cannabisnews.com: Douglas Behind Effort To Pass Restrictive Bill





Douglas Behind Effort To Pass Restrictive Bill
Posted by CN Staff on May 17, 2004 at 11:23:32 PT
By David Gram, Associated Press Writer
Source: Associated Press 
Montpelier, Vt. -- Two House Republicans said Monday they had gotten the word that Gov. James Douglas was behind the decision by House leadership to move a medical marijuana bill this year. One, Rep. Loren Shaw, R-Derby, said he was so upset by the decision that he would not seek re-election to the House in November. "I don't want to play in that sandbox with people who don't take their oath seriously," Shaw said. He argued during House debate on Thursday and again in an interview Monday that legislators' oath of office demands that they abide by federal law, which considers marijuana an illegal substance.
House Speaker Walter Freed, R-Dorset, and Douglas' spokesman Jason Gibbs both downplayed the governor's role in the decision to release the bill from the House Health and Welfare Committee and bring it to the House floor, where it passed Friday. "He hasn't asked me point-blank to bring out a bill," Freed said of the governor. Gibbs said Douglas will decide whether to sign the bill, veto it or let it become law without his signature if and when the Senate passes the House version and sends it to the governor. Shaw and fellow Derby Republican Rep. Nancy Sheltra said they were led to understand it was the governor's wish to have the House pass a bill, both to head off a less restrictive medical marijuana measure passed by the Senate and to defuse the matter as an issue during the coming campaigns. "My understanding was that he (Douglas) didn't want this to become a campaign issue," said Sheltra. But she added, "What could affect the governor's campaign is if he doesn't support the traditional values that a lot of us are asking him to support." Sheltra said several national health-related groups had come out against legalizing marijuana for use by sick people. She said extensive data point to the health risks of smoking the drug. Gibbs said that if the Health and Welfare Committee had not moved the more restrictive bill to the floor, the Senate-passed bill likely would have won a House majority. "That was an extremely broad and, from a public safety point of view, dangerous proposal," Gibbs said. "The administration has said to House leaders that if in fact their body is going to pass a marijuana bill it should be as narrow as possible and address as many public safety concerns as possible." Douglas has been very cool to the idea of legalizing marijuana for use by very sick people in relieving pain, nausea and other symptoms. Like Shaw, he has voiced concern that such use would violate federal law. The governor also has said passing such a law would send mixed messages about marijuana to the state's young people. Gibbs said public support for a medical marijuana bill was a factor in talks between the administration and lawmakers. "I don't know whether the politics of this issue was specifically discussed in the context of the House proposal," Gibbs said. "What I do know is that the governor and legislative leaders have talked about the broad public support for a compassionate effort to help those with terminal illnesses and severe, debilitating conditions alleviate their symptoms." Complete Title: Douglas Seen Behind Effort To Pass More Restrictive BillSource: Associated Press Author: David Gram, Associated Press WriterPublished: May 17, 2004 Copyright: 2004 The Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/ House: Very Sick Can Use Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18856.shtmlGovernor Reiterates Opposition To Med Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18811.shtmlHouse May Tighten Rules on Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18651.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #9 posted by FoM on May 19, 2004 at 10:46:48 PT
Breaking News from The AP
Senate Agrees with House Medical Marijuana BillWednesday, May 19, 2004 (Montpelier, Vermont - AP) — The Senate has voted to concur with a House version of a bill that makes marijuana available to some sick people.The Senate originally approved a version of the bill that was less restrictive than the one passed by the House last week.But with the session drawing to a close, the Senate agreed today to vote for the House changes rather than send the measure to a conference committee.The bill would legalize marijuana for use by very sick people in relieving pain, nausea and other symptoms.The bill now goes to the desk of Governor James Douglas, who has not said whether he will sign it.Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by VitaminT on May 19, 2004 at 04:47:20 PT
Extensive data
a.k.a. Fig Leaf
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by KnowHemp on May 18, 2004 at 23:18:52 PT
Health Risks?
Extensive data?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by cloud7 on May 17, 2004 at 13:54:03 PT
Must be hard to see the tree trunk in your eye
"(Shaw) argued during House debate on Thursday and again in an interview Monday that legislators' oath of office demands that they abide by federal law, which considers marijuana an illegal substance."Dont they take some kind of oath about upholding the constitution also. Where in it is the constitutional authority for the federal government to pass laws about what states do within their territory? The interstate commerce clause they try and use is a lie and an appeals court recently said the same thing. Good riddance to another shill from the ONDCP posing as a legislator.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by Sam Adams on May 17, 2004 at 13:47:11 PT
Representative?
"Gibbs said public support for a medical marijuana bill was a factor in talks between the administration and lawmakers."How nice of them! They must have read their business cards.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 17, 2004 at 13:26:53 PT
CorvallisEric
He had a hissy fit! That's what we always called it when someone acted that way! LOL!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by CorvallisEric on May 17, 2004 at 13:21:26 PT
incredible
One, Rep. Loren Shaw, R-Derby, said he was so upset by the decision that he would not seek re-election to the House in November.Golly, a politician voluntarily giving up power (maybe marijuana really causes ... oh never mind). I look forward to finding out whether it really happens.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on May 17, 2004 at 13:03:14 PT:
Sending some messages of their own
Isn't it amazing? Every time I see this phrase 'sending a message', it's always in relation to some ignoramus pol stating that medicinal cananbis is sending the 'wrong message'.Well...communication flows both ways. THE ELECTORATE is sending a message of their own, loud and clear. Can the pols hear it? Or are their ears stoppered by dried and crusty brown smelly stuff deposited there long ago by the antis? Evidently, two said ignoramuses will never 'get it', but thankfully, one is leaving 'public service' after demonstrating an obvious lack of fitness for the position. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by afterburner on May 17, 2004 at 11:45:03 PT
Opposition to Medicine Is a 'Traditional Value'?
Withholding medicine from patients is a violation of the Geneva Convention, but I guess, that's part of American "tradition." Shame, shame, shame!Medical Freedom Amendment for 2004, the states need to reclaim their Constitutional authority over medical care and treatment!
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment