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| Medical Marijuana Defeated in Senate Committee |
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Posted by FoM on April 07, 2002 at 15:45:51 PT By Lauren King, Times Staff Writer Source: Carroll County Times 
A controversial bill that would have allowed people to use a medical defense during trial was defeated by a one-vote margin Friday by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. The original bill would have given patients who use medical marijuana prosecution from arrest and imprisionment. It also included registering patients for immunity from prosection for possession or cultivation of small amounts of marijuana, allowing a qualified patient or primary caregiver to cultivate the plants and would have made the medical use of marijuana a defense for any prosecution involving marijuana. The bill, introduced in February by Del. Donald E. Murphy, R-Baltimore/Howard, has been a point of contention throughout the General Assembly session. But after Del. Carmen Amedori, R-Carroll, a member of the Judiciary Committee, changed her mind and decided to vote for the bill, the Judiciary Chairman, Joseph F. Vallario Jr., put the bill on hold and decided to help amend it and make it more palatable. The compromise was to allow a defendant to use the medical defense. If the defense were successful, the maximum penalty the judge could assign would be $100. Once the amendment was approved, the committee gave the bill a favorable report and sent it to the House floor where it was approved. Then the battle began in the Senate. Murphy was actively lobbying members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. When the bill was ready to come to a vote Friday, he thought he might have the seven votes to get it out of committee. He said he understood that Sen. Timothy R. Ferguson, R-Carroll/Frederick, would support the bill if another Republican did. On Friday, Sen. Richard F. Colburn, R-Caroline/Dorchester/Talbot/Wicomico, voted in favor of the bill. But Ferguson cast one of the votes that killed the bill. "He said he would shepherd it through the committee," Murphy said. "People keep asking if I'm depressed - I'm too angry to be depressed." But Ferguson said that he never promised to vote for the bill. "I've been shepherding it for several days and counting the votes for him," Ferguson said. "At no time did I ever say I would vote for it." But Ferguson's decision could have a reciprocal effect on his "Christopher Laws," named for Christopher Ausherman, 9 of Frederick, who was allegedly killed by a repeat sex offender. The bills are still waiting for approval in the House Judiciary Committee, of which Murphy is a member. Ferguson already raised the ire of Vallario Thursday when he sent a member of his staff to listen to the voting session. Vallario refused to bring up the bills for a vote because of the unspoken rule that no legislators or representatives should be present during the discussion period so that they can work without any intimidation from the bill sponsor. On Friday, before the House went into session, Vallario said he wanted to return to the commitee room later to work on the bills. But it appears that when news reached Vallario about the vote on medical marijuana, the voting session for Friday evening was canceled. The Judiciary Committee is scheduled to meet today to vote on several other bills, but there is some doubt about whether Ferguson's bill will be approved or even brought before the committee for a vote. "They should do what I did and vote on the merits of the bill," Ferguson said. "The way I count the votes, I have them to pass the bill." Ferguson said he never counted on Murphy as an affirmative because he did not want to appear to be trading votes with him. Murphy still contends that Ferguson gave him the nod on the bill if another Republican voted for the bill. Murphy thought Colburn's vote would send the bill to the Senate floor. As for Ferguson's bill in Murphy's committee, Murphy said he's not sure what might happen. "I'm only one vote," Murphy said. "I know Joe Vallario's not happy, though." Complete Title: Medical Marijuana Bill Defeated in Senate Committee Source: Carroll County Times (MD) Related Articles & Web Sites: Marijuana Policy Project Coalition for Compassionate Access Medical Marijuana Bill Fails in Senate Medical Marijuana Bill Killed by 1 Vote Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #2 posted by mayan on April 08, 2002 at 03:54:34 PT |
| These stall-tactics will only work for so long. These clowns who fail to represent the will of the people will be ousted come election day. Fear of appearing soft on drugs is no longer a valid excuse...it never was, but now such nonsense will result in negative consequences for politicians. we must hold this in their faces until they come around or we will simply say "see ya'"!!! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by goneposthole on April 07, 2002 at 20:59:53 PT |
| Something is going on behind the scenes. [ Post Comment ] |
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