Montel Williams Urges Legalization of Medical Marijuana in PA

Montel Williams gave an emotional speech at the state Capitol on Thursday in defense of a medical marijuana bill.

A push for a Senate-passed bill that would legalize medical marijuana in Pennsylvania has been met by opposition from the House Health Committee Chairman Sen. Matt Baker, R-Bradford County.

Baker is opposed to the bill because Pennsylvania's legislature has never approved a drug outside of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval process which is identical to the Pennsylvania Medical Society's stance.

The former television host, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, has been a champion for the legalization of medical marijuana and uses it to ease his own pain.

"I wanted to end my pain" - Williams

In the video seen above, William's brushed away tears as he spoke of how he considered suicide twice.

"I sat in a closet in my own home, in Greenwich, Connecticut, supposedly with the world in my palm with a gun in my mouth for hours end because I wanted to end my pain," Williams said.

He said that it wasn't until he started using medical marijuana on a daily basis that he began to feel some relief.

"The reason why I am a contributing member of society, paying taxes, the way I am right now, is because of the relief I've gotten from cannabis," Williams said.

Williams will be hosting a town-hall meeting hosted by CBS-21 Thursday evening from 7-8pm at the Central Penn College Conference Center. The public is invited to attend and PennLive will offer full coverage.