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| House To Take Up Medical Marijuana Bill |
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Posted by FoM on March 14, 2002 at 20:00:35 PT By Ross Sneyd, Associated Press Source: Associated Press 
Preliminary approval was given Thursday in the Vermont House to a bill that would permit people with debilitating diseases to relieve their pain by smoking marijuana. Approval came on an 81-53 vote after about four hours of sometimes emotional debate highlighted by lawmakers' personal stories about how friends and relatives had used marijuana to ease their discomfort. Proponents said the proposal would give comfort to people who were suffering near the end of their lives. Opponents countered that there was too little evidence proving the case. And they argued that the proposal was a step toward legalizing recreational use of marijuana. ''These are people who are in terrible pain. Many are dying,'' said Rep. Warren Kitzmiller, D-Montpelier, who recounted how his wife was offered marijuana as she was dying from cancer almost a year ago, which she did not accept. ''This is an issue of compassion for their pain.'' Several lawmakers said it wouldn't be long before the bill would lead to a push for legalizing marijuana for any purpose. ''The real issue here is to get a foot in the door on legalizing marijuana,'' said Rep. Thomas DePoy, R-Rutland. ''This is a smoke screen to allow the camel's nose under the tent,'' added Rep. Nancy Sheltra, R-Derby. The bill would not legalize the use of marijuana for any purpose. It still would remain technically illegal even for those with chronic or terminal illnesses. But people suffering from cancer, glaucoma, AIDS or diseases that cause wasting syndrome, severe pain or nausea, seizures, or persistent muscle spasms could get a medical certificate from a physician declaring that marijuana would relieve the symptoms. Those people then would be exempt from criminal and civil penalties for using marijuana. There would be restrictions on how much marijuana someone could possess no more than three mature plants, four immature plants or three ounces of usable marijuana and people would not be allowed to drive or operate heavy machinery when using the drug. ''This is not about recreational use,'' said Rep. David Zuckerman, P-Burlington, a prime sponsor of the bill. ''There are no holes.'' Vermont would become the ninth state in the nation to ignore federal laws banning marijuana and authorizing its medical use. Several supporters said they would prefer the U.S. Food and Drug Administration submitted marijuana to trials that would lead to its authorization as a medical therapy. But that is not in the offing and the supporters said it was time to add Vermont to the trend. ''I think this comes down to a matter of compassion and understanding,'' said Rep. Jack Anderson, D-Woodstock, one of at least a half dozen lawmakers who told compelling stories about friends or family members who had used marijuana to relieve pain near the ends of their lives. Gov. Howard Dean said at his weekly news conference that he remained opposed to Vermont authorizing marijuana use without FDA authorization. ''I think the right thing to do if you think this is a good drug you should let it go through the FDA,'' Dean said. He did not say outright that he would veto the bill if it reached him. His administration appeared to be counting on persuading the Senate either to kill the bill or simply not to take it up in the remaining weeks of the legislative session. The House still must take a final vote on the bill and that's expected as early as Friday. Source: Associated Press Related Articles & Web Sites: Medical Marijuana Information Links Panel Passes Medical Marijuana Bill Medicinal Marijuana Bill Considered Lawmakers Make Bid for Medical Marijuana Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 15, 2002 at 15:55:22 PT |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 15, 2002
MONTPELIER, VERMONT -- In an historic vote today, the Vermont House of Representatives became the first Republican-controlled state legislative chamber in the country to initiate and pass medical marijuana legislation. The Vermont House voted 82-59 in favor of H. 645, which allows patients with their doctors' approval to use, possess, and grow their own marijuana for medical purposes. For a patient to receive protection from arrest, the patient's physician must file a form with the Department of Public Safety stating that the "potential benefits of the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the health risks" for the patient. Each patient is also permitted to have one caregiver who may legally grow and provide marijuana for the patient. The Vermont bill is similar to the medical marijuana laws in eight states -- Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington -- except it is more restrictive: The bill limits the amount of marijuana that can be possessed and grown to three ounces and seven plants. It also requires that the marijuana be grown in a secure indoor facility, and the law would sunset in 2006. "This is an historic victory for seriously ill patients who need to use medical marijuana," said Billy Rogers, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project, an advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., that coordinates medical marijuana lobbying in targeted state legislatures. "While Houses and Senates have voted in favor of medical marijuana bills in other states, this marks the first time that a Republican-controlled House or Senate has initiated and passed such a bill." Rogers said that Vermont legislators are in touch with the will of the people. "MPP has commissioned polls of voters in 13 states so far this year, and every one confirms that Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Progressives, Libertarians, and members of other political parties strongly support medical marijuana legislation," said Rogers. "The fact that Vermont's Republican-controlled House of Representatives has passed this legislation sends a clear message to other states: Medical marijuana has strong support across the political spectrum." A statewide poll commissioned by MPP and conducted by the Lucas Organization on February 9-10 showed that 75.7 percent of Vermonters "support changing the law to allow people with cancer, AIDS, and other serious illnesses to use and grow their own marijuana for medical purposes, if they have the approval of their physicians." Almost two-thirds, 64.9 percent, said Gov. Howard Dean should sign medical marijuana legislation if it reaches his desk. The Marijuana Policy Project works to minimize the harm associated with marijuana -- both the consumption of marijuana and the laws that are intended to prohibit such use. MPP believes that the greatest harm associated with marijuana is imprisonment. To this end, MPP focuses on removing criminal penalties for marijuana use, with a particular emphasis on making marijuana medically available to seriously ill people who have the approval of their doctors. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #2 posted by PAUL PETERSON on March 15, 2002 at 09:58:10 PT:
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| Dr. Russo- Nice touch, and very telling of his attitude and reason for having the attitude-bias runs deep in these matters, perhaps even deeper when the guy has this "medical" training. (Not you of course). I've got my own story to tell on these things. Illinois has this quality medical marijuana law, some 30 years old. It is 1) treatment language since 1979-the original bill had the title "research, (etc.)" in 1971 (I think it is the oldest in the country), 2) open ended-cancer, glaucoma or "any other procedure certified (by a physician to be necessary , etc.), 3) mandatory "shall", 4) physician decision based, 5) actually was used for treatment purposes from say 1979-83 (until the Reagan Blackout happened-program shut down, all records destroyed, now no even mention in the history books of the thing happening at all), 6) no DEA enabling conditions/limitations. My point is, last summer I actually tried to get something going, to help me save my marriage, since I have this ADD thing (ritalin for focus, but every night I get this strong "downslide depression", nothing else works to help that without unacceptable side effects, like high blood pressure (SSRI's), 15 pills later a therapist tells me to "move to California", I find cannabis remarkably helps without side effects (ritalin + cannabis is a good mix). Illinois' governor Ryan is a pharmacist,(and also should know better) he probably talked with ABBOTT LABS, they merely told him to get me outa town-I have, as a result, lost my license to practice law, my marriage, my family, all that I worked for so far (I am 50 now). You know darned well that that Vermont governor has some political aspirations to follow, and Bush has him hoodwinked. Any time they say the FDA should authorize something, there is federal funding at play in their decisionmaking (be it road funds, pork barrel, you name it). Chicago's mayor Daley also just delivered a speach telling about a letter he sent Ashcroft asking for vigorous federal prosecution of drug & gun crimes. That was a backlash to the chief federal judge in Chicago, Arvin Aspen, that railed against making the federal courts into "drug courts", in response to Daley's request for same. Of course, Bush is marching tomorrow in the Chicago St. Patty's parade (I'm thinking Daley had to send him the "Ashcroft" invitation letter to get him to come to the parade). And hey-I just launched this website ILLINOIS-MMI.org, not a good time to be opening up business in this manner, I think. Especially in the midst of Michigan having this "petition" drive 1/3 there to the 320,000 signatures needed to put on the ballot a move to erode minimum sentencing guidelines. I'm thinking that Daley got started with the "lets go to federal court", in response to this perceived threat to the east, Aspen responded to that, Daley retorted, now Ashcroft might just be on the float tomorrow as well, here I am responding in print, and on line-and I am too broke to even make bail (at least over the weekend). Please check out my website, I am trying to help summarize the research and other data, and to start some kind of movement in Illinois, the so-called "9th" state, (actually the first, but who's counting now-especially since I needed the other "brush fires" to legitimize this medical marijuana thing in order to even get anybody in this state to even think about listening to me on this thing). I grew up with Barbara Douglass, she tells me you are an outspoken comrade in this matter. I need some funding to keep my ship in the water here, and I am staunchly lobbying the DHS (Dept. of Human Services) to actually do something here with this quality statute, before these guys take the law out of the books. (I think they forgot to do that, and since the law says "research" no advocacy group ever even thought to try to activate the statutory mandates, which is a good thing, because if someone had thought it might just work-during the "Reagan Blackout", nobody would have been able to stop them!). Go to my website, ILLINOIS-MMI.org, checkout my legistative analysis & history (720 ILCS 550 #11), and help me get in contact with someone that might want to fund my continuing existence in this state of Illinois, the Land of Lincoln. PAUL PETERSON 312-558-9999, 77 W. Washington St. #1620, Chicago, Il. 60602 [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo MD on March 15, 2002 at 05:02:04 PT:
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| In honor of the return of Q4 and his over-the-top humor, I would like to repeat a message previously offered in this context:
Absolutely True Story A close friend of mine attended a press conference in Vermont a couple of years ago where this happened. Gov. Dean is a physician, BTW, and should know better. In any event, he was asked what his stance was on industrial hemp. His response was basically as follows: "I'm against it. Hemp--marijuana---Cannabis sativa---same species---no difference!" The person that asked the question jumped up and said: "Crooks--politicians--Homo sapiens--same species--no difference!" Gov. Dean stormed out in anger, while the crowd went into hysterical gales of laughter. [ Post Comment ] |
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