cannabisnews.com: Measure Falls With Connecticut Governor’s Veto Measure Falls With Connecticut Governor’s Veto Posted by CN Staff on June 19, 2007 at 20:52:21 PT By Matthew J. Malone Source: New York Times Stamford, Conn. -- After struggling with what was described as one of the most difficult decisions in her three-year tenure, Gov. M. Jodi Rell vetoed a measure today that would have legalized the use of marijuana for certain medical conditions.In a statement, Mrs. Rell, a breast cancer survivor, said, “I completely sympathize with the well-intentioned goal of alleviating pain and suffering, but legal alternatives are available.” Supporters of the measure were quick to express their disappointment. Gabriel Sayegh, a project director with Drug Policy Alliance, an advocacy group, called the governor’s veto “unconscionable.” “It guarantees the continued criminalization of people who are trying to relieve pain and suffering,” Mr. Sayegh said.The law would have allowed residents 18 or older suffering from multiple sclerosis, cancer, AIDS and other diseases to grow marijuana in their homes with a doctor’s recommendation and a state permit. In the past five years, the legislature has considered several bills that allowed the use of marijuana for medical purposes, but until now none had passed. Connecticut approved a measure in 1981 allowing doctors to prescribe the drug, but no pharmacies stocked it because it is still a federal crime to buy, sell or possess marijuana.Connecticut was not the only state wrestling with the question of legalizing marijuana this spring. In New York, the Democratic-controlled State Assembly passed a bill last week that would allow eligible patients to legally acquire and use marijuana or grow up to a dozen plants at a time. Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who in the past had opposed the idea, said last week he would sign such a bill “if properly structured,” but it stalled in the Senate after the majority leader said he could not support the Assembly bill.A dozen states have legalized the use of marijuana to ease the pain of a number of illnesses. In Maryland, patients are protected from going to jail for using marijuana, although they can still be arrested. In earlier statements, Mrs. Rell said she would have been more comfortable with a bill that confined the use of marijuana to terminally ill patients. But such a compromise would not necessarily address her concern over patients and caregivers possessing marijuana in violation of federal law.“There are no pharmacies, storefronts or mail order catalogs where patients or caregivers can legally purchase marijuana plants or seeds,” the governor wrote in her veto message. “I am troubled by the fact that, in essence, this bill forces law abiding citizens to seek out drug dealers to make their marijuana purchases.”She also expressed concern that such a law would send the wrong message to Connecticut’s youth.Penny Bacchiochi, a Republican state representative from Somers who said she bought marijuana for her late husband as he battled bone cancer in the 1980s, said she met with the governor shortly after the bill was approved by the legislature. Ms. Bacchiochi said the governor “struggled deeply” with the decision, adding, “She completely understood the compassionate side of the bill, but couldn’t get over the fact that it was illegal on the federal level.”She said she planned to try to work with Mrs. Rell in the next legislative session to reach a compromise. But State Senator Andrew J. McDonald, a Democrat from Stamford who is the deputy majority leader, said after the veto was announced that the governor never raised her concerns as the bill was being drafted, when modifications could have been made. “In many ways, a gubernatorial veto represents a failure of leadership by the governor rather than an exercise of leadership,” Mr. McDonald said. Citing a 2004 survey by the University of Connecticut that found broad public support for the use of marijuana for medical purposes, he said, “The governor clearly stands apart from the vast majority of her citizens in opposing this legislation.”Complete Title: Medical Marijuana Measure Falls With Connecticut Governor’s Veto Source: New York Times (NY)Author: Matthew J. MalonePublished: June 20, 2007Copyright: 2007 The New York Times CompanyContact: letters nytimes.comWebsite: http://www.nytimes.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Drug Policy Alliancehttp://www.drugpolicy.org/Rell Vetoes Bill To Legalize Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23096.shtmlRell Vetoes Bill To Legalize Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23095.shtmlMedical Marijuana Bill in Rell's Hand http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23036.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #14 posted by FoM on June 21, 2007 at 19:49:57 PT VitaminT Thank you. I hope the day comes when we can see common sense return to our country. I think it's time we grow up and see people as they are and get over trying to make everyone march to the same beat. We are different and that's ok or at least it should be. Take care of yourself and please keep reading CNews. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by VitaminT on June 21, 2007 at 19:29:06 PT Thank You FoM I usually don't have a don't have much of a chance to write posts these days but I read C-News daily without fail!Seems like ten years now that I've been visiting here and you've always maintained C-News with supreme grace and civility.When we finally slay the Cannabis prohibition beast we should gather for a very large celebration! And a memorial vigil for those who've lost their lives to this tyrannical evil.Thank You again! [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by paul armentano on June 20, 2007 at 12:51:56 PT Don't fall for Rell's "sympathy" As a Connecticut native who continues to keep strong ties to the state, I'm disappointed but not surprised. As you well know, Gov. Rell chose not to participate in the lawmaking process, and proudly announced on several occasions that she hadn't even read the bill beforehand. Her veto was assured before the bill ever passed out of the legislature — despite private meetings with Montel and despite the fact that 83% of residents supported this bill. At least Rell should be confident now that the Feds won't be arresting CT patients; her veto assures that the state and local police can keep arresting them so the Feds won't have to. How ‘compassionate.’ [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on June 20, 2007 at 11:19:33 PT VitaminT It's good to see you. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by VitaminT on June 20, 2007 at 11:02:46 PT Rhetoric This is the kind of rhetoric that makes me hurl! The governor doesn't want to place patients at risk of Federal prosecution (no real threat to small-timers) She'd perfer they continue to be at risk from Federal AND State prosecution.People of Connecticut: Send a "message" to the governor, demand a legislative override and throw Ms. Rell's butt out of office! [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Sam Adams on June 20, 2007 at 10:28:29 PT the government Always run and hide when you hear a politician say they sympathize with you. It's means they're about to screw you. "Drugs" are unhealthy, we're going to pass these great laws to help you stay healthy. Armed thugs (remember the dumb kids from high school?) will beat you up and throw you into a jail full of AIDS and hepatitis patients. We'll seize your money and house, and your kids will go into foster homes. There, don't you feel better now? Ain't freedom grand? [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by NikoKun on June 20, 2007 at 10:05:20 PT: She certainly made the wrong choice... "I completely sympathize with the well-intentioned goal of alleviating pain and suffering, but legal alternatives are available." I'm sorry Mrs. Rell, but for many people, cannabis is the best, if not only, alternative for them. Do a little asking around, with the medical patients out there, and you'll quickly learn why.Often the 'legal alternatives' hurt them more, and don't provide as much relief as they need... Sometimes cannabis relieves debilitating side effects of necessary treatments. And sometimes cannabis is the only real option, the only cure to give them life or make them normal again. Several people have proven medical necessity, because without it they would either die, or become very unproductive members of society.Given the options, many patients would rather use a natural medication, that they could grow themselves, than be forced to pay for extremely costly pharmaceuticals, with horrible side effects.How dare you Veto this bill, that could help people who are suffering. You've not only doomed them to being punished for using a medication, but you've also doomed them to suffering more, or even dying... I certainly question your true underlying motives now, of your decision... Either that, or you're just severely misinformed on the topic... Many people are, sadly... [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on June 20, 2007 at 06:31:42 PT Sinsemilla Jones Oops sorry. Wayne thank you for the link. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Sinsemilla Jones on June 20, 2007 at 06:20:36 PT Thanks FoM, but thank Wayne for the link! "...tell us what you consider the most important issue facing our nation and — most important — how it affects you, your family or your friends. We're looking for your specific personal stories, not just opinions."I know there's a lot of specific personal stories out there, so like Wayne said, let's bombard them.You gotta try, before you know it's futile to try. Gut Check America (not about hernias nor obesity) [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 20, 2007 at 05:50:59 PT Sinsemilla Jones Thank you for the link and comment. With so many people in prison and many of them because of marijuana this issue is one that needs a very close look. How can a person get better when something bad is festering in their body. We can't fix our country until we look at the issue closely and fix it. A country that puts fear into it's people because of an ancient and relatively harmless herb only breeds contempt. Contempt doesn't help anyone so the laws on a federal level must be changed. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Sinsemilla Jones on June 20, 2007 at 03:46:35 PT My Gut Says..... "What issue facing our country today is most important to you or has the greatest impact on you, your family and neighbors?"Cannabis Prohibition.It's harming people.It's harming the environment.It's harming individual liberty."How does it affect you, your friends or loved ones? We're looking for specific stories and examples we can report on, not just your opinions on the topic you've chosen:"For starters, it cost me a job when I was randomly judged by the quality of my urine rather that the quality of my work.It often costs others their freedom. It costs their families the pain of a loved one needlessly cut off from them by the torture of imprisonment over a plant. It costs society prison space for thieves and violent criminals. It costs a lack of respect for the law, and a lack of justice in our justice system. It costs the sick the freedom to choose a natural, non-poisonous alternative to pills. It costs adults the freedom to choose a safe, non-poisonous alternative to alcohol and tobacco.It costs all of us a renewable, environmentally friendly source of energy, paper, textiles, plastics, paints, building materials, safe effective medicine, and even a food rich in proteins and essential oils. It costs our farmers who could be growing this valuable crop. It costs our forrests and our birds. It costs more CO2 in the atmosphere. It costs our brave soldiers dying for oil. It costs our health and prosperity, and it costs the health and prosperity of our children."What do you think should be done to "fix" this problem?"A US constitutional amendment restoring the right of the people to grow and use the plants of the earth.Recognition by the UN of the right of all people of the earth to grow and use the plants of the earth. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Sinsemilla Jones on June 20, 2007 at 02:03:42 PT Walters - Marijuana Leads to Gangs Early Marijuana Use A Warning Sign For Later Gang Involvementhttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=74721Throw in some racial slurs, and he sounds just like Anslinger. Medical News Today???! (or BS of the 1930s?) [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dankhank on June 19, 2007 at 22:38:44 PT did mine sent it off a couple of minutes ago ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Wayne on June 19, 2007 at 21:51:53 PT Gut Check America Everyone check out MSNBC at the link below. They are asking us about what matters to us, and what we would like to see in their news coverage. I say we bombard them with letters asking to revisit the WoD and see where it gets us. Can't hurt, right? Gut Check America [ Post Comment ] Post Comment