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| Hearing Scheduled on MMJ Ballot Explanation |
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Posted by CN Staff on August 10, 2006 at 07:05:45 PT By Dirk Lammers, Associated Press Source: Associated Press 
Sioux Falls, S.D. - A circuit judge has ordered a hearing next week on whether the wording of a ballot measure seeking to legalize medicinal marijuana should be more objective and neutral.The case against Attorney General Larry Long and Secretary of State Chris Nelson was filed by a woman who said she smokes marijuana to ease symptoms of her exposure to nerve gas while serving as a U.S. Army medic in Iraq. Ron Volesky, a Huron lawyer acting as Valerie Hannah's local counsel, said Long exceeded his authority by stating that possession of marijuana is a federal crime. Volesky said the attorney general should state only what effect a measure would have on state law. "We think to include that in is inflammatory," he said. "That's a fact, not an effect." Long has said that even if voters approve the measure, it's still going to be a crime under federal law to possess or use marijuana. The medicinal marijuana measure was approved for the Nov. 7 ballot after supporters gathered more than the required 16,728 valid signatures. Under the proposal, marijuana could be used for medical purposes if patients and their doctors agree that the benefits outweigh the risks. Supporters contend marijuana helps those with diseases such as cancer and AIDS, and people suffering from chronic pain, nausea or seizures. The ballot explanation reads that even if the measure is passed, those who possess, use or distribute marijuana for medical reasons still can be prosecuted by federal authorities. The warning adds that doctors may be subject to losing their federal licenses to prescribe legal drugs if they certify that people with debilitating health problems would benefit from marijuana use. "We think that's beyond the scope of his authority," Volesky said. Hannah, who said exposure to the nerve gas sarin forced her to retire from the military after 10 years, filed the lawsuit seeking to toss out Long's explanation of the ballot measure because it would hamper chances of passage. The Deerfield woman contends people with health problems who would be helped by smoking marijuana should not be forced to get it illegally. California voters in 1996 made it the first state to legalize medicinal marijuana. Voters in 10 other states have since enacted laws that allow dispensing pot to treat specific medical problems, although the federal government continues to outlaw marijuana. Montana voters legalized medical marijuana in 2004, and Hannah has said the South Dakota ballot proposal is patterned after that law. The hearing is scheduled for Aug. 18, before Circuit Judge Max Gors in Pierre. Complete Title: Hearing Scheduled on Medical Marijuana Ballot Explanation Source: Associated Press (Wire) Related Article: Lawsuit Pending for Marijuana Measure CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #7 posted by FoM on August 10, 2006 at 11:59:56 PT |
| That's right. The christian fundamentalists like Pat Robertson think it is necessary based on the scripture I quoted a while ago. He was interviewed on CNN last night if you didn't see it. Got to kill them you know. That's what this is all about. Muslims ans Jews fighting for the Holyland. It's for oil and power too. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by Max Flowers on August 10, 2006 at 11:58:59 PT |
| Very true. Those tax dollars hard at work. It's good that you point it out, because while most of us here (who post) probably already know about all that, I keep forgetting that there are thousands and thousands of people who read this site without posting who may be getting their eyes opened to things that get revealed in our comments. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by whig on August 10, 2006 at 11:52:11 PT |
| It's bad. Let me say something about the American responsibility for this carnage, though, because it's something we can actually understand and affect in our own part of the world. The American government has been financing Israel's military expansion. There is nothing more that it can be called when the billions of dollars in US aid and advanced weaponry are spent every year on Israeli "defense". One major consequence of this is to fundamentally empower the militaristic opportunists in Israel to the detriment of any meaningful peace movement in that country. In other words, we are subsidizing to the tune of probably half their gross national product, a military-industrial-political complex in Israel. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 10, 2006 at 11:49:30 PT |
| I think I'll pass on the pictures. I have seen enough dead bodies since this administration decided to take on the world. I hope they know why they hate us so by now. Lieberman is calling terrorists Nazis. I'm not sure why. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by Max Flowers on August 10, 2006 at 11:37:53 PT |
| Sorry to be such a downer, but I want to let people know that if they really want to see what is happening to people in Lebanon, I mean REALLY see, there are some photos at this page http://www.uruknet.info/?p=24885 that are beyond belief. Only those with the strongest stomachs should even look. They are incredibly horrible. And, some of them show clear evidence of death by illegal weapons (probably incendiary types like white phosphorus or other). The site posting them is pleading with outsiders to tell them what kind of weapons they think Israel is using that do the kind of damage they show. I think that if these kinds of photos were to make it to mainstream media, the Israelis would have a PR challenge on their hands ten times more intense than the one they have now. But mainstream media would never show them, because they're too graphic and too real. Yes, I know that Hizbollah is doing damage too, but definitely not like this. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by OverwhelmSam on August 10, 2006 at 10:22:22 PT |
| It's the states' enforcement that effectively marginalizes and discriminates against marijuana users. Marijuana users are subject to tough restrictions by the federal government which is perpetuated by the state governments. Jail, loss of property, assualt by police, lost jobs, denial of benefits and stigmatization all in the name of righteousness. It almost seems like Jesus said "hate thine Brother." As mean and hateful as the holier than thou self righteous bigots are, you can't really blame the Romans for their assessment of these overzealous jerks. They were fed to the lions. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by FoM on August 10, 2006 at 08:07:13 PT |
| I was able to check for news and found this one article. The contractors are working on our chimney and it is causing my satellite signal to go out. I will get back when I can later on when they are finished for the day. Talk with you all soon. [ Post Comment ] |
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