|
|
| Senate Debates Medical Marijuana Bill |
|
Posted by CN Staff on May 08, 2002 at 08:48:51 PT By Ross Sneyd, Associated Press Source: Associated Press 
A bill that would allow people suffering from certain debilitating or terminal diseases to use marijuana got tangled further in political maneuvering Tuesday that may jeopardize its future. Some senators are trying to address the issue amid the rush toward adjournment, even though they concede that there isn't time enough to do a thorough job. So they first sought to attach it to a larger measure that would expand the circumstances under which police may arrest someone without a warrant. Opponents complained that the two issues were not closely enough related to be in the same bill, so the medical marijuana initiative was stripped out. Then proponents discussed adding it as an amendment to the state budget. But the Senate leadership didn't want to muddy the budget with an unrelated issue. Finally, Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard Sears, D-Bennington, settled on a bill that had been settled last year. His committee amended the marijuana bill onto it and recommended it to the full Senate by a 4-2 vote. ''This was the only truck that I could find moving through town today,'' Sears said. He was unsuccessful in forcing an immediate vote on the plan, so it now is expected to be put to a vote on Thursday. The fevered attempts to push the issue through the Legislature represent a shift in the Senate. The Republican-controlled House approved a bill earlier this session that would the use of marijuana to treat the symptoms of such diseases as cancer or AIDS as long as the user had a certificate from a doctor. Sears said his committee did not have an opportunity to adequately consider all of the implications of such a broad proposal. So it recommended a narrower idea that stopped short of legalizing marijuana. Instead, someone arrested for possession of an ounce or less would go to court and could defend himself or herself against the charge by proving the marijuana was being used for medical purposes. ''We felt this was an alternative that we could offer in the interim,'' Sears said. Source: Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site: Medical Marijuana Information Links Reefer Politics - Rutland Herald Senate Panel OKs Marijuana Measure Medical Marijuana Still Alive in Montpelier Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
 |
| Comment #3 posted by qqqq on May 08, 2002 at 23:46:23 PT |
| ...."Governor Dean has as much chance of being the next President as QQQQ has being appointed the Minister of
Proctology (although I would personally favor him)." ..I'll take that as a compliment..... [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by goneposthole on May 08, 2002 at 09:22:37 PT |
| Maybe this could be a circumstance: Anyone within a 12,000 mile radius of a single marijuana plant or seed is guilty of possession of cannabis. Everyone on the face of the earth would be committing an arrestable offense. The earth is prison, you must work for nothing. No food, no water; you must work until you die. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by Dark Star on May 08, 2002 at 09:02:32 PT |
| Under this bill, you actually get to say in court that you used marijuana as medicine. How nice. That is after you have been arrested, jailed, publicized, lost your job, and had your property confiscated. If that's progress, then we are too easily pleased with ourselves. Governor Dean has as much chance of being the next President as QQQQ has being appointed the Minister of Protocol (although I would personally favor him). [ Post Comment ] |
| Post Comment |  |
 |  |