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  Marijuana Bill Nearing Crucial Vote
Posted by FoM on April 04, 2002 at 07:56:17 PT
By Douglas Tallman, News-Post Staff  
Source: Fredrick News-Post 

medical Medical marijuana legislation faced a crucial test Wednesday when supporters stood before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, the conservative panel that killed a similar measure last year.

Two Republican delegates — David Brinkley of Frederick County and Donald Murphy of Baltimore County — asked the committee to make a distinction between the war on drugs and the benefit terminally ill people would get from smoking marijuana.

"There's no reason, in our zeal to cleanse our streets ... a patient should be subjected to the harsh penalties our courts give," said Mr. Brinkley, a cancer survivor.

Originally, the bill would have legalized marijuana use for cancer and AIDS patients who have a recommendation from their doctor.

Although House Judiciary Committee members seemed poised to pass that bill, Chairman Joseph Vallario insisted the bill be amended to keep marijuana possession a crime. At trial, a defendant could try to prove medical necessity and if so, face a maximum penalty of a $100 fine.

"It eliminates fear of jail. It eliminates one more thing for people to worry about at a very critical time that could be the balance of their life," Mr. Murphy told the senators.

For three years, Mr. Murphy has championed the legislation in an effort to honor Darrell Putman, a friend who reluctantly turned to marijuana to counteract the nausea and loss of appetite that comes from chemotherapy.

Mr. Putman used the drug fearing that he would get caught and lose his business, so he asked Mr. Murphy to sponsor legislation decriminalizing marijuana use for the terminally ill.

Mr. Murphy thinks he almost has enough votes to get the bill out of Judicial Proceedings and onto the Senate floor. A committee vote could come tomorrow.

Among the swing votes is undecided Sen. Richard Colburn, R-Dorchester, another cancer survivor. "Being a cancer survivor gives you a different outlook on issues like this," he said.

The committee received two letters from opponents of the bill. Carolyn Burns of Silver Spring questioned the message it sends to youth who are confronted by drug use in schools. And Joyce Nalepka, president of Drug-Free Kids: America's Challenge, compiled comments from a number of sources critical of the Murphy bill and others like it.

Source: Fredrick News-Post (MD)
Author: Douglas Tallman, News-Post Staff
Published: April 4, 2002
Copyright: 2002 Great Southern Printing and Manufacturing Company
Website: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/
Contact: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/contact/

Related Articles & Web Sites:

Marijuana Policy Project
http://www.mpp.org/

Medical Marijuana Information Links
http://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htm

Marijuana Ruling Sparks New Dispute With Hill
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12437.shtml

Medical Marijuana Advances In Md.
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12360.shtml

Penalty Compromise May Save Marijuana Bill
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12359.shtml


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Comment #2 posted by goneposthole on April 04, 2002 at 18:08:52 PT
Bunkum and Bosh
Joyce is involved in the process. Her comments will have as much relevancy as a church full of clowns singing 'Jesus Loves Me'.

"there is no reason, in our zeal to cleanse our streets...a patient should be subjected to the harsh penalties our courts give."- Del. David Brinkley

The statement is a jab at Joyce.



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Comment #1 posted by p4me on April 04, 2002 at 10:30:50 PT
messages and slippery slopes
About 12 hours ago I put up something that was on WBT news at 11PM yesterday about one third of North Carolina high school students smoking. Whatever message the government is sending about drugs to children is lost on me. The first message I would send is: Putting a cigarette in your mouth and smoking it would be one of the stupidest thinks you could do. I cannot see how that could not be the first thing said. I do not hear that and I do not hear a second message. Why don't you slippery slope phobics draw up a proclamation to the young people concerning drugs. Then we would know the message you are trying to send and so would they. Is my message clear? The prohibitionist should be more afraid of cliffs than slippery slopes. Man are they stupid.

VAAI

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