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| Ehrlich Signs Marijuana Law |
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Posted by CN Staff on May 22, 2003 at 20:40:06 PT By Lori Montgomery, Washington Post Staff Writer Source: Washington Post 
Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. signed legislation yesterday to dramatically reduce criminal penalties for cancer patients and others who smoke marijuana to relieve suffering, but the new law will not allow seriously ill people to obtain the drug legally.The measure, which takes effect Oct. 1, merely makes "medical necessity" a defense against charges of marijuana possession. Instead of facing a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $1,000 fine, those who can convince a judge that they use marijuana to relieve symptoms of a chronic or life-threatening illness will have to pay a fine of no more than $100. Though the Maryland law falls short of measures in California and seven other states where marijuana use is legal for medical purposes, advocates said it sends an important message of support to sick people and their caregivers -- as well as to police and prosecutors, who might otherwise brand them criminals. "It helps a little bit," said Erin Hildebrandt, 32, a mother of five from Smithsburg who has used marijuana to relieve pain from Crohn's disease. "At least I know I'm not going to be hauled off to prison if I'm caught." While the practical effects of the law may be limited, the political fallout could be substantial. Ehrlich is only the second governor in the nation -- and the first Republican -- to sign such legislation. The other eight measures were enacted by ballot initiative. A medical marijuana initiative also won approval from District voters but has been blocked by Congress. In addition, 21 states, including Virginia, have approved largely symbolic laws or resolutions recognizing marijuana's medicinal value. Ehrlich's decision to sign the bill puts him at odds with conservatives in his party and with the Bush White House, which lobbied hard and applied "a lot of pressure," Ehrlich said, to persuade him to veto the bill. Tom Riley, a spokesman for the Office of National Drug Control Policy, confirmed that White House drug czar John P. Walters and his deputy telephoned Ehrlich to express the administration's opposition. Walters, who has launched a national campaign against efforts to relax state drug laws, has said that arguments for medicinal marijuana make no more sense than "an argument for medicinal crack." Ehrlich "probably acted with the best of intentions with the idea of wanting to help people but was badly briefed on the science and public health aspect of the measure," Riley said yesterday. Ehrlich's decision also outraged many of his supporters, who accused the new governor of being duped by groups that seek access to marijuana for recreational use and are exploiting sick people to get their foot in the door. The Maryland law was backed by the Marijuana Policy Project, a Washington-based organization that supports decriminalization. "This is a rotten and wrongheaded piece of work that will benefit the pro-marijuana lobby and the potheads of Maryland," said Malcolm Lawrence of Chevy Chase, a former State Department official in charge of international narcotics control in the Nixon and Carter administrations. Lawrence said he voted for Ehrlich and contributed to his political campaign but now will "vote for anyone but Robert Ehrlich" in 2006. "Along comes the first Republican governor in three decades, and he gives in on this legislation?" Lawrence said. "This is such a stupid maneuver, I have to react to this." Ehrlich seemed unconcerned by the uproar. He acknowledged that the marijuana law was "controversial even within our administration," which is why he took nearly two months to decide whether to sign it. In the U.S. House, Ehrlich co-sponsored a bill that would have authorized states to stake out their own positions on medical marijuana, free from the pressures of federal drug policy. In the end, he said he chose to stay true to his "long-held view" that people deserve compassion in "end-of-life situations." The Bush administration has "a very legitimate viewpoint. I respect 'em. I love 'em. Obviously, I'm a major W fan," Ehrlich said, using the president's nickname. "But if you look at my views over the years, there are clearly two wings of the party on social issues. One is more conservative, and one is more libertarian. I belong to the latter, and I always have." While some Republicans criticized Ehrlich, others stepped forward to praise his support for medical marijuana. The issue first came before the Maryland General Assembly four years ago, after Darrell Putman, a former Army Green Beret and Howard County Farm Bureau director, found that smoking marijuana helped relieve the pain of cancer, which killed him in 1999. Putman convinced then-Del. Donald E. Murphy (R-Baltimore County) to sponsor legislation that would have allowed seriously ill people to grow as many as seven marijuana plants for personal consumption. Murphy, who now chairs the Baltimore County GOP, and Putman's widow, Shay, were on hand yesterday to celebrate the bill's signing. They were joined by Sen. David R. Brinkley (R-Frederick), a cancer survivor who advocates decriminalizing marijuana for medical purposes and won election last year against two Republican opponents in one of the most conservative districts in the state. "I think Washington is out of step on this issue," Brinkley said. "Compassion needs to be overriding. These people are not criminals." Note: Medical Use of Drug Will Remain Illegal, but Lesser Penalty Will Apply. Staff writer Ruben Castaneda contributed to this report. Source: Washington Post (DC) Related Articles & Web Site: Marijuana Policy Project Attitudes Ease Toward Medical Marijuana Md. Gov. Signs Medical Marijuana Bill Ehrlich Lowers Fine for Medical Marijuana Users Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #7 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on May 23, 2003 at 05:52:57 PT |
| With recent developments in the western hemisphere, it's made me wonder why we in the movement don't hear much from Cuba. Does Cuba even have the drug war? They would seem to be the last ones to kowtow to the US line on things. And we wouldn't have much to threaten them with. Does anyone know? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by malleus2 on May 23, 2003 at 05:42:28 PT |
| I have no illusions about whether the Governor is sincerely concerned for the welfare of all of his state. I lived there for a good portion of my life and am only too aware of how crooked it's politics are. Just look up what happend a few years ago in 1994 with the Ellen Sauerbrey fiasco; the woman actually won the gubernatorial race, but a votescam was allowed to stand, and she didn't get the Governorship because of an ADMITTED vote fraud that pre-dated the 2000 elections. A vote fraud that WAS NEVER PUNISHED FOR WHAT IT WAS. IMHO, he was probably holding out for more fed monies to the state if he complied with their demands to scotch this. But the feds have been arrogantly using the stick more than the carrot lately in its' dealings with the states, and there was simply no percentage in walking the fed walk on this issue anymore. He's made some political capital out of this, but the day is young. But the more important thing is this: the two halves of the Republican Paty, the Rockefeller and the Goldwater wings, have always been diametrically opposed. But for the most part, the Rockefeller money-man wing with it's rabid prohibitionists have been the dominant factor. The more libertarian Goldwater Republicans saw their party hijacked by these money guys 40 years ago and have been able to do precious little against them. Until now. Ehrlich has plainly sided with the Goldwater wing. For whom such prohib laws are anathema. It was the more active Goldwater wing that the Libertarians came from. For the Guv'nuh to do so is very important; the Republican machine can no longer continue to expect the Goldwater Wing to sit and gnash it's teeth in silence 'for the good of the Party' while the Rockefeller wing has its fun abrogating the (supposed) anti-big-government platform that is the bedrock of the Republican party. Ehrlich's move has thrown down a gauntlet in front of the Rockefeller Wing. By doing this, the Goldwater Republicans may have just fired the opening shot in a political civil war which will crack the Republican Party apart at a time of it's greatest strength. they've been riding the tiger they fed from kittenhood since the whole 9/11 thing. They can't get off now because of all the things they have allowed to happen with civil liberties being abridged. A split now would weaken them significantly. Real interesting times, huh? [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #5 posted by Dan B on May 23, 2003 at 05:00:51 PT:
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| Thanks for the insight on these matters. This does seem like a large step forward. There are cracks in the wall. Dan B [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by malleus2 on May 23, 2003 at 04:45:47 PT |
| Because what we are seeing here is the cracking apart of what was once a monolithic bloc of political power. For the longest time, the counties in Maryland closest to DC have called the political shots. And because so many of those counties are full of federal civil service types, they tended to have disproportionate say in state matters, always leaning to the side of the feds...at the expense of the rest of the state. Want a stadium that benefits only the counties closest to it? Sure, we'll pay for it with tax revenues from the much larger number of counties that get absolutely no benefit from it. Who have gotten ticked off at Annapolis for their 'generosity' witht their money. The outlying counties, like Frederick County, where the MMJ legislation got its' start, are still somewhat agrarian and industrial. They get precious little benefit from toe-ing afed dictated line. They are fed up with the lion's share going to fed civ servants intent on lining their pockets at the expense of the rest of the populace. What we've seen here is a revolution in miniature. For once, the outlying counties, no friends of the Annapolis federal buttkissers, have spoken. And, if only to avoid some major problems with a mainly Democratic electorate, Annapolis listened. Governor Ehrlich has done what he has for his own reasons, sure; but what he's done was based UPON reason, not BS. A first for a Maryland Governor. And a warning to the fed buttkissers that the rest of the state is watching them very closely. The free ride has come to a screeching halt. And for a state with so many fed civ servants sucking off the drug war teat to have their milk soured by this is giving heart to more distant states in which fed influence is far less. If "Maryland, my Maryland" can get away with tweaking the fed nose on this issue while being 'arsehole to bellybutton' close to the Capital, then more distant states can do the same with greater impunity. A fact which probably keeps Ashcroft and Walters awake at night. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by FoM on May 22, 2003 at 21:14:02 PT |
| Hi Everyone, This is another article from the Washington Post. It has more of the other issues in it so I went ahead and archived it. Here it is! http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16364.shtml [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 22, 2003 at 20:49:34 PT |
| I become very indignant when John Walters compares Cannabis to Crack. Insult to the max. We need a DOCTOR as the Drug Czar! I bet we would have a taker here too! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 22, 2003 at 20:46:36 PT |
| This is a BIG one! [ Post Comment ] |
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