It was an exhilarating moment on Sunday afternoon for hundreds of families, legislators and patients who cheered as Governor Wolf signed the medical marijuana bill into law, giving hope to many that they will finally find some relief from pain, seizures, and other medical conditions, writes Julia Terruso for Philly.com.

The auditorium was packed with people who have waited for this moment for a long time, among them men and women trying to overcome the debilitating pain that is affecting their lives and parents who have tried everything to help their children.

Wolf took the opportunity to thank the advocates of the law, especially the moms who braved the Capitol with their ailing children to put a face to the people the legalization will benefit.

“When you have people who represent a cause as eloquently and in as heartfelt a way as the advocates for this have done, it shows we can get something done that means something,” said Wolf. “We’re not responding to a special interest here; we’re not responding to someone who makes campaign contributions – we’re responding to people who are telling us there is a real human need here in Pennsylvania.”

There were enough congratulations to go around, as legislators from both parties worked together on passing the bill, managing to bridge what had seemed to be an insurmountable gap between lawmakers.

The law will allow individuals suffering from the 17 conditions listed in the legislation–including cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and seizures–to have access to medical marijuana in pill, oil, or ointment at dispensaries statewide.

Oversight of the new industry, which will include over a hundred dispensaries, hundreds of workers, and potentially thousands of patients, has been given to the Department of Health.

Read more about the adoption of the law at the Philly.com here, and check out previous VISTA Today coverage of the subject here.