cannabisnews.com: Douglas: Medical Marijuana Bill Will Become Law





Douglas: Medical Marijuana Bill Will Become Law
Posted by CN Staff on May 19, 2004 at 15:58:07 PT
By David Gram, Associated Press Writer
Source: Associated Press 
Montpelier, Vt. -- The Senate on Wednesday gave a medical marijuana bill final legislative approval, and Gov. James Douglas said later that he would allow it to become law without his signature. "I will not oppose this decision by the elected representatives of the people, nor will I support it by signing it into law," Douglas said. He said the House version of the bill, which was more restrictive than the Senate's but to which the Senate finally agreed, would "focus on symptom relief for a small percentage of individuals with only the most debilitating conditions."
The House changed the Senate-passed bill by shifting jurisdiction over use of marijuana by people with chronic diseases from the Department of Health to the Department of Public Safety, which includes the State Police. It narrowed the range of sick people who would be excused from arrest and prosecution on state charges, and it lowered the number of marijuana plants the patient using the drug could possess from seven to three. In addition, the law will require the patient and one caregiver to register with the Department of Public Safety. It also requires marijuana to be kept in a locked room accessible only by the sick person and caregiver. Douglas said he believed that the "mechanisms for preventing the diversion of the drug" have helped to convince "a majority of the people's representatives - and indeed many Vermonters themselves - that allowing this bill to become law is advisable." Rep. David Zuckerman, P-Burlington and a leader of the House effort to pass a bill allowing the use of marijuana for pain, nausea and other symptoms, said it was the first time a state legislature had passed such a bill over the wishes of a sitting governor. "It's good to see politicians at least listened to a majority of the people," he said. "But the fact that the governor squeezed so hard that the bill lost some of its effectiveness is unfortunate." Douglas and some lawmakers who voted for the bill noted that it does not make marijuana legal; it merely excuses a small number of people using it from arrest and prosecution on state charges. Sen. Richard Sears, D-Bennington and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said testimony that panel heard on the bill convinced him that the Senate's more permissive version was appropriate. "Do I like this version? Heck, no," Sears said. "But it's the best we can get," Sears said during Wednesday's Senate debate. Douglas said he hoped advocates for legalization of marijuana for recreational use would not take cheer from the new Vermont law. "To ease suffering is commendable, but to crusade for legalization of an addictive, destructive and dangerous drug is contemptible." Douglas voted to decriminalize marijuana as a young House member in 1978. Source: Associated Press Author: David Gram, Associated Press WriterPublished: May 19, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmDouglas Behind Effort To Pass Restrictive Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18869.shtmlHouse: Very Sick Can Use Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18856.shtmlGovernor Reiterates Opposition To Med Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18811.shtml
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Comment #28 posted by afterburner on May 20, 2004 at 13:56:20 PT
Why Don't Activists and/or Legislators Fix This? 
"Still, there are like 5-6 more states that symbolically recognize it."If they did we would be approaching critical mass (17) nationally. Victory is in sight. The stonewall is crumbling. 
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Comment #27 posted by mamawillie on May 20, 2004 at 13:02:03 PT
Mayan
Don't forget the states that have "symbolic" medical marijuana laws where they officially recognize that marijuana is an effective medicine; however, there is usually a catch like it needs to be filled at a pharmacy, thus making the law virtually worthless.Still, there are like 5-6 more states that symbolically recognize it.
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Comment #26 posted by FoM on May 20, 2004 at 11:29:10 PT
breeze
I never saw the web ring. I bookmarked it and will check it out. Thanks
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Comment #25 posted by FoM on May 20, 2004 at 10:23:30 PT
Max Flowers 
I understand what you are saying. Now the world knows what we as a group have known all along. 
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Comment #24 posted by Max Flowers on May 20, 2004 at 10:20:36 PT
Another thing
I also want to say I am beyond shocked and disgusted by what I heard on the news yesterday, that US forces slaughtered 48 Iraqis (and if they admit 48, it was probably more like 70) at a wedding party when a few people fired guns in the air as per Iraqi tradition.I don't believe for one second that these fighter pilots aren't aware of this tradition, and I don't believe for one second that they are incapable of looking through their goddamned high tech targeting systems and seeing that there are little girls in party dresses next to the men firing their weapons in the air, or that it's a wedding and not an insurgent attack. These US commanders are murderers, and they are committing atrocious war crimes every day and hanging them around the necks of we Americans.This f*cking illegal war has to stop!!And the same goes for the Israeli murderers, who on the same day killed about six or seven small Palestinian children and others, in cold blood, firing a missile at a group of peaceful protestors!? These people are insane killers.I gotta go get stoned just to deal with my dismay.
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Comment #23 posted by Max Flowers on May 20, 2004 at 10:12:02 PT
mayan
I just read it, everyone on this site should read it, it is awesome and explosive and WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG for someone to yell TREASON in a national paper? I sure hope that paper is a real, widely circulated paper (I had never heard of it until today).We need more and more and then still more commentaries like it in every paper in this land. And we need them fast. I'll be writing one today.
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Comment #22 posted by mayan on May 20, 2004 at 07:47:16 PT
Progressive Populist...
Unrelated, but here is an incredible commentary regarding the current state of the "Untied" States. The guy who wrote it, Dr. Robert Bowman, is a progressive populist candidate for President of the United States. Here's some info on him (quite a resume)...Dr. Robert Bowman was a Col. in the USAF and was Director of Advanced Space Programs Development under President Jimmy Carter. He is Presiding Archbishop, United Catholic Church. He has been president of the Institute for Space and Security Studies since 1982. Before that he was vice-president of Space Communications Company; manager, Advanced Space Programs for General Dynamics; and director, Advanced Space Programs Development for the Department of Defense, directing the "Star Wars" programs. He is also a progressive populist candidate for President of the United States. He may be reached via email at: isss rmbowman.com - See also his web site: http://www.rmbowman.com Here's his commentary...Some Dare Call It Treason: Wake Up America!
http://baltimorechronicle.com/041704reTreason.shtml
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Comment #21 posted by dongenero on May 20, 2004 at 07:40:37 PT
addictive?, destructive?, dangerous?, 
"To ease suffering is commendable, but to crusade for legalization of an addictive, destructive and dangerous drug is contemptible."Huh? What drug is he talking about? I thought we were talking about marijuana.
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Comment #20 posted by mayan on May 20, 2004 at 07:27:25 PT
"10"
I suppose Maryland wouldn't technically count as "ten" since a patient(post-arrest!) can still get a maximum $100 fine even if they prove medical necessity in court. Though the Vermont bill is far, far from perfect - another state government has officially recognized that cannabis has some medical efficacy!!! This is another big chunk out of the wall as the feds get snubbed again. They appear more asinine by the day!
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Comment #19 posted by cloud7 on May 20, 2004 at 06:44:15 PT
Good, no more condoms!
I didnt realize a fat sack was such an effective form of birth control. Another medical usage? Enhance your sex and gain control of when you have children.
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Comment #18 posted by breeze on May 20, 2004 at 06:29:02 PT
FOM- have you seen this web ring?
http://n.webring.com/hub?ring=marijuanaanddrug
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Comment #17 posted by mamawillie on May 20, 2004 at 06:22:07 PT
Sperm sperm sperm, oh my!
Well, I do believe reproductive endocronology (sp??) is a speciality of obstretics and gynecology... but I digress...My point is: tell that to my fraternal twins!Mama
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Comment #16 posted by Petard on May 20, 2004 at 04:57:05 PT
Kegan
Yep, we guys gotta trust those Gynecologists to know about sperm since their specialty is Female reproductive systems. Of course a Gynecologist knows more about sperm and seminal fluid than, oh, say, a Urologist or Proctologist. Kinda like going to a Dentist for help with dermatological issues, it only makes sense in the world of Prohibition. This also explains how Philosphical Doctors, like Barfwell, can give such authoritative medical advice regarding cannabis and other medically related substances.Maybe I oughta see a podiatrist about this recent acid reflux and a gastroenterologist about a new set of glasses/contact lenses?  
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Comment #15 posted by Kegan on May 20, 2004 at 04:11:54 PT
Ottawa Citizen Scare Mongering
http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/blog/story.html?id=39245dd0-ebd1-4f45-9367-7c3bd9883327
 
This is your sperm cell. This is your sperm cell on drugs.
 
Ottawa Citizen May 19, 2004
 
Men who smoke marijuana frequently have significantly less seminal fluid and fewer sperm cells, and those sperm cells they do produce behave like Cheech and Chong, a University at Buffalo study shows. The result: Less chance of becoming a daddy. "The bottom line is, the active ingredients in marijuana are doing something to sperm, and the numbers are in the direction toward infertility," said Lani J. Burkman, a professor of gynecology and lead author on the study. One possibility is that sperm are losing their natural inhibitions when their owners are stoned. No, no, truly! That's what she said, a few months back at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine conference: "THC may be causing improper timing of sperm function by direct stimulation, or it may be bypassing natural inhibition mechanisms. Whatever the cause, the sperm are swimming too fast, too early." They burn out without reaching an egg cell. ("Hey, man, you wanna swim upstream or just chill here for a while?") The tests were done on 22 heavy marijuana smokers. The volunteers reported smoking up to an average of twice a day, and for an average of 5.1 years.
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Comment #14 posted by afterburner on May 19, 2004 at 20:20:04 PT
Appalling Government Waste: Comment #13
Health Canada: 93 served. Cost: $15,000 Per Ounce Your tax dollars at work. Meanwhile, classrooms are overcrowded and schools are closed, nurses are overworked and hospitals closed. Governments have a reverse Midas touch: everything they touch turns to dung.
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on May 19, 2004 at 19:28:28 PT
Medical Post: Feds' Pot: $15,000 Per Ounce 
May 18, 2004 Volume 40 Issue 20 By Colin LeslieAn Access to Information request by Canadians for Safe Access, a medical marijuana lobby group, came up with some interesting facts about the government's medical marijuana program. According to Health Canada statistics, as of March 31, the Office of Cannabis Medical Access had sent out 295 oz. of cannabis to the 93 legal users who ordered the product (29 have returned it due to poor quality). Prairie Plant Systems Inc. of Saskatoon—which grows the marijuana at its facility in Flin Flon, Man.—has a five-year, $5.7-million contract that ends early next year. Estimating that $4.5 million has been spent so far, that means Canadian taxpayers have been paying roughly $15,000 per ounce. http://www.medicalpost.com/mpcontent/article.jsp?content=20040516_114904_5172
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on May 19, 2004 at 19:20:53 PT
RasAric
We really are all one big group of people doing what we feel we should. That's such a good thing.
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Comment #11 posted by RasAric on May 19, 2004 at 19:10:31 PT
Hi FoM
That is patially why I asked. I'm sure most who visit your site are frequenting CC as well.
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on May 19, 2004 at 18:52:31 PT
RasAric
I don't know if I would want to post. I believe it's good to have different web sites that offer news because each site will do something a little different then the other ones. That doesn't mean that the article wouldn't be good but it has been covered ok it seems. I hope you understand.
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Comment #9 posted by RasAric on May 19, 2004 at 18:39:46 PT
Fom
UK: Over 100 Schools Regularly Use Dogs To Search Pupils For DrugsI wanted to see if you thought this would be a good article to post. It's on Mapinc. Many of you may have already checked it out on the cannabisculture site
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Comment #8 posted by Virgil on May 19, 2004 at 18:31:50 PT
The appeal
The ruling came on a Wednesday and this article speaks of appealling something on a Tuesday. Here is the article to read- http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread18711.shtml - and here is the paragraph that speaks of an appeal even though it says the decision is being studied by the government and it was reported in the other articles that way.That decision was a blow to the Justice Department, which argued that state medical marijuana laws were trumped by the Controlled Substances Act, which outlawed marijuana, heroin and other drugs nationwide. The department appealed that Ninth Circuit decision on Tuesday to the Supreme Court.
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Comment #7 posted by afterburner on May 19, 2004 at 18:18:22 PT
Not, Not, Not, Not, Not
Douglas said, "...to crusade for legalization of an addictive [not], destructive [not] and dangerous [not] drug [not] is contemptible [not]." 'shifting jurisdiction ... from the Department of Health to the Department of Public Safety, which includes the State Police' shows a continuing commitment to using a failed criminalization model in dealing with a non-toxic plant, given by the Creator for human food and medicine.
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Comment #6 posted by mayan on May 19, 2004 at 18:13:01 PT
Addictive,Destructive,Dangerous... 
Douglas said he hoped advocates for legalization of marijuana for recreational use would not take cheer from the new Vermont law. "To ease suffering is commendable, but to crusade for legalization of an addictive, destructive and dangerous drug is contemptible."Cannabis is neither addictive,destructive nor dangerous. On the other hand, the cannabis laws *are* "addictive" to the drug warriors, "destructive" to The Constitution and "dangerous" to society! Douglas is a lying weasel. If Maryland counts, Vermont will be eleven!The way out is the way in...Giuliani chastised by families of 9/11 victims, praised by commissioners:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/05/19/national1542EDT0682.DTL9/11: Foreign Policy, Advance Response and Emergency Preparedness:
http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=258&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0Less is Moore in subdued, effective '9/11': 
http://www.suntimes.com/output/eb-feature/cst-ftr-cannes18.html9/11 Prior Knowledge/Government Involvement Archive:
http://www.propagandamatrix.com/archiveprior_knowledge.html9/11 International Inquiry - Toronto, May 25-30:
http://www.911inquiry.org/
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Comment #5 posted by Virgil on May 19, 2004 at 17:42:46 PT
A on medical marijuana means legalization
I will agree that this is the smallest of improvements to what did exist. But legalization with a doctor's recommendation still is not an A on MMJ. Full legalization is what will bring maximum benefit of the health benefits of cannabis.All cards are up in the air and the status quo world wide cannot hold. The implications of Spain adopting a MMJ program will have implications throughout the Spanish speaking world. We have seen how important it is for the Nazis worldwide to stop the GW extracts in the UK. The legislation moves Vermont up from a solid F to a D-. It is really pathetic when you consider that cannabis should be free for everyone.There is going to be a meeting of some state candidates where people can ask questions. I have some and I have a sister with MS whose pain medicine is now failing even though it cost NC taxpayers $90 a day because she is a state pharmacist.How is it that you justify the cost, pain, corruption, failure, and injustice of cannabis prohibition? By the way, there is no acceptable answer.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 19, 2004 at 17:16:45 PT
Related News Article from WCAX TV - Channel 3
Lawmakers Pass Medical Marijuana 
Montpelier, Vermont - May 19, 2004"This is an important measure," says Sen. Janet Munt, D-Chittenden County.Medical Marijuana was a bill that would not die. With time ticking down in the session, senators continued a push to keep it alive."This is what the state of Vermont should do."Senators have already passed a version of the bill that would let any person with a chronic illness smoke pot to relieve pain. Facing political pressure, the Republican controlled house tightened the bill to cover only people with Aids, HIV, Cancer and MS. They also limited how much pot someone can possess.Facing a time crunch, many Senators decided to support the tighter bill sent back to them, saying it is better than nothing."If this bill passes, it does not legalize marijuana," says Sen. John Bloomer, R-Rutland County.The bill exempts sick people who smoke pot from prosecution at a state level. Some were not comfortable with the bill at all saying it sends the wrong message to kids, but a move to table it failed. "I know this is a lost cause, but I have to say from my heart that this is wrong," says Sen. Julius Canns, R-Caledonia County.After passionate debate the bill passed 20 to 7. It now heads to the governor's desk. Governor Jim Douglas, R-Vermont, is strongly opposed to medical marijuana. "I've said all along how I feel about this," says Douglas.He has decided to let the bill become law without his signature. This is the first bill to reach his desk that puts him in this kind of difficult political position."I think the best course of action is to respect the will of the representatives and the majority of the people of the state and allow it to become law without my signature," says Douglas.Kristin Carlson - Channel 3 Newshttp://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=1881375&nav=4QcSNGX1
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Comment #3 posted by Ganda on May 19, 2004 at 16:57:26 PT
oh and another thing....
he's supposed to be impartial and not express views on it, in my opinion:)
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Comment #2 posted by Ganda on May 19, 2004 at 16:55:22 PT
well....
10 i think. Double figures!
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 19, 2004 at 16:00:03 PT
One More Victory
How many states now have medical marijuana laws? I know it is a small victory but it is a victory.
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