I am writing you to express my support for House Bill 4392, and would urge you to do the same. Among the many challenges that our great state faces, secretly poisoning our children should not be one of them. In this case, the destructive and unnecessary additives that I’m referring to are Synthetic Dyes. Synthetic Food Dyes have impacted our family in ways we would have never imagined. Over the past two years our eldest child has suffered from night terrors with episodes of sleepwalking, tremors while he sleeps, outbursts of aggression that are out of the ordinary for his personality, difficulty focusing on tasks, and potentially much worse.

Over two years ago we decided to consult with his doctors about these symptoms which were becoming life altering. His pediatrician at the time pushed for an ADHD diagnosis, which would have meant more synthetic drugs to attempt to treat his symptoms. Thankfully for us, the teachers at his Montessori School pushed back strongly at that notion. We continued to explore what environmental factors could be causing these issues. What we found was most all of his behavior and sleep-related symptoms stopped entirely after we cut synthetic dyes out of our diets. 

In the process of getting rid of synthetic dyes from our house, we’ve had doctors and pharmacists belittle our choices, because, believe it or not, this poison is in our children’s medicine! These unnecessary additives serve zero nutritional purpose other than to color the drugs and foods they’re present in. They do not add flavor, nor do they change the active ingredients to make the medicine work better. A year ago our son was diagnosed with a chronic illness. We were in and out of the hospital for weeks and in that time all of our efforts to avoid synthetic dyes were foiled. Hospitals didn’t have dye free options for medications and finding food options without dyes was close to impossible. Avoiding the consumption of synthetic dyes is truly an exhausting practice requiring massive amounts of time researching ingredients and finding brands and stores that have access to safer options. In addition, this means we have to drive to Jefferson Pharmacy in Ranson (an hour drive round trip) every time we need an antibiotic, steroid, or virtually any children-specific medicine.

Routinely, our son is prescribed new medications with his chronic illness. And as you’d expect, most of the medicine contains Red Dye 40. To make matters worse, under current FDA regulations, because the medicine is “widely available commercially” (all still tainted with synthetic dyes) the local compounding facility, which has saved us many times in the past, was barred from compounding the medicine dye free. They’re the ONLY compounding facility in our area with the capacity to make medicine without this unnecessary and harmful chemical, and even still they have unnecessary burdens placed on them.

Extensive research, including studies by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), a division of the California Environmental Protection Agency, has linked synthetic dyes to adverse neurobehavioral effects in children. Chronic exposure to these dyes can impair children’s ability to learn, succeed in school, and maintain healthy relationships with peers, potentially leading to serious long-term consequences. Moreover, Red 3, is a known carcinogen, while Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 may contain carcinogenic contaminants. Red 3 and Yellow 5 have also been identified as genotoxic.

According to the OEHHA report, reactions to synthetic dyes can mimic or exacerbate existing mental health conditions like ADHD. Neurobehavioral effects caused or worsened by these dyes in children include hyperactivity, inattentiveness, restlessness, sleeplessness, irritability, and aggression. Given the risks associated with consuming synthetic dyes, I believe it is crucial that we take action to protect our children. [fact sheet: https://bit.ly/4e4kIZ9]

New research now shows a direct link to an increased risk for inflammatory bowel disease, and synthetic dyes which are commonly found in our food and medicine. [https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2023/02/can-red-food-dye-give-you-ibd#:~:text=New research raises concerns that,known as Red Dye 40.]

I hope you'll consider championing House Bill 4392 to ban synthetic dyes in pharmaceuticals on behalf of the citizens of West Virginia. Such a change is feasible and could significantly benefit thousands of lives, particularly the most vulnerable members of our population.

Thank you for your consideration and for the work you’re doing on our behalf.

Warm regards, Robby Blair

Martinsburg, WV

• Measles requires ~95% vaccination coverage to prevent outbreaks (CDC).
• During recent U.S. measles outbreaks, the majority of cases occurred in unvaccinated or under-vaccinated populations, often linked to schools or universities.
• Mumps outbreaks on college campuses have occurred repeatedly in states that weakened vaccination compliance.

• 126 Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs)
• ~793,000 West Virginians live in designated primary-care shortage areas
• Only ~38% of primary-care need is currently met
• 43% of rural hospitals operate at negative margins

• emergency rooms,
• rural hospitals,
• immunocompromised communities,
• elderly populations,
• and childcare and K-12 school systems.

• offer tuition credits,
• provide housing priority,
• or use public-health promotion strategies that are widely accepted and legal in other states.

• outbreaks become foreseeable,
• harm becomes preventable,
• and liability exposure increases.

• class cancellations,
• housing disruptions,
• athletic shutdowns,
• and litigation from students or staff harmed during outbreaks they were legally barred from preventing.

• medical exemptions,
• informed consent,
• and individualized accommodation.

• one of the oldest populations in the country,
• persistent healthcare shortages,
• and fragile rural hospital systems.

1. Synthetic dyes serve no functional purpose beyond aesthetics. These dyes, often derived from petroleum byproducts, offer no nutritional value. They are often used to make unhealthy foods look more appealing, so that consumers will want to buy them
2. Scientific research confirms their harm. The OEHHA report, which analyzed 27 clinical trials, found that synthetic dyes can cause or worsen hyperactivity, inattention, restlessness, irritability, sleeplessness, and aggression in some children. Additionally, consuming dyes can worsen or mimic ADHD symptoms.