cannabisnews.com: State Senator Wants To Legalize Medical Marijuana State Senator Wants To Legalize Medical Marijuana Posted by CN Staff on January 21, 2005 at 16:59:03 PT By Tom Bell, Associated Press Writer Source: Associated Press Trenton, N.J. -- A state senator who is also a city prosecutor has introduced legislation that would legalize the use of marijuana in New Jersey as a pain reliever for those with debilitating medical conditions. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, would allow doctors to authorize medical marijuana use and give patients the right to possess up to one ounce of the drug or six plants. Those with diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, glaucoma and AIDS would be eligible. "These conditions often times produce wasting syndrome, chronic pain, seizures and severe nausea, all of which have been shown to be alleviated by medical marijuana," said Scutari, city prosecutor in Linden. Scutari cited a 1999 study by the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine, which said research showed marijuana helped alleviate pain in those with debilitating conditions. Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington already have various laws that allow those with medical needs to use marijuana if they get a doctor's recommendation. "New Jersey needs to join the effort to protect seriously ill people from criminal penalties for making their lives livable," Scutari said. "There are too many horrible stories of unbearable pain and suffering which don't have to be retold because a remedy to ease those burdens is available." One county prosecutor who serves as lawyer for several law enforcement groups said they would oppose the measure. "This is strictly a first step to get in the door to legalize drugs in America," said Terrence Farley, the first assistant prosecutor of Ocean County and counsel to the County Narcotics Strike Force Commanders Association and the New Jersey Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association. Scutari's bill would require those under the age of 18 obtaining medical marijuana to get written consent from their parents. The measure would also forbid those under the influence of the drug to drive, or to use the drug on school buses or public transportation. Use would also be forbidden on school grounds and beaches, and in jails, public parks and recreation centers. The Medical Society of New Jersey last examined the issue of medical marijuana use in 1998 and decided that more research was needed. John Shaffer, a spokesman for the society, said Friday that the organization's Council on Public Health was expected to take another look soon. "They will come up with an opinion to see whether a revised policy would be appropriate," Shaffer said. Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Mercer, said there is bipartisan support in the state Legislature for legalizing medical marijuana use. Gusciora said he is working on an Assembly bill that is similar to Scutari's measure in the Senate. "Medical marijuana has shown great promise," Gusciora said Friday. "Once you get past the political grandstanding, it would help alleviate a lot of suffering." Complete Title: State Senator Wants To Legalize Marijuana for Medical UseSource: Associated Press (Wire)Author: Tom Bell, Associated Press WriterPublished: January 21, 2005 Copyright: 2005 The Associated Press Related Article & Web Site:Cheryl Miller Memorial Projecthttp://www.cheryldcmemorial.org/Advocates Push for Medical Marijuana Usehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20136.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #22 posted by ekim on January 27, 2005 at 21:48:09 PT thanks gw Comment #1 posted by global_warming on January 27, 2005 at 14:57:07 PT NJ Heating UP http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050127/NEWS03/501270336/1007 "Acting Gov. Codey said Wednesday he threatened to take a radio show host outside after the shock jock made dismissive comments about postpartum depression, an ailment that has afflicted Codey's wife, Mary Jo."I post this item because there is some background information that relates to MMJ.On the event that is in question, the DJ had said that the acting governors desire to spend $200 Million NJ tax dollars to help the sufferers of postpartum depression, was based on the governors wife having such an ailment, the DJ said that such an illness effected a very few citizens of the state of NJ and that if that kind of money was available it would be better spent on helping the many sick and in pain by establishing a MMJ plan in the state of NJ. In New Jersey, there is a Medical Marijuana "Compassionate Use" legislative bill that is being examined by the legislature currently, and while the acting governor said last week that he would veto such a bill if it came to his desk, yet he is willing to support spending so much money for something that is close to his home.I had once thought about voting for this Codey guy, but after hearing his position on MMJ he no longer has my vote, and further, after such a display of thuggary and greedy power, I hope I never hear this mans name ever again.gw http://www.leap.cc/events [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by FoM on January 23, 2005 at 09:43:41 PT Gary Just a Note I just added The Coalition for Medical Marijuana in New Jersey to this page. Good Luck to all those who fight the good fight everywhere!http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/research.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by FoM on January 22, 2005 at 22:14:58 PT Gary You're welcome. When I think of New Jersey Jim and Cheryl are always in my mind. I'm so sorry she passed away. I know how hard it must be for Jim. He is channeling his loss for the good of all sick people. He and you are heroes to me. When I first talked with you in the chat years ago I knew that you and I think along the same lines. Keep up the great work you do. You are an inspiration to me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Gary Storck on January 22, 2005 at 21:53:50 PT cheryldcmemorial.org FoM, thanks for putting up the link to the Cheryl Memorial site. For folks lucky enough to have been there, it was an amazing time. Pete Christopher is nearing completion of his video of the Memorial events and I know it will be stunning. Cheryl & Jim laid the groundwork so an NJ mmj bill could get to this point. Cheryl knew it would not be in time to help her. Cheryl is not forgotten, and I hope they get this bill passed for all the other Cheryls out there. Cherylheart Project [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by global_warming on January 22, 2005 at 14:57:19 PT History and some stink= "In the 1960s, as large numbers of people began to use marihuana recreationally, anecdotes about its medical utility began to appear, generally not in the medical literature but in the form of letters to popular magazines like Playboy..Meanwhile, legislative concern about recreational use increased, and in 1970 Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act. This law assigned psychoactive drugs to five schedules and placed cannabis in Schedule I, the most restrictive..According to the legal definition, Schedule I drugs have no medical use and a high potential for abuse, and they cannot be used safely even under a doctor's supervision. By that time the renaissance of interest in cannabis as a medicine was already well under way..Two years later, in 1972, the National Organization for the Reform of Marihuana Laws (NORML) petitioned the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (formerly the Federal Bureau of Narcotics) to transfer marihuana to Schedule II so that it could be legally prescribed by physicians..As the legal proceedings have continued, other parties have joined, including the Drug Policy Foundation and the Physicians Association for AIDS Care..The hearings before the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) were instructive. As one of us (L.G.) waited to testify on the medical uses of cannabis, he witnessed the effort to place pentazocine (Talwin), a synthetic opioid analgesic made by Winthrop Pharmaceuticals, on the schedule of dangerous drugs..."Although virtually no medical investigation of cannabis was conducted for many years, the government did not entirely lose interest. Shortly after one of us (L.G.) published a book on marihuana in 1971, a chemist who had read it told us that his employer, the Arthur D. Little Company, had been given millions of dollars in government contracts to identify military uses for cannabis.He said they had found none but had come across important therapeutic leads. He visited us to discuss the economic feasibility of developing cannabinoid congeners commercially, but he could not give us the evidence because it was classified."-- History [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by FoM on January 22, 2005 at 14:24:23 PT It's Posted Now Thanks again for the heads up! [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by global_warming on January 22, 2005 at 14:02:16 PT #13 Here in NJ we have a movement called GRIP, Get Rid of Incumbent Politicians, I hope that the people of Alaska stay sharp and vote those idiots out of office and chase them out of your state.I also hope that they (these homeless politicians) don't look for a home in NJ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on January 22, 2005 at 14:01:27 PT Shortpier I will post it as soon as I get it snipped. Thank you for the heads up. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by charmed quark on January 22, 2005 at 13:59:09 PT Great news ... Maybe my state will finally do it. I've written letters to my rep and state senators, even the Governor over the years. The Governor's office had the state Attorney General write a reply! You can guess what he said. Anyway, if this was to happen, NJ would be the 2nd state to do it without a public referendum. Hawaii was first.Unfortunately, it won't help people like me who must be drug tested as a part of their job. According to what I have read, MROs ( medical reporting officers, i.e., drug testers) do not accept medical marijuana as a reason for a positive. If your job uses federal money in any form, your employer is required to treat a positive as illicit drug use, even if you have a medical cannabis permit.It's funny, because this treatment runs counter to most states' disability laws and the Federal "Americans with Disabilities Act". Maybe one day a lawsuit or court case will fix this.-CQ [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Shortpier on January 22, 2005 at 13:54:54 PT: Governor moves to change pot law Someone get this on the main page please POSSESSION: A bill to outlaw small amounts for personal use is before the Legislature. By SEAN COCKERHAM Anchorage Daily News (Published: January 22, 2005) JUNEAU -- Gov. Frank Murkowski on Friday asked the Legislature to overrule a court ruling that adult Alaskans have the right to possess marijuana for personal use in their homes.Murkowski introduced a bill that challenges the state court's ruling and that would significantly tighten other state marijuana laws -- making a lot more pot crimes into felonies."The Legislature finds that marijuana poses a threat to the public health that justifies prohibiting its use in this state, even by adults in private," the bill declares.Everyone expects the fight to go back to the courts if the Legislature passes the bill. The ruling that made at-home pot possession of up to four ounces legal for personal use was based on the right to privacy in the state constitution.The Legislature cannot change the constitution without a statewide vote. But the governor hopes the bill and hearings over it will show the courts that pot is a lot more powerful than it used to be and that the state has an overriding interest in forbidding it.William Satterberg, the Fairbanks lawyer who argued the case that toppled the state prohibition on at-home pot, said he doesn't think the courts will backtrack."Unconstitutional still remains unconstitutional no matter what the Legislature thinks," Satterberg said.The Alaska Supreme Court in September let stand a lower court ruling last year that adult Alaskans have the right to possess up to four ounces of marijuana in their homes for personal use. The lower court based its opinion on a 1975 decision, known as Ravin v. State, which declared the strong right to privacy from government interference that is guaranteed under the Alaska Constitution outweighed any social harm that might be caused by the small at-home use of marijuana by adults.Ravin remained the law in Alaska until 1990, when voters passed an initiative outlawing all amounts of marijuana. But last year's court ruling said a constitutionally protected right -- in this case at-home pot -- cannot be taken away by an initiative.Murkowski argues that marijuana is a lot stronger and more harmful nowadays than in 1975 when the courts said the right to privacy outweighed the social harm. The governor said the bill he introduced Friday will help the state make it clear to the courts that this is the case."The bill would provide a forum for the Legislature to hear expert testimony on the effects of marijuana and to make findings that the courts can rely on," the governor said in a letter to lawmakers.Rep. Norm Rokeberg, R-Anchorage and a member of the House leadership, said the court overruled the will of the Legislature and Alaska voters when it declared some at-home use of marijuana to be legal. He said he expects the Legislature will be interested in taking a good look at Murkowski's bill.The bill would also make possession of more than four ounces of pot a felony. The felony cutoff under current law is a pound. The bill would also make it a felony to give or sell any marijuana to anyone under the age of 21.The Alaska public defender's agency said it would need another $160,000 a year in state funds to meet its increased workload under the bill."We handle 500 misdemeanor drug cases, primarily involving marijuana," the agency said in a written statement. "At least half of these would become felonies. Felonies take more work than misdemeanors."Daily News reporter Sean Cockerham can be reached in Juneau at scockerham adn.com. Governor moves to change pot law [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by global_warming on January 22, 2005 at 13:50:49 PT #11 Excellent comparison, the speed limit, there were so many chicken littles that predicted the most horrible scenarios, yet the "facts" have spoken and there is now less traffic accidents than before, even with such congested roadways, the doom sayers were wrong, 180 degrees wrong as these same experts about this plant that has never harmed anyone. There are bad people in this world, people who are violent and very destructive to our society, but imprisoning the innocent ones who are having a peaceful moment of reflection is not good. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Sam Adams on January 22, 2005 at 13:34:54 PT not this again "This is strictly a first step to get in the door to legalize drugs in America," said Terrence Farley, the first assistant prosecutor of Ocean County and counsel to the County Narcotics Strike Force Commanders Association and the New Jersey Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association."When they raised the speed limit from 55 to 65, I didn't hear anyone saying "this is strictly the first step to eliminate speed limits in America"! What a crock of BS.This really bugged me also: "If I was with a cancer patient who was going to be dead in two months, I would tell her, 'Go ahead,'ź" and smoke pot to relieve pain, said Datta, an anesthesiologist and director of the Pain Management Center at Holy Name. "But somebody who has a bad back but will be alive for 30 years, I have a problem" approving marijuana use.A younger person with chronic pain is PRECISELY the person who should use cannabis! She is 180 degrees wrong. There are more effective pain drugs than cannabis, but none are as non-toxic and non-addicting. I guess she'd rather say, "go ahead, take NSAIDS and destroy your GI tract, liver, kidneys, and possibly your heart". Or maybe, "go ahead, take opiates and become a junkie". [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by global_warming on January 22, 2005 at 13:23:05 PT Reform in New Jersey reason, compassion, and justice...Reform in New JerseyLast updated August 23, 2004. * Editorial: State Should Adopt More Open Approach to Syringe ExchangeMost Americans recognize that our current drug policies have failed, but as a nation we have been slow to initiate change. New Jersey has been particularly slow, even though the need for reform is evident in New Jersey's statistics on incarceration, public health, and drug treatment availability. * New Jersey ranks #1 among the fifty states in terms of the proportion of new prison admissions who are drug offenders * At this critical time in our state’s history, when we are facing record budget deficits, and cutting critical social programs, New Jersey is spending $28,000 a year, per inmate, to incarcerate thousands of non-violent drug offenders. Drug treatment costs about $5000 a year, and for every dollar spent on drug treatment, taxpayers save seven dollars in other services, through reduced crime rates, savings in medical care, and increased productivity * While African Americans account for 15 percent of the population of New Jersey, they account for 81 percent of admissions to prisons for drug offenses * At any given time in New Jersey between 14 and 16 percent of African American men are disenfranchised from voting because parolees and probationers are barred from voting in the state--the majority of the underlying convictions that trigger this bar are for drug offenses * New Jersey is facing a public health crisis due to the spread of HIV and hepatitis C * New Jersey has the 5th highest adult HIV rate in the country * New Jersey has the 3rd highest pediatrics HIV rate in the country * While nationally, 25 percent of HIV infections are attributable to injection drug use, in New Jersey 55 percent of HIV infections are attributable to injection drug use * New Jersey has one of the highest rates of HIV among women in the nation * It is estimated that up to 80 percent of injection drug users are infected with Hepatitis C * New Jersey is almost alone among states in allowing for no form of sterile syringe access for injection drug users to prevent the spread of HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood-borne diseases * Half of the adults, and two-thirds of the adolescents who want treatment in New Jersey can’t access it when they seek it, because of lack of treatment slots, or financial barriersThe time has come for New Jersey to take action. We invite you to join the Drug Policy Alliance New Jersey in working for reform and the adoption of new policies based on reason, compassion, and justice. Reform in New Jersey [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on January 22, 2005 at 11:33:34 PT Why Must Anyone Suffer from Pain? I know that no matter what drug or herb a person consumes that is seriously ill it might not eliminate total pain. Beyond that we live in a time in History where we are constantly bombarded with ads on drugs that promise to kill our every ill. We can take a pill and calm down or take a pill and have our mood elevated. If we are a soldier and need to be alert there's pills for that too. Why is suffering ok in our modern world? I'd sacrafice a little quantity of life to quality of life if I had a choice and had to make that decision. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Max Flowers on January 22, 2005 at 10:49:33 PT Pain management, huh? - "If I was with a cancer patient who was going to be dead in two months, I would tell her, 'Go ahead,'ź" and smoke pot to relieve pain, said Datta, an anesthesiologist and director of the Pain Management Center at Holy Name. "But somebody who has a bad back but will be alive for 30 years, I have a problem" approving marijuana use. - I bet you wouldn't have a problem at all using cannabis yourself if it were YOUR bad back, doctor... what a lame holier-than-thou attitude that is more befitting a politician than a physician. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on January 22, 2005 at 10:18:16 PT jfrolang Welcome to CNews. I think this could be very important. I agree. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by jfrolang on January 22, 2005 at 09:35:32 PT: This is huge Is this the first time that legislation is being introduced without first having a state-wide petition for it? I sense something big here, could be the start of a trend.The dominos keep falling faster and faster! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on January 21, 2005 at 19:59:39 PT The GCW Yes that would seem right to me too. I looked at the Map of Red and Blue States and they are Blue. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by The GCW on January 21, 2005 at 19:30:57 PT D's No R's [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on January 21, 2005 at 19:11:54 PT Just a Comment I've been reading the few articles about New Jersey and Medical Marijuana and it dawned on me that we have states that could be important to help show society the need for Medical Marijuana. New Jersey could influence New York ( Montel Williams ) and maybe help get the one in DC with better benefits then it offers now. That would be helpful I think. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on January 21, 2005 at 19:02:02 PT Related Article from NewJersey.com Legislator Wants to Legalize Medical Marijuana By Bob Groves, Staff WriterFriday, January 21, 2005 A state senator who prosecutes drug abusers wants to legalize the "compassionate medical use" of marijuana to treat pain and other symptoms in seriously ill patients. Sen. Nicholas P. Scutari, D-Union, the Linden city prosecutor, has proposed legislation to protect people with debilitating medical conditions from arrest and prosecution for the use of medical marijuana.New Jersey needs a law, similar to those in 11 other states, to attempt to preempt the federal ban on using medical marijuana, Scutari said Thursday."As a prosecutor, I see the detrimental effects of recreational marijuana," Scutari said. "However, marijuana has been shown in many cases to give people with debilitating medical conditions a chance to lead normal lives."The bill would let doctors authorize medical marijuana for patients with diseases - such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma and AIDS - that cause chronic pain, seizures, severe nausea and wasting syndrome. Patients certified by their doctors would be issued registration cards by the state permitting them to possess six plants or 1 ounce of marijuana. Parental written consent, and monitoring of marijuana use, would be needed for patients under age 18.Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Mercer, who is preparing a similar bill, thinks it has a good chance of passing."The ironic thing is that morphine, a derivative of the poppy, is acceptable for use in last-stage illness," but medicinal use of marijuana, which is a less potent drug, is illegal, he said.Dr. Samyadev Datta of Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck would approve marijuana only for terminally ill patients."If I was with a cancer patient who was going to be dead in two months, I would tell her, 'Go ahead,'ź" and smoke pot to relieve pain, said Datta, an anesthesiologist and director of the Pain Management Center at Holy Name. "But somebody who has a bad back but will be alive for 30 years, I have a problem" approving marijuana use.Datta approves of the use of Marinol, a tablet form of the marijuana chemical compound THC. But he concedes that the medication does not work as well as marijuana because the pill is not absorbed as effectively by the body. The Medical Society of New Jersey, which has opposed marijuana in the past, called for more study of the issue, said John Shaffer, a spokesman.Ken Wolski, a registered nurse and head of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana-New Jersey, hailed the proposal."We think it's great," Wolski said Thursday. "It's actually a very conservative bill," he said, noting that it forbids medicinal marijuana use in prisons, public parks and beaches, and while driving.States that have authorized medicinal marijuana use with doctor approval are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. Copyright: 2005 North Jersey Media Group Inc. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by global_warming on January 21, 2005 at 17:41:09 PT Go NJ "New Jersey needs to join the effort to protect seriously ill people from criminal penalties for making their lives livable," Scutari said. "There are too many horrible stories of unbearable pain and suffering which don't have to be retold because a remedy to ease those burdens is available.""This is strictly a first step to get in the door to legalize drugs in America," said Terrence Farley, the first assistant prosecutor of Ocean County and counsel to the County Narcotics Strike Force Commanders Association and the New Jersey Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association."Come on boys, that pistol is really strapped up your hip a little too tight, there are plenty of really bad human beings out there, do you really need to haunt these sick people? Do you really think that the voting majority is so foolish to continue to believe your message about the signal being sent to the public and your concern for their safety, while children have such easy access to meth and other seriously dangerous substances, while you pride yourselves as such public servants of the public good, it is becoming evident that your concerns might be smudged by your irrational fears of less funding for your departments and how in spite of all this increased spending on this war on drugs, children have better access today than ever in the history of this state and country.Joh 13:33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Can we come together in our communities, and reveal the true enemies of our life?If we continue to serve the false tribute to the calf, then money is our alter and our children and loved ones will be consumed by our ignorant greed.gw [ Post Comment ] Post Comment