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| Medical Marijuana Urged |
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Posted by FoM on March 14, 2002 at 15:31:55 PT By Susan Gervasi, Journal Staff Writer Source: Prince George's Journal 
Supporters of a bill that would allow limited medical use of marijuana tried to convince delegates Wednesday of its necessity in Annapolis. Co-sponsored by more than 50 legislators, the Darrell Putman Compassionate Use Act would permit doctors to authorize individuals suffering from serious illnesses to grow and possess small amounts of the plant. Putman was a Howard County farmer and cancer patient who smoked marijuana for pain relief and became an ouspoken advocate for its usage; he died in 1999. ``Who should decide what medications are right for these terminally ill people?" the measure's chief sponsor, Baltimore County Del. Donald E. Murphy, asked at a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee. ``Doctors. Not you, me or the governor. Doctors." The panel is chaired by Del. Joseph F. Vallario Jr., D-27th-Upper Marlboro. Murphy's bill would allow doctors to license patients with cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease to use marijuana - which some medical evidence suggests can improve appetite, counteract nausea and alleviate other symptoms of those diseases and their treatments. A number of those who spoke in favor of the legislation were former cancer patients, including Frederick County Del. David R. Brinkley and Harford County Dels. Charles R. Boutin and B. Daniel Riley. Though none of the lawmakers said they had used marijuana for pain relief, all expressed the view that it could help those suffering from the side effects of cancer treatment. ``There were lots of patients who couldn't eat, couldn't get anything down," said Brinkley, adding that various physicians had expressed favorable views of the legislation. ``We are on the right track in trying to press for this." Murphy has tried unsuccessfully to get similar legislation passed during the last two sessions, though support has grown. Marijuana for medical purposes has been legalized in eight states, but its possession remains a federal crime. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2001 held that there's no exception for medical use, but didn't strike down state laws allowing it. Robert N. McDonald, chief counsel of Opinions and Advice for the Maryland Attorney General, told lawmakers that this ruling did not preclude Maryland from passing its own legislation. Riley described a friend in so much pain from cancer that - declining a suggestion from friends that he try marijuana - he elected to stop treatments and to die. ``We buried Larry two months ago," said Riley, who fought back his emotions while speaking. ``I feel that if we, as a legislative body, could have been more compassionate in our decisions, maybe Larry would still be here today." Baltimore Del. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, a nurse, said that she had originally opposed the legislation, but after reflection had changed her mind. ``I've seen cancer patients suffer from pain you and I cannot begin to explain," Nathan-Pulliam said. ``They've been given every narcotic doctors could give them - demerol, cocaine. If someone is desperate and in pain, and they go out to purchase marijuana, they'll be arrested. They should have the legal right to that." Legislators raised several questions of the bill's supporters, including the likelihood of medical marijuana users - even if licensed for such use - being arrested by federal officials, how police would react to medical marijuana users, and how insurance companies might become involved when marijuana is advised. ``Are we putting our citizens in harm's way of federal law?" asked Baltimore Del. Robert A. Zirkin. ``Could we still have the feds come in and arrest our citizens under federal law?" ``In the eight states that have this, not one person has been arrested for using small amounts of marijuana for medical purposes," responded Murphy, adding: ``We're trying to make a distinction between recreational use and medical. Is there potential for abuse? Sure. But the people who're gonna abuse this are already abusing it." Montgomery Del. Carol Petzold asked witnesses how they obtained marijuana. ``I was able to get it by contacting a drug dealer," said cancer patient Paul Boone. ``People I didn't want in my house - I wasn't brought up in a drug-infested neighborhood." Boone added that if the bill passes, ``I wouldn't have to deal with an unsavory element any more." Though several letters and statements opposing the bill came to the committee - including one from former federal drug czar and Empower America official William Bennett - only one opponent spoke at the hearing. ``Unfortunately this law goes too far beyond" the issue of pain relief, said Douglas P. Steigler of the Family Protection Lobby, who expressed concern that the bill could usher in full legalization of marijuana and that under the bill, it's use wouldn't be controlled. ``If you could take somebody to a place where this marijuana could be smoked, or inhaled, then you could control how it was used, doctors could say how much could be used," Steigler said. ``I'm opposed to this bill because you're legalizing people to grow marijuana in a situation you can't control." Bennett weighed in with a March 12 letter to Vallario. ``As a Maryland resident and former director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, I believe that permitting medical marijuana is a bad idea," wrote Bennett. ``Bad for the patients who would take it and bad for the community at large. The increased availability of marijuana that would follow legalizing it for medical usage would lead to increased use of the drug - by children as well as adults." If the committee favorably votes out the bill, it will be voted on by the full House. If it passes the House, a Senate committee will then take up the issue. Source: Prince George's Journal (MD) Related Articles & Web Sites: Marijuana Policy Project Coalition for Compassionate Access Medical Marijuana Information Links A Plea To Legalize Medicinal Marijuana Marijuana is a Medicine That People Need Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #2 posted by bruce42 on March 14, 2002 at 22:30:46 PT |
| ``Bad for the patients who would take it and bad for the community at large. The increased availability of marijuana that would follow legalizing it for medical usage would lead to increased use of the drug - by children as well as adults." Bennet is a perfect example of the paranoid anti- his statement suggests that he trusts no one, the state, the patients, or even the feds to control distribution. And this: ``If you could take somebody to a place where this marijuana could be smoked, or inhaled, then you could control how it was used, doctors could say how much could be used," Steigler said. ``I'm opposed to this bill because you're legalizing people to grow marijuana in a situation you can't control." No wonder the feds run roughshod over the masses, society is represented by a bunch of control freaks who want no part in the controlling. These people are so afraid of Dutch style coffeeshops and decrim that they can't even see that just such a system is what they are asking for- "If you could take somebody to a place where this marijuana could be smoked, or inhaled, then you could control how it was used, doctors could say how much could be used." Sure.. just wander up to the counter, show your driver's license and presription and smoke in peace and comfort. What a joke. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by freedom fighter on March 14, 2002 at 19:22:28 PT |
| why would anyone take advice from Bennett who thought it was a good idea to behead potsmokers? Wisc. Vermont Maryland Arkansas New Mexico, maybe next year.. Mich. Plus 8 states... Need I say more? PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN! ff [ Post Comment ] |
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