Reefer Politics |
Posted by CN Staff on May 06, 2002 at 15:29:37 PT Editorial Source: Rutland Herald It sometimes happens in an election year that politicians will do the right thing for the wrong reasons. Such, hopefully, will be the case with Vermont’s medical marijuana initiative. The Vermont House of Representatives did the right thing last month when it passed the bill sponsored by Rep. David Zuckerman, P-Burlington, that would set up a system for desperately ill people to ease their pain with marijuana without fear of prosecution. Zuckerman’s bill, which would effectively give certifiably ill people with a note from their doctor a license to possess, grow and smoke marijuana, received support from all three political parties in a chamber dominated by the Republicans. Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Margaret Flory, R-Pittsford, hardly a bleeding heart liberal, was apparently persuaded by the testimony of sick people in her committee; she gave a stirring speech on the House floor in support of the measure. More support came from another unlikely quarter: state’s attorneys reportedly have indicated they wouldn’t prosecute these cases if it were shown that the marijuana user was using the drug for legitimate medicinal purposes. Still, the House bill’s prospects looked dim, with Gov. Howard Dean standing on his Hippocratic Oath and saying he’d reconsider if the Food and Drug Administration were to declare marijuana safe and therapeutic. Translation: When pigs fly. The Senate, meanwhile, said it was much too busy to consider it. Things have changed since reports trickled back to the State House that a key constituency in Dean’s putative presidential bid, gay activists in California concerned for AIDS sufferers, had asked him to reconsider. And then Anthony Pollina, Progressive candidate for lieutenant governor, weighed in on behalf of the bill. This left Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin, D-Windham, who also wants to be lieutenant governor, caught between a threat to his left and the governor’s intransigence on his right. Shumlin, who vehemently denies that he ever thinks about Pollina, and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard Sears, D-Bennington, have come up with a scheme to pass the governor’s test: Allow marijuana defendants to enter an affirmative defense to a possession charge – yes, I use marijuana but I do it only to ease my suffering, and here’s my doctor to tell you about my symptoms, your honor. Meanwhile, the governor made some cryptic utterances at a press conference that led some to speculate that the pig might be taking pilot lessons. The Senate bill is political cover for those who need it. It allows Dean to seem compassionate without actually legalizing marijuana, allows Shumlin to be liberal but not weak-kneed. But it doesn’t offer the protection of the House bill – people who suffer from multiple sclerosis, cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and other debilitating illnesses, or their caregivers, would still be forced to buy the drug from a dealer, that is, illegally. The House bill is a compassionate, responsible piece of legislation – it redresses the pointless cruelty of denying marijuana to desperately ill people without lifting the ban on recreational use. Enacting it into law would only increase Vermont’s national reputation as a kind, caring and tolerant state. This is the bill that should pass, whether for the right reasons or the wrong ones, this session or next, one way or another. Source: Rutland Herald (VT) Related Articles & Web Site: Medical Marijuana Information Links Senate Panel OKs Marijuana Measure Medical Marijuana Still Alive in Montpelier Medical Marijuana Clears Senate Hurdle Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 06, 2002 at 18:39:46 PT |
I believe in the medical use of marijuana but I have come to this point that I do not believe anything can happen without it being shut down by the Feds unless marijuana is rescheduled. Am I alone in this thinking? They will turn it all around like they've been doing until they accept that marijuana has medical value and we know and they know it does and the spin is getting very very old! Just a rant! PS: It's like theu stick their fingers in their ears and say, La la la la la la la la I can't hear you! [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on May 06, 2002 at 18:22:53 PT |
The new bill is absolutely useless - the prosecutors already said they would dismiss charges on any legit med-MJ patient! The bill adds nothing. Patients don't need "medical necessity defenses". They need to be able to guarantee a family member that no cops will break down their door if they grow herb as a caregiver. They need to guarantee that their houses won't be seized. Aren't we supposed to teach our kids that being a spineless coward is BAD? The funniest part is that Dean thinks he can run for president. Wake up buddy, as soon as you signed the civil unions bill you forfeited any chance you had in about 1/2 of the states in the US. It will be fun watching him get destroyed in primary season. [ Post Comment ] |
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