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Medical Pot Issue Likely Headed To Voters
Posted by CN Staff on April 13, 2009 at 19:00:07 PT
By Mal Leary, Capitol News Service
Source: Bangor Daily News
Augusta -- Maine’s current law that allows use of marijuana for medical purposes isn’t working, said leaders of a petition effort to allow state-licensed facilities to sell the drug.“The way it is now is patients have to make their own determination how they are going to access their medicine,” said Jonathan Leavitt of Maine Citizens for Patient Rights, the group that organized the petition drive.
“There is essentially no legal way to buy it.” The proposed law would direct the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to issue identification cards to qualifying patients. It would also allow nonprofit dispensaries licensed by the agency to provide marijuana to those patients.Mainers in 1999 overwhelmingly approved the existing law to allow residents to possess marijuana for medical use with a doctor’s recommendation. Patients are allowed to keep up to 2½ ounces of marijuana and up to six marijuana plants.“The reality is that patients are not equipped to do that,” Leavitt told the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee. “And landlords and people that own property are hesitant because of the law enforcement issues to allow that. So essentially, people access it through the black market.”If lawmakers don’t enact the bill, the proposal automatically goes to a statewide vote because supporters collected more than the 55,087 signatures needed to put it on the November ballot. All told, the proposal’s supporters collected 80,000 signatures, Leavitt said.At Monday’s hearing, the measure was opposed by several in the law enforcement and medical fields. “This legislation would allow storefront marijuana businesses to possess, cultivate and sell marijuana for medical purposes under the appearance it is regulated similar to the controlled substances that are dispensed at a pharmacy,” said Roy McKinney, director of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”McKinney said storefront shops in California have led to increased crime in the neighborhoods and an increase in other illegal drug trafficking. He said complicating the issue is that federal law considers the drug illegal, and it would take a federal court decision or an act of Congress to change that.But Leavitt said the idea is more politically palatable now, thanks to federal prosecutors’ new reluctance to override state marijuana laws.He cited U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s announcement of a change from the Bush administration’s policy, which outlawed cultivating, using and selling marijuana for medical purposes despite state laws permitting it.“I think we addressed some of the concerns, primarily whether the federal government was going to continue to interfere,” Leavitt said after the hearing.Charles Wynott of Westbrook told lawmakers that, as a patient of HIV-AIDS, medical marijuana has increased his ability to function on a daily basis.“It’s important for you to understand how important this is to a lot of people who are not here today,” he said.But some medical professionals doubted the effectiveness of the drug.Several opponents said the legislation specifically states certain medical conditions for which marijuana can be used, but medical studies show use of the drug could hurt the individual, not help them. For example, the proposed law lists hepatitis C as a qualifying condition, but studies show the use of the drug may worsen the health of a person with that condition. Dr. Mark Publicker, medical director of the Mercy Hospital Recovery Center, said marijuana is not “a benign herb” and poses significant medical risks for users.“There is a great deal of literature to demonstrate that it carries with it a tremendous psychiatric risk,” he said. “There are number of studies that demonstrate a six- to sevenfold increase in the risk of schizophrenia in 17- and 18-year-olds smoking cannabis on a daily basis.”Committee members said it’s likely the measure will go to the Legislature with a recommendation it go to the voters to decide.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Source: Bangor Daily News (ME)Author: Mal Leary, Capitol News ServicePublished: April 14, 2009Copyright: 2009 Bangor Daily News Inc.Contact: letters bangordailynews.netWebsite: http://www.bangornews.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/TJYOTYy6CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on April 14, 2009 at 07:39:09 PT
Lawmaker Proposes Legalizing Medical Marijuana
By Arthur Mondale, ReporterPublished: April 13, 2009North Carolina could be added to the list of states with legalized medical marijuana. It’s already legal in 13 other states. One lawmaker says it’s something North Carolinians should be able to take advantage of.State Rep Earl Jones of Guilford County introduced the Medical Marijuana Act. He says the bill would help the seriously ill.But opponents say there are already enough drugs on the market to treat pain without creating problems for others. Under the bill patients suffering from certain chronic ailments would be able to use marijuana to treat debilitating illness or disease. Already in the past decade, drugs like Marinol—known as the pot pill—is a synthetic alternative federal drug agencies say is as effective as marijuana.“We use it for people that are HIV positive and also people who have cancer,” said Edwards Pharmacy owner Horace Tripp. But Tripp says it has a price tag of $900 for a one month supply.Tripp says it’s one of many drugs already on the market good enough to treat pain. “I’m not saying it would hurt my business,” Tripp said. “It might be detrimental to society…might lead to harder drugs down the road.“The bill says patients would have to go to a licensed dispensary in order to get the drug. Those who qualify would have to keep a registry identification card with them at all times. And must have written certification to ensure the marijuana is necessaryThe bill’s sponsor says 99 out of every 100 marijuana arrests are made under state law, rather than federal law; and a change to the state law would protect the seriously ill from civil and criminal charges.Tripp goes on to say, marijuana in it’s true form would save patients money compared to the cost of synthetic drugs. Ironically, while medical marijuana can’t be legally distributed to patients in our state. Medical marijuana is processed and distributed by the Research Triangle Institute here in North Carolina.Copyright: 2009 Media General Communications Holdings, LLChttp://www.wnct.com/nct/news/state_regional/article/lawmaker_proposes_legalizing_medical_marijuana/35495/
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Comment #4 posted by George Servantes on April 14, 2009 at 05:08:26 PT
Reefer madness in 21 century maine
"""""""""""quote""""""""""""
For example, the proposed law lists hepatitis C as a qualifying condition, but studies show the use of the drug may worsen the health of a person with that condition. Dr. Mark Publicker, medical director of the Mercy Hospital Recovery Center, said marijuana is not “a benign herb” and poses significant medical risks for users.“There is a great deal of literature to demonstrate that it carries with it a tremendous psychiatric risk,” he said. “There are number of studies that demonstrate a six- to sevenfold increase in the risk of schizophrenia in 17- and 18-year-olds smoking cannabis on a daily basis.”
""""""""""""""quote""""""""""""""""I am from maine and I am tired of buying marijuana from shady people, I am going to vote yes on this one since our legislators are afraid to do the right thing.As far as this schizophrenia it's all lies and same good old reefer madness - well some folks still believe you can go crazy after smoking reefer.
I would tell Dr. Mark Publicker to study me, after more then a decade of marijuana use I can assure him that I am more normal when I use cannabis, then when I am without it. I need it to function same as everyone else, I am not a drug addict or criminal. Cannabis or marijuana helps my PTSD so I remain normal and can still function.
Marijuana is safer drug them most other drugs you doctor easily prescribe, I tell you what doctor: STUDY ME.
You don't know nothing my doctor recommends medical marijuana and she knows I use it. You better readAs far as other argument about increased crime goes, it's all lies and prejudice. What kind of crimes he's actually talking about? Show some proof or statistics. i am really amazed how people can say anything without back up proof for what they are talking about. It's all just an IGNORANCE coming out of their mouth. I think actually there will be less crime since you don't have to go to the street and buy it from shady and violent people.
I wish this year most people like myself will vote YES so we can have access to medical marijuana.
 
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Comment #3 posted by Paint with light on April 13, 2009 at 22:25:42 PT
Publicker
I wonder how you pronounce that name?I also wonder what kind of doctor he is.I would like to see the data from the studies he is alluding to.Here is a statistic for you.If your parents didn't have any children, there is a pretty good chance you won't either.Equal with alcohol.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on April 13, 2009 at 20:04:06 PT
Debate Over Access To Medical Marijuana Continues
 Reported By Anne Ravana 
April 13, 2009  URL: http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineNews/tabid/181/ctl/ViewItem/mid/1858/ItemId/10075/Default.aspx
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Comment #1 posted by Cheebs1 on April 13, 2009 at 19:23:02 PT:
AGAIN
For example, the proposed law lists hepatitis C as a qualifying condition, but studies show the use of the drug may worsen the health of a person with that condition. Dr. Mark Publicker, medical director of the Mercy Hospital Recovery Center, said marijuana is not “a benign herb” and poses significant medical risks for users.“There is a great deal of literature to demonstrate that it carries with it a tremendous psychiatric risk,” he said. “There are number of studies that demonstrate a six- to sevenfold increase in the risk of schizophrenia in 17- and 18-year-olds smoking cannabis on a daily basis.”Again, this is the best they can do. Where is the scientific proof that marijuana complicates Hep C? Instead of citing where the information can be found the "doctor" gives the tired party line of " It makes kids crazy" .The reporter should be ashamed to even include such non specific drivel in the article. We are winning folks. Keep it up and never slow down. If it makes people crazy where are they? How come we aren't overrun with schizophrenics? They say it is a gateway drug. Again I say " Where are all the Heroin addicts". Over 100 million people have smoked it and if it did things we would be inundated with the aforementioned people. Tired lines of drivel regurgitated endlessly. The only good thing about this is that they are too stupid to find an arguement they can back. Peace, Love, and Pot
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