cannabisnews.com: Medicinal Marijuana Bill Dies in Committee Medicinal Marijuana Bill Dies in Committee Posted by FoM on February 09, 2002 at 13:41:01 PT By Gilbert Gallegos, Tribune Reporter Source: Albuquerque Tribune The defeat of a medicinal marijuana bill is a major setback for Gov. Gary Johnson and proponents of liberalizing state drug laws. The medicinal marijuana bill died late Friday evening on a 5-5 vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Bills cannot move on to the next committee on tie votes.The measure, Senate Bill 8, was one of three bills that dealt with easing criminal penalties for possession or use of marijuana. All three bills have run into roadblocks in committee, making it unlikely they will be revived this session. A bill giving judges flexibility in sentencing nonviolent drug offenders has not made it out of the Senate Public Affairs Committee.Another bill making possession of less than an ounce of marijuana a civil penalty, rather than a criminal penalty, died in a House committee earlier this session.The medicinal marijuana bill probably had the best chance of passage since it nearly got out of the Legislature last year.But senators who had voted for it last year changed their minds this go-round.Sen. Bill Payne, a Northeast Heights Republican, said he gave the bill the benefit of the doubt last year when it was not clear whether legalizing marijuana for medical use violated federal law.But Payne said a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in a California case persuaded him that there is no exception in the federal Controlled Substances Act to allow for the medical use of the drug."I think you guys are stretching it," Payne told supporters of the bill.Sen. Cisco McSorley, an Albuquerque Democrat, tried to send the bill out of committee without a recommendation to pass or reject it. But the committee killed that idea on a 5-5 vote, as well.Sen. Manny Aragon argued during the debate that opponents of the bill were twisting the issue to make it appear as if the real intent was to eventually legalize marijuana for everyone."I don't know how to argue or debate this, other than to look at this from a practical standpoint," said Aragon, a South Valley Democrat.He said arguments about federal drug laws were secondary to states' rights to enact laws to help people who suffer from debilitating diseases, such as AIDS or some forms of cancer."I don't see this big fast conspiracy that everybody talks about," Aragon said.But Sen. Ramsay Gorham, a North Valley Republican who opposed the bill, said there was no getting around that the state was setting itself up for a legal battle against the feds.Gorham shared a letter she received from the head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, who said he believes the Senate bill conflicts with federal law.DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson said such a state law would undermine drug enforcement efforts."The bill is conspicuously silent with regard to the fact that the cultivation, distribution and possession of marijuana . . . would violate federal law and subject individuals engaged in such conduct to criminal and civil penalties," Hutchinson wrote.An analysis of Senate Bill 8 by the state Attorney General's Office also suggested that the measure, as written, would be illegal.The Supreme Court case "suggests that any medical use of cannabis would be illegal under federal law, and therefore the entire Act (Senate Bill 8) may be invalid on its terms unless the federal law changes," wrote Michael Cox, the director of criminal prosecutions for the Attorney General's Office.The analysis does not represent a formal attorney general's opinion.Sen. Roman Maes, the sponsor of Senate Bill 8, said he doubts the issue will surface again before the session ends Thursday."I don't think we have enough time," said Maes, a Santa Fe Democrat.Source: Albuquerque Tribune (NM)Author: Gilbert Gallegos, Tribune ReporterPublished: February 09, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Albuquerque TribuneContact: letters abqtrib.comWebsite: http://www.abqtrib.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmMedical Marijuana Dies in Senate Panelhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11965.shtmlRepublicans Feud Over Drug-Reform Legislationhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11930.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #25 posted by Sam Adams on February 11, 2002 at 17:37:46 PT Joyce....get out the grandparents....lol Quick, get the walkers, canes, & hearing aids, we need to rally the stubborn old fools before they die off! Right-wing extremists are fading fast. Once they're motivated, maybe we can take a run at bringing back segregation, removing women's rights, interracial marriage, and the all the other crap from the "Golden Age" generation's ignorance that we cleaned up in the 70's!The sooner they go and take their coke-snorting, alcoholic president with 'em the better! They defeated the Nazis and Germans all right, and treated us to 40 years of military-industrial complex domination and Cold War fear-mongering. I hope when I'm an old codger I retain the ability to have an open mind. Actually the problem is probably more that many people never had an open mind to begin with..... [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by FoM on February 11, 2002 at 12:05:23 PT Nuevo Mexican We are gaining momentum. As long as we don't have another 9-11 we should be able to recover a little. I sure hope so. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by Nuevo Mexican on February 11, 2002 at 11:59:44 PT The finger in the dyke syndrome.... can't go on much longer due to 'critical mass'. The momentum of the Cannabis movement is much stronger than the anti-cannabis movement, which springs from right-wing support groups (read this article on how to demonize Democrats on the energy bill by linking them to Carters long gas line in the 70's and how much they are willing to spend to make sure the media gets the 'message' right on enviromental issues: 'Enron lobbyist plotted strategy against Democrats' http://www.latimes.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=la%2D000010595feb11 Tell me there is no link between prohibition of cannabis and big phama, big timber, big oil and big agro. We need more articles like the linked article. exposing where the funding sources are, and how much they spend on their propaganda. Then, everytime these antis present their hogwash, they're hit with the Billionaire backers line that they use when referring to George Soros and other wealthy cannabis supporters. We need to get a memo, or some printed statements that expose their schemes to the average joe. The 'chink in the armor' is what we've got to find, and these backroom deals made in corporate boardrooms need to see the light of day, as the sun will expose their machinations and manipulations. The media is ripe for the truth, so lets get a hold of some priceless info regarding the puppetry behind the politicians, and make them want to show that they are not working on behalf of some corporate agenda that profits at the expense of humanity. Cannabis prohibition and the drug war are war crimes against humanity, lets prepare the case! Lurking lawyers, here's your big break, now get to work as this is an easy call! [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by FoM on February 10, 2002 at 22:16:17 PT SirReal Thanks for telling us you mailed Joyce directly. I feel sorry for her. I'm not angry. I fill pity. Hating anything or anyone with passion like Joyce shows is very self destructive. You can't accomplish anything meaningful with a bad spirit of anger dictating what you say and do. We are people wanting change because it is the right thing to do. We are not second class citizens. Actually if antis met us and they didn't know we were from the other side they'd probably find us refreshing. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by SirReal on February 10, 2002 at 21:56:50 PT Joyce Screw it, I e-mailed Joyce directly on this one [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by goneposthole on February 10, 2002 at 05:03:29 PT Joyce I think your heart is in the right place, but your head is stuck in the sand.If you need some help jerking it free, help is there. If you are willing to listen, accept facts and truth, your heart can be cleansed.It is not a difficult task to 'open up your heart and let the sunshine in'.'Smilers never lose, and frowners never win'The 'smilers', even with illegal smiles, know this... for a fact. The whole world knows it.Pull your head out of the sand and find out for your self, but don't get caught.I caught you, I saw you smile. You look better already. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Patrick on February 10, 2002 at 02:01:39 PT My two cents Is worth just as much as a prohibitionists.Joyce says...We want a uniform "NO DRUGS" message from ALL members of our community.Reminds me of that credit card commercial that ends...What's in your wallet?Only in this case Joyce the commercial asks... What's in your medicine/liquor cabinet? Our government ought to lock you up for whatever "DRUG" it is that you take Joyce. We all know that you take something even if it is only Tylenol or cough medicine. We should protect the children from narrow mindedness first. Then they can make healthy choices instead of ignorant ones.Hang in there FoM. You do the world good with this site! :) [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by p4me on February 09, 2002 at 22:08:15 PT unfinished thought On the idea of growing MJ by volunteers is one thing. But hey, we do not need volunteers. We have two million people in prison now that would be glad to have MJ. I say begin a study of Claustaphobia now and let the prisoners grow MMJ. I want to see a research study begin with a 100,000 prisoners to study headaches alone. No one here ever talks about having a headache because everone has there own cure. I want the free cure and the AIDS patients around the world and their relatives will demand pill-free medicine. Any prisoner that wants to take cannabis for migraine should be allowed in a study and required to grow his own medicine and get reduced time for growing an abundance and mastering growing. That man is needed in private medicine. I am looking foward to the Colin Davies Story and The Story of Rainbow Farms. I think with the new software and DVD burners people will have their own satire and documentaries. I really think things will change very fast.I think that there will be legal challenges toward the current judical view of jury nullification. The people are going to become aware of jury nullification because their will be an outrage when property is seized because an AIDS patient needed medicine and the big imprisoner needs more money.Vote all the bastards out of office and the ones that escape this time-get them next time. If in doubt, votem out. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by p4me on February 09, 2002 at 21:48:11 PT not really It is not that much of a set back. It requires another finger of the prohibitionist to plug a leak and they have only so many fingers. The leaks are getting bigger and the truth spreads. I loved this thread and must say that Dr. Russo told it like it was. I took my medicine Dr. Russo and I am happy. Although a person in my situation sees the idea of being able to grow your own medicine. The problem with the medical community is they do not recognize that the world needs a cheap medicine and it can all start with one seed.What can you do when the world is backwards, or like the British played at Yorktown "The World has turned upside down." If there were a free section in the medicine section at WalMart I would go there first. Dam, who ever saw the word free near a pharmacy? Free the Weed, because the weed is free.In one of these New Mexico pieces someone said where is the money going to come from to build this pot plantation. The people would do it if they all read the article Dr. Russo wrote. Busch says for the young to donate time. I say "Let them grow Cannabis in New Mexico and everywhere else." I would help grow MJ in my community although, it seems that they should just let people grow it on their own property. And like in Maryland they talk about growing in a secure area. No. Let there be so much MJ that it is the price of parcley and let us tell our children that smoking MJ is a thing reserved for adults.I would help and I am reading all along about growing and talking to people about growing. The dam will bust when you run out of fingers. It will be Europe that saves us. War War Three is the War on Drugs fought against the American People. Science says Marijuana is medicine. The government lies and has one-fourth of all the prisoners in the world. The UK says we cannot take care of all our prisoners and we have got to let some out. So does the US. Red ink will be so cheap newspapers will have red type if anyone still bothers to take the filtered news.I have said enough. The only thing that could make me happier is if my medicine were free and the government quit lying.Although I am a VAAI warrior, I urge the reformers to err on the side of change and remember "If in doubt, votem out." [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Jose Melendez on February 09, 2002 at 20:52:46 PT: know history, or repeat it Of course; I remember now that Dr.Russo already set her straight... in the Washington Post, no less. He confronted and answered her (same) arguments with science: from:http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/5/thread5197.shtml Medicine's Moral Micromanagers Posted by FoM on March 27, 2000 at 08:44:33 By Ethan Russo M.D. Source: Washington Post I was distressed by Joyce Nalepka's March 19 letter in which she asserted that some unspecified National Institutes of Health publication recommends avoidance of marijuana by people with HIV. That is perhaps true, but it is also the case that an extensive workshop on medical marijuana convened by NIH in 1997 presented a great deal of positive information on its benefits. The Institute of Medicine has recommended that cannabis be made available to people with HIV, cancer and other serious illnesses. Ms. Nalepka, who said that only the Food and Drug Administration should dictate approval of medicine, may be interested to know that FDA recently recognized medical indications for cannabis by virtue of its approval as an Orphan Drug for treatment of AIDS wasting syndrome. Also, FDA approved my Investigational New Drug application for cannabis in migraine treatment last year, only to have progress derailed by the refusal of the National Institute on Drug Abuse to provide the drug for the trial. Arrest Prohibition - Drug War is TREASON [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by lookinside on February 09, 2002 at 20:35:33 PT: Joyce Nalepka is a hit and run artist...Her stand is indefensable so she just dumps a load of filth and waits for our responses..."When you stop learning, you start dying..."Joyce is on her last legs... [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Jose Melendez on February 09, 2002 at 20:30:54 PT: Re: Think about it. (We DO!) Here is the truth, answers to Joyce Nalepka, and Frances and whomever else has been temporarily blinded by shameless and dishonest propaganda demonizing marijuana/hemp/cannabis. Do you really think AIDS patients should be smoking anything? Cannabis can also be safely and healthily consumed in foods, although the dosage of the psychoactive components is more easily self-titrated when inhaled as smoke or vapor, the latter of which renders the smoking issues moot. Vaporization involves heating the oils to just below combustion levels, and inhaling the resulting mist or "vapor". Vaporization of marijuana eliminates the creation of carbon monoxide, benzene, benzopyrene or toluene; all poisonous substances legally inhaled by cigarette smokers, regardless of whether they have AIDS or cancer. Would you be in favor of jailing all sick users of alcohol or tobacco? Those products are chemically poison, cannabis is chemically food. Researchers from several universities report that marijuana harms the same part of the immune system that is attacked by AIDS. Read on: Study results were presented in July at the XIII International AIDS Conference in South Africa. Subjects either smoked THC content-controlled marijuana, took the drug Marinol (artificial THC), or took a placebo. (THC is marijuana's active ingredient.) All patients with undetectable viral loads (VL50/ml) remained undetectable; all those with measurable VL experienced some improvement. Obviously, then, pot does not negatively affect the immune system, or viral loads would have risen, not declined, among THC-consuming patients. (An argument might actually be made for the immune-boosting benefit of stress reduction, but that was not the study question.) An even more dramatic outcome was seen in caloric intake and weight gain: The THC consumers gained significantly, with smokers doing best. Maintaining weight and avoiding wasting are a major positive sign in HIV disease management. The study was initiated by the National Institutes of Health, which supplied the controlled marijuana. The outcomes hardly surprise HIV+ people or their experienced physicians: The study shows no demonstrable negative immunologic impact from marijuana and, indeed, some benefit in weight gain. (Other lesser questions are still being investigated.) Now we need address the legal issues, and let medical science, not moralistic politics, drive clinical decisions. For details, read the study's summary at www.ucsf.edu/pressrel/2000/ 07/071302.html. above from:http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2000-08-11/cols_aboutaids.html Please read also the bibliography at:http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_myth_notes.shtml#note27 Or don't, and pretend the information is unavailable. Do you want VOTERS approving what you injest as medicine? Only the US Food and Drug Administration can approve medicines. It seems FDA only approves well financed and lobbied dangerous drugs, like OxyContin (extremely prone to abuse, may cause death) and Tylenol (causes liver damage). Also, FDA consistently ignores other dangerous drugs like nicotine and alcohol. Cannabis has been shown to be exponentially safer than any of those drugs, indeed safer than most legal drugs, even aspirin. In all of human history, there has never been a single documented death due to overdose from marijuana. If marijuana caused lung cancer or premature death, where are the thousands or even millions of bodies? They are easy to find with legal substance abuse, but America does not care about the fact that 600,000 of us die each year due to tobacco, alcohol or prescription drugs...Meanwhile you pretend marijuana is dangerous while legal substances take the equivalent of another Holocaust in lives every ten years. Citizens should also be watching for foods that contain hemp/marijuana/cannabis sativa. Canada has already issued a stern warning to its citizens cautioning that hemp/marijuana in foods "could be dangerous to infants in the womb or developing adolescents." That is ludicrous and unfounded. Cannabis is a complete, healthy low cost food and is especially safe for infants, as EFA's are crucial for developing babies. Essential fatty acids are also available in breast milk. Neurologist Dr. Ethan Russo, M.D. has done extensive research in most of these areas. He makes some of his work on Cannabis and pain management available via pdf format, you might try contacting him for more proof of the safety and efficacy of marijuana. Ask for "The Role of Cannabis and Cannabinoids in Pain Management," from Weiner, R.S., Pain Management: A Practical Guide for Clinicians, 6th ed., CRC Press, 2002. Request via erusso mtneuro.com Arrest Prohibition [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on February 09, 2002 at 20:03:47 PT CorvallisEric Thank you for understanding. My husband just read it but I didn't. I can't get Tom and Rollie out of my mind when I see anything about SWAT Teams these days. I believe we are going through a time now that is important for us to go through to get on with life since 9-11. It's hard to do but life goes on and soon we will be complaining about hearing about war news only. Oh for the days of dear sweet Chandra. Did they find her yet? No! I feel bad for her parents still to this day. I know if we don't hear about the war on the news it will be Enron for months and months. I'm tired of being thought of as a terrorist and I don't even know how to hack someone that's how dumb I am. We'll get through but sometimes coping out is what we should do. See they are making a world of people who will want to cop out and they'll blame us to boot. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by CorvallisEric on February 09, 2002 at 19:49:55 PT FoM I can certainly understand your reaction. When I saw the front page with the headline for this story, I figured it was total failure for New Mexico (except for maybe the forfeiture bill because of Utah's extremely high voter approval of their's). And I thought some very bad thoughts about my country and just wanted to escape into my computer programming and forget all about the war. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by CorvallisEric on February 09, 2002 at 19:38:06 PT To Joyce Nalepka and/or any drug-war supporter I would very much like to see a moderated (to avoid total descent into abuse and spamming) forum on a prohibitionist website where opposing views are allowed to appear like here on Cannabis News. If there are any, please let us know. Respectfully, Eric. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on February 09, 2002 at 19:31:22 PT CorvallisEric Thanks for the article. I did see this or an article about it today. I think I didn't post it because it freaked me out after the Rainbow Farm. What happens when an article scares me I can't even read it these days. I know it is because of all the terrorist stuff we live with now. It must be like shell shock. Or delayed reactions to 9-11. That could be. If it is important to others for me to post it I will. Just let me know. I often post articles that are hard for me. I'm almost getting used to it these days with our world the way it is now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by CorvallisEric on February 09, 2002 at 19:19:32 PT p4me and FoM The Milwaukee $700,000 settlement: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/wisn/20020207/lo/1070798_1.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by mayan on February 09, 2002 at 18:59:25 PT how could you? Who could keep a dying persons medicine of choice from them? How could you? [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on February 09, 2002 at 18:02:02 PT p4me I vaguely remember the insurance article. I don't remember where it was or what it was about. It could have been when that particular article was released I was busy doing some other news but I'm sure Mapinc. must have it posted. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by ekim on February 09, 2002 at 17:55:11 PT: Dear Joyce Tolerance is the positive and cordial effort to understand another's beliefs, practices, and habits without sharing or accepting them. Joshua Liebman ----Lets show the children by example how to get along.mike [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by p4me on February 09, 2002 at 17:54:15 PT unrelated news from UK I will just say that Colin Davies is to be back in court on the 15th and the smoking goes on at the Dutch Experience.The one thing that has not surfaced about the UK "Go softly Plan" is that the British are going to be letting out over ten thousand prisoners out of jail. Some prisons are in terrible shape from lack of finances and they are overcrowded. I just wanted to put up a link that was at the Hempcity messageboards that host the DE. http://212.129.240.114/upload/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1972I was also wanting to hear about the $700,000 settlement that Richard Cowan talked about in Milwaukee. The police had a tip and searched the trash and found some seeds or stems and had the SWAT team go in to Mr. Average Joe's house in the middle of the night with guns drawn and flashlights. They have Average Joe on the floor and in handcuffs. With the warrant for poseession and paraphanalia they go into the son's room and he starts yelling for help. Some SWAT officer(that takes his job seriously) shoots the son in the leg within 3 seconds of opening the door. That cost taxpayers 700,000 big ones. What is wrong with those idiots that represent us? I wish people that interviewed these people would ask this question. Which do you think is worse, marijuana or the laws concerning marihuana and why?VAAI. If you choose only to vote against prohibitionist remember- when in doubt, vote them out. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by p4me on February 09, 2002 at 17:32:42 PT keep reading Joyce... You have a lot to learn. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 09, 2002 at 17:16:09 PT Joyce Why do you feel it is the right thing to do to lock up sick people if they use something to feel better just because it isn't legal? I don't understand that at all. I love people and value their rights plus I am very partial to AIDS patients because of my son. You are talking to a Mother here and it hurts you know. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by goneposthole on February 09, 2002 at 17:15:04 PT Alcohol hoax lives on Edible cereals fit for human consumption are made from corn, wheat, oats and barley. All of these grains can be distilled into alcohol. A drug, and intoxicating substance, you call it what you want. It will kill you in one sitting if you so choose. It is the worst drug and is sold in every single state for people to coNsume. No problem.Keep your holier than thou so-called moral authority claptrap to yourself because you certainly have no credibility.Facts and truth are impossible to deny, alcohol abuse confirms all of my suspicions that it is by far and away the most dangerous drug.My grandfather died from alcohol abuse, and it was no fun watching him do so.If you think the same of hemp you are definitely sorely mistaken.Legions of people from all walks of life would testify to the contrary.If they had no fear of repurcussions, the echoes of testimony would be heard from coast to coast nonstop for days on end.Hemp helps the human condition and no anmount of propaganda can keep the cause for hemp down forever.Joyce, take a long walk home and think about it. Booze sucks big time, get off of peoples backs and SHUT UP. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Joyce Nalepka on February 09, 2002 at 16:38:20 PT: N Mexico Medical Marijuana Hoax dies in Committee Thanks to a national campaign by parents, grandparents and other interested anti-drug individuals and groups, the New Mexico legislature did the right thing and stopped this pro-drug bill.Give this bill a final farewell--not only in New Mexico but in Maryland (where it has already reared its ugly head) and the District of Columbia where it is expected. DC voters told us that proponents of the medical marijuana hoax in D.C. obtained their signatures last time by asking potential voters, "Would you help us help cancer and AIDS patients by signing our petition for medicinal marijuana cigarettes? Be ready this time voters. Think about it. Do you really think AIDS patients should be smoking anything? Researchers from several universities report that marijuana harms the same part of the immune system that is attacked by AIDS. Do you want VOTERS approving what you injest as medicine? Only the US Food and Drug Administration can approve medicines. Citizens should also be watching for foods that contain hemp/marijuana/cannabis sativa. Canada has already issued a stern warning to its citizens cautioning that hemp/marijuana in foods "could be dangerous to infants in the womb or developing adolescents." Food products containing hemp/marijuana are known to be sold at specialty and grocery stores, including Fresh Fields. We have asked Fresh Fields corporate offices to certify that all foods in their stores are safe for human consumption. They would only respond "we are following the law"; however, they (as of Friday 2/8/02) continued to sell the products. If you wish to contact them, their CEO is John Mackey 512-477-5566. His spokeswoman, with whom I spoke, is Margaret Whittenberg at 512-477-5561. I told Ms. Whittenberg that it is not just the law we are concerned about. We care about the health and safety of our citizens-especially children and youth. We believe young people are more likely to look for the products. Beyond that, we believe it sends the wrong message to ALL children. Parents and grandparents are diligently trying to stop drugs. Stores in our communities should not be selling products that glamorize or promote pro-drug messages. We want a uniform "NO DRUGS" message from ALL members of our community. As Laura Bush recently told "Reader's Digest, "It's the children, Stupid!" The US Drug Enforcement Administration has already ruled that food products cannot contain hemp/marijuana/cannabis. JOIN THE NATIONAL PARENTS' AND GRANDPARENTS' MOVEMENT TO BOYCOTT ALL HEMP PRODUCTS. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment