cannabisnews.com: Lawmaker Sponsors Bills Loosening MMJ Regulations





Lawmaker Sponsors Bills Loosening MMJ Regulations
Posted by CN Staff on December 24, 2007 at 06:10:35 PT
By Nancy Cook Lauer, Stephens Media Capitol Bureau
Source: West Hawaii Today 
Honolulu, HI -- Just last week, a Big Island patient placed his baggie of pot, along with his medical marijuana ID card, on the X-ray machine as he boarded a commercial flight to Honolulu. Federal Transportation Security Administration screeners let it go, both coming and going.But life isn't always that easy for participants in the state's medical-marijuana program, prompting freshman Rep. Joe Bertram to sponsor four bills loosening marijuana regulation. Some travelers have had their pot confiscated; others have been arrested.
Hawaii is one of 12 states allowing the medical use of marijuana.Current law, enacted in 2000, requires patients to get a doctor to complete a certification form, which is then filed with the Narcotics Enforcement Division of the state Department of Public Safety. Doctors may prescribe marijuana for "debilitating" medical conditions such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, severe weakness, malnutrition, weight loss, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures and muscle spasms, including those of multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease.The law limits patients to no more than three mature marijuana plants, four immature marijuana plants and three ounces of usable marijuana on hand at any one time.Bertram, D-Makena, Wailea, Kihei, acknowledges that passing pot laws might be difficult in an election year. But at an informational session Wednesday of the House Health Committee, Bertram said he has high hopes the bills will get a favorable hearing because it's time to take the state's laws to the next level."Hawaii was a leader, used to be as far as really being on the forefront of progressive issues, but we're falling behind," Bertram said. "I think this is the year. There are a lot of people concerned about where this legislation is going to go."Participants at the informational meeting included experts on California's medical-marijuana law, court-qualified cannabis expert and curator of the Hash-Marijuana-Hemp Museum in Amsterdam Chris Conrad, representatives of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii and medical-marijuana users.Bills that Bertram is proposing will:- Increase allowable marijuana supply to 12 plants and seven ounces at any given time. A separate bill would increase the limit to a 10-foot-by-10-foot garden canopy and three pounds of dried cannabis bud or concentrate per year.- Honor out-of-state medical marijuana cards- Create a committee to evaluate other conditions allowing medical-marijuana use- Simplify the registration process- Require law enforcement agencies to pay fair market value for any confiscated pot that is not returned- Require the Department of Health to establish a pilot project on Maui growing up to 98 plants in a secure facility where patients can lease space for marijuana crops.- Create a University of Hawaii research grant to study the medical efficacy of marijuana and different forms of delivery"We have to make it available for people right now," Bertram said. "It's inexcusable not to."Most of the state's medical marijuana production is on the Big Island. But Rep. Joshua Green, D-Kona, a medical doctor and chairman of the Health Committee, is keeping his distance from the legislation."Some chronic illnesses require creative treatment such as medical marijuana, especially if it will decrease the amount of narcotics being taken," Green said. "But as a health chairman, I have to be mindful of abuse of the system as well. I have my vice chairman looking into it."Complete Title: Lawmaker Sponsors Bills Loosening Medical-Marijuana Regulations Source: West Hawaii Today (HI)Author: Nancy Cook Lauer, Stephens Media Capitol Bureau Published: Thursday, December 20, 2007Copyright: 2007 West Hawaii TodayContact:  wht aloha.netWebsite: http://westhawaiitoday.com/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #14 posted by Toker00 on December 27, 2007 at 09:13:39 PT
Sorry I'm late
with this.Had Enough, that was nice, Bro. Thank you. There's a New Year coming. Will it be better or worse than this one? It's up to us, I guess. And if that's the case, let's make it the year War Died. Not just one or two wars, not just far or near wars. All Wars. Not the Day the Music Died, but the Day the Wars Died. All of them. 2008. Liberate Peace and Cannabis.Toke. 
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on December 25, 2007 at 21:13:18 PT
BGreen
That sounds great. Merry Christmas to you and Mrs. Green.
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Comment #12 posted by BGreen on December 25, 2007 at 20:48:30 PT
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas To All
I haven't posted much lately due to a new musical project, but I check in every day to read the articles and comments.I hope everybody had a great day. I'm still groggy but slowly recovering from the turkey coma.With much love,The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #11 posted by Had Enough on December 25, 2007 at 17:40:27 PT
Black Shepherds, Black Sheep, aren’t only Diamonds
they are shining stars too…Oh yes Toker, Black Sheep are gems too. If it weren’t for us Black Sheep keeping others informed on what we see and know to be true, the world would be in even worse shape than it is now. The powers that be like to keep the sheeple with their own wool pulled over the eyes. When the status quo is challenged they say we are crazy, evil, out of touch, so on and so forth, then present us to society as Black Sheep. But as usual it’s backwards. It is all just an illusion to keep the masses distracted. I kinda like Black Sheep, they’re trustworthier.
 
Seeing your post and having runruff back here has made my holiday complete. We had and excellent get together here. Both of our sons spent the whole Christmas Eve together here at our place, we were up till 3:30 this morning. Then today we went to my mothers’ house and had a wonderful dinner she made, and I got a nice care package of leftovers that I will certainly chow down on for the next few days. And there is this guy I see walking all over town. He looks like an old hippy, long gray hair, very mellow guy, and looks to be in his late 60’s maybe early 70’s. If I see him before the food is gone I’m going to try to give him a dinner plate. I have stopped several times and givin him a ride. He is very reluctant to accept rides, but has accepted a few from me. I saw him Monday evening and tied to give him a ride, He insisted that he was okay and didn’t need it. I talked to him for about 5 minutes asked him if he was getting plenty to eat, and if he had a roof over his head. He responded by saying “sort of”, and didn’t really appear to want to talk more about it I told him that whenever I see him walking, I will stop and offer a ride, and he thanked me. I hope I see this guy tomorrow; I will have a plate of Chateaubriand, home cooked by mom for him. I keep an ice chest in the back of my truck, so it shouldn’t be a hard task to pull off.And yes I hear Elvis and Molly in the background, been hearing them for a while now, I knew you were still close by. Give them the scratch behind the ear for me. The Black Diamond just got one from you:)Thanks Toker you have really polished off the Christmas Holiday for me. It’s really good to see you again Grampa…
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on December 25, 2007 at 14:55:20 PT
Toker00
I think that is wonderful news. What I've learned from this holiday so far is what basic simple kindness can do for all of us. That power is hard to control. It's time and many of us are getting back to the garden.
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Comment #9 posted by Toker00 on December 25, 2007 at 14:39:04 PT
Oops. Nearly forgot the most important part of my 
last post.I love both of you, too.Toke.
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Comment #8 posted by Toker00 on December 25, 2007 at 14:37:27 PT
runruff
and Mrs. Thank you. I wanted to say something to you here after your homecoming and I think now would be good. It pleases my heart more than anything in a very long time to know that you and Linda held each other together and now will never again be apart. Not that you were, except by distance. Congratulations Brother and Sister. Merry Christmas or pick your own version. I say it out of Tradition only. Christmases used to be more about the family than about commercialism, but I had to go way back to pull those memories up. There was not one in my childhood where we, as a huge family, would not get together and have really good fun. It's been wonderful, FoM. The re-birth of my Family this year into the independent unit the government was so intent in destroying with the social experiments of the sixties. We are one now. Even have plans for what's coming. That's all I'll say about that...Makenna hasn't arrived yet, but will be here within six days. I'm so very ready. So are they. Grandpa Toker. What a rip! Peace out all over.Toke. 
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Comment #7 posted by runruff on December 25, 2007 at 10:20:01 PT:
Toker00
I want you to know that we here at Hunky Doreyville wish you the best holiday ever. You were so supportive during our ordeal. We appreciate you and love you so much.If we had a world full of Toker00s, well need I go on?Happy holidays to all. We are having a joyful day.Mrs. Runruff says to send you her love.
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on December 25, 2007 at 09:33:55 PT
RevRayGreen 
Merry Christmas to you too!
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on December 25, 2007 at 09:20:40 PT
Toker00 
It's so good to see you. I hope you are having a Happy Holiday and a Merry Christmas. For Stick and I it has been quite an experience. We had maybe 30 people from 3 up to the mid 70s there last night at my nieces home. The children were so good too. No fighting or crying only smiles. I love you too!
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Comment #4 posted by RevRayGreen on December 25, 2007 at 08:23:52 PT
smoke your marijuanukah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwYQBV66rbM&feature=related ..........TIME TO TAKE OUT THE MENORA'S Adam Sandler - The Chanukah Song Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShhIcFv1AbU&feature=relatedMERRY CHRISTMAS CN BROTHERS AND SISTERS
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Comment #3 posted by Toker00 on December 25, 2007 at 07:48:32 PT
Black Diamond
If a Black German Shepherd can become a Black Diamond, could a Black Sheep?FoM, I love you. Merry Christmas.As to all you others, the Same.Had Enough, can you hear Elvis and Molly in the background woofing you and yours a Merry Christmas?Peace on Earth. Good Will Toward All Earthlings."Oh Cannabis Tree, oh Cannabis Tree..." 
Toke.
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Comment #2 posted by Dankhank on December 24, 2007 at 08:01:20 PT
regulation ... is it possible?
I think so ...http://alternet.org/story/71504/
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on December 24, 2007 at 06:11:40 PT
Rep. Joe Bertram 
Thank you for being so progressive.
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