cannabisnews.com: New Group Backs Medical Marijuana in Texas New Group Backs Medical Marijuana in Texas Posted by CN Staff on March 02, 2004 at 13:34:42 PT By Ann Hatchitt, Austin Business Journal Staff Source: Austin Business Journal A newly organized group has launched a campaign to promote the medicinal use of marijuana in Texas. Texans for Medical Marijuana will work to change current law so that seriously ill Texans can have the right to use marijuana under a doctor's recommendation. The group plans to encourage Texans to influence state legislators to support medical marijuana legislation. "It's an abomination that a safe and effective medicine is kept illegal and out of the hands of patients who need it," says Susan Robbins, a University of Houston professor and a member of the advisory board for Texans for Medical Marijuana. The group kicked off its campaign Tuesday in Austin. Noelle Davis, executive director of Texans for Medical Marijuana, says: "It's time for Texas to guarantee that seriously ill patients have safe and legal access to medical marijuana under their doctor's supervision." Ten states now permit medicinal use of marijuana. Maryland and Hawaii have passed laws, and Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington went through the more arduous initiative process -- gathering signatures in support of ballot measures that eventually were passed. Patients in those 10 states must receive written clearance from their doctors to use marijuana for medical purposes, according to Christopher Mulligan, development coordinator for the Washington, D.C.-based National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws. It's then up to a patient to obtain the marijuana from a private source, Mulligan says. Marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain, nausea and epilepsy, and can be used for appetite stimulation for patients suffering from AIDS, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and other diseases, according to NORML. The Austin-based Texas Medical Association, whose members are thousands of doctors, remains neutral on the issue, spokeswoman Pam Baggett says. In January 1997, The New England Journal of Medicine in January 1997 came out in support of legalizing marijuana for medical uses. "Federal authorities should rescind their prohibition of the medical use of marijuana for seriously ill patients and allow physicians to decide which patients to treat. The government should change marijuana's status from that of a Schedule I drug ... to that of a Schedule II drug ... and regulate it accordingly." Source: Austin Business Journal (TX)Author: Ann Hatchitt, Austin Business Journal StaffPublished: March 02, 2004Copyright: 2004 American City Business Journals Inc.Contact: austin bizjournals.comWebsite: http://austin.bizjournals.com/Texans For Medical Marijuanahttp://www.texansformedicalmarijuana.org/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by ekim on March 04, 2004 at 18:34:21 PT Dennis please talk to Texans for Medical Marijuana Friday, March 5Irving, Texas 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. CT Coffee/Brunch Haveli's Restaurant 1800 Valley View Lane Located just south of Hwy. 183 (Airport Fwy.) At the Valley View Lane Exit Campaign Coordinator: Linda Foley, (817) 237-9602Dallas, Texas 12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m. CT Reception Dallas Peace Center 4301 Bryan St. Located at the corner of Bryan and Peak Campaign Coordinator: Rep. Lon Burnam, (817) 927-7400San Antonio, Texas 6:00 - 6:40 p.m. CT (Event 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.) Other America Rally Milam Park 500 West Commerce Street Campaign Coordinator: Lori Ramirez, cell (210) 269-6595San Antonio, Texas 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. CT Dinner to honor Dennis Kucinich Knights of Columbus Hall 6906 Camp Bullis Rd. Campaign Coordinator: Lori Ramirez, (210) 269-6595All items subject to change. More details will be posted as soon as available.Saturday, March 6Alice, Texas 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. CT Campaign Rally Alice Democratic Party HQ 311 E. 1st Campaign Coordinator: Lupe Martinez, (361) 664-3447McAllen, Texas 1:30 pm - 4:30 p.m. CT La Pachanga begins! Caravan through Edinburg Campaign Coordinator: Mario Maldonado, (956) 283-7161San Juan ,Texas 4:45 - 5:30 p.m. Visit Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle National Shrine 400 N. Virgen de San Juan Blvd. Campaign Coordinator: Mario Maldonado, (956) 283-7167Corpus Christi, Texas 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. CT Rally Nueces County Democratic Party HQ 1716 S. Alameda Phone (361) 882-8478 Campaign Coordinator: Sylvia Samaniego, (361) 739-4066 cellAll items subject to change. More details will be posted as soon as available.Saturday, March 13Illinois http://www.kucinich.us/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 02, 2004 at 21:47:28 PT Video from KXAN TV News 36 Video: http://207.207.6.50/rmfiles02/medical_mari.ram Medical Marijuana Information Links [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by mayan on March 02, 2004 at 18:19:11 PT They Got It Right! "Ten states now permit medicinal use of marijuana. Maryland and Hawaii have passed laws, and Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington went through the more arduous initiative process -- gathering signatures in support of ballot measures that eventually were passed."They got it right! Ten states have mmj laws now! Double figures! It would really be something if Texans could get a bill passed in Bush's home state!Speaking of Texas, Dallas has recently joined the three states and 257 cities, towns, and counties that have already passed resolutions, ordinances, or ballot initiatives to protect the civil liberties of their residents...Dallas council votes for resolution denouncing federal Patriot Act: http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/8045589.htmThe way out is the way in...9/11 panel meets to push Bush meeting, Rice testimony: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/03/01/national0247EST0453.DTL9/11 panel considers Rice subpoena: http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=90&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 Bush plays politics with 9/11: http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=89&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0No Hijackers For 9/11 - Repentant arms dealer reveals disgruntled U.S. military on the verge of revolt: http://rense.com/general49/no911.htm9/11 International Inquiry - San Francisco, March 26-28th: http://www.deceptiondollar.com/Inquiry911.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 02, 2004 at 15:13:19 PT Related Article from KXAN - Legalizing Marijuana Legalizing MarijuanaMarch 02, 2004A new effort is underway to legalize getting high to get well in Texas. Texans for Medical Marijuana want state lawmakers to OK marijuana for medicinal use.A similar measure failed in 2001.In Texas, it is a criminal act that some medical patients say they need to commit to stay healthy -- smoking marijuana."It just lets me lead a normal life, pretty much," marijuana user "John" said.This medical marijuana user would only talk if News 36 kept his identity secret out of fear of arrest. He says he's been smoking marijuana since 1999 to ease the nausea and headaches he suffers from his HIV medications. "I consider myself a law-abiding person. And I think that every person in this country, whether sick or not, has a right to feel pain free and lead a healthy life," "John" said.A new organization is leading a statewide campaign to legalize medical marijuana use in Texas."We're suppose to protect our citizens. That's in the United States Constitution and the Texas Constitution to protect people who are ill. To protect the citizens," Noelle Davis with Texans for Medical Marijuana said.Medical marijuana advocates claim thousands of Texas citizens suffering a host of chronic illnesses would benefit from what they call the drug's therapeutic effects."As a family physician in Austin, I like to have options available for patients who are at their wits end," family physician Dr. Elliot Trester said.It's those patients who complain Texas is criminalizing their quality of life."I'm going to do it whether it's illegal or not. It's just that simple," "John" said.Three years ago, Austin State Rep. Terry Keel sponsored legislation providing an affirmative defense to prosecution for possession of marijuana based on physician-recommended medical use.Keel's office says he has no plans to revive that measure.A spokeswoman for Governor Rick Perry says he opposes legalization of marijuana for any reason. http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=1683516&nav=0s3dLEyU Medicinal Cannabis Research Links [ Post Comment ] Post Comment