cannabisnews.com: Legislators Approve Marijuana Proposals 





Legislators Approve Marijuana Proposals 
Posted by FoM on March 08, 2000 at 09:31:11 PT
Cayetano Favors Medical Use
Source: Honolulu Advertiser
Both the state House and Senate yesterday approved bills legalizing marijuana use for medical purposes, which means such a measure is extremely likely to become law. This is the first time measures authorizing medical marijuana have cleared both houses of the Legislature.
Gov. Ben Cayetano has said he favors allowing marijuana to be used for medical purposes, so a veto is unlikely. The state Department of Health has said marijuana should be available to treat symptoms associated with cancer, AIDS and other conditions.Six other states — California, Arizona, Washington, Maine, Oregon and Alaska — have approved marijuana for medical uses, although federal law still prohibits it. With such conflicting laws, users could face federal but not state prosecution.The measure barely passed the Senate, 13-12. A similar bill passed easily in the House, 32-18.Sen. Norman Sakamoto (D-Moanalua, Salt Lake) said the bill’s intent to ease patients’ pain is “commendable,” but that it “opens floodgates to a lot of problems.”He said legalizing medical marijuana would tempt people to break the law and make the drug accessible to those who are not qualified to use it. Sakamoto also said he had questions about how marijuana would be distributed and cultivated.Sen. Jonathan Chun (D-S. Kauai, Niihau) said that marijuana is associated with lung damage and loss of short-term memory and that legislators, who have no medical background, should not make decisions about legalizing drugs.“I believe we should stick with the tried-and-true method that if there is a drug that should be legalized, it should go through the regular process of the federal drug agency,” he said.But Sen. Sam Slom (R-Waialae Iki, Hawaii Kai) said some of his family members have suffered excruciating pain. “For them, whatever is an option,” he said. “As a son, as a relative, as someone who cares, I want them to be able to do it. Government has been standing in the way.”Senate Judiciary Committee Co-Chairman Matt Matsunaga (D-Waialae, Palolo) said such a law would not send the wrong message to children, who he said can and should be taught the difference between medicine and drug abuse.“Harsh, uncompassionate laws, those that criminalize patients who receive medicine — that sends a wrong message to children,” he said.The medical marijuana bills, as well as other bills passed yesterday, will now go to the other legislative house for review.Lawmakers also passed the following measures yesterday:Civil service. The House and Senate approved differing bills designed to overhaul the state civil service and collective bargaining systems.House Majority Leader Ed Case last week said he had deep misgivings about the House version of civil service overhaul, calling the House bill a rejection of Cayetano’s effort to modernize state government.Last night House Republicans offered a floor amendment that would have replaced the House draft with Cayetano’s original bill, but Case and the other House Democrats voted the amendment down.Case said he is still unhappy with the House bill, but intends to work during the rest of the session to try to get a better bill approved.Minimum wage. The Senate voted 19-6 to pass a bill to raise Hawaii’s $5.25-an-hour minimum wage by 25 cents in 2001 and another 25 cents in 2002.The House passed a different version that would increase the minimum wage to $5.75 in one step effective Jan. 1, 2003.Hate crimes. The Senate voted 19-6 to pass a bill that would extend sentences for criminal offenders who select their victims by such factors as race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.Firearms re-registration. By a 18-7 vote, the Senate passed a bill that would require re-registration of firearms by mail and requires a firearm owner ID card to be presented to buy ammunition. The House also passed a version requiring re-registration every five years.Educational accountability. Both houses passed bills requiring the state Department of Education to implement the educational accountability system for Hawaii’s public schools. By Lynda Arakawa & Kevin DaytonAdvertiser Capitol BureauPublished: March 8, 2000© Copyright 2000 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.Related Articles:Medical Marijuana Bills Making Progresshttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4969.shtmlHawaii Congresswoman Supports MMJ Researchhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread1880.shtmlMedical Marijuana Gains Ground in Hawaiihttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread561.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana News Archives:http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #10 posted by chico 420 on August 31, 2001 at 09:49:34 PT
motha\bud\hemp\weed\chronic\killa\cake\indoo\smoke
i think it should be legalized to because some people need it to feel good cause some of us have to many bad days. I rather go smoke a fat joint after a bad day than go home and be mad at everybody in the house.anyways i beleive that its not even bad for you no matter what the doc. says cause hey it illeagal there gonna say its bad for you
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Comment #9 posted by Debbie Lynch on April 10, 2000 at 06:39:21 PT:
marijuana use for medical purposes
I would certainly like to see marijuana legalized for medical purposes. There are so many disabilities that could benefit from it. My son has Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defient Disorder and Bipolar Disorder with rage attacks. He has been on over 30 medications, some of which caused side effects such as aggression, hallucinations,severe paranoia, increased tics, eneuresis, self mutalation, heart palpitations, depression with the thought of suicide, dizziness, fainting, and more. I get sick to my stomach at all the hooplah raised about legalizing marijuana as there are so many drugs on the market that cause such serious side effects - many cause cancer - and yet marijuana is labeled as a bad drug. I don't get it. The side effects of marijuana are so minor compared to the mind altering drugs that are prescibed daily! I truly believe that marijuana, used as a medication, can benefit millions of people, and the federal government is closing the door for those people where other drugs have not worked. When you have a disability that makes it impossible for you to live a normal, decent life, what difference does it make what that little pill you take every morning is - as long as it helps with the quality of your life. Lets stop looking at marijuana as an abusive drug and start looking at its medicinal purposes. There are plenty of legal drugs on the markey that are abused daily - valium is legal yet millions of children get high on it every day - what is the difference with marijuana? This issue has turned into a political circus, making the patients rights low on the totem pole. It is time we thought of the sick people instead of public opinion.
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Comment #8 posted by Wabo on March 09, 2000 at 14:03:23 PT
Uphill, yes
I agree it is still an uphill struggle, however for MJ to remain a schedule one controlled substance, it has to be shown to be without medical use. The ONDCP and the FDA keep passing the buck back and forth on the Schedule one status of MJ. They have stalled for better than a decade on MJ's review. When it finally comes down to review, the current prohabition policy will crumble like the Berlin Wall. Legalized? No. Decriminalized? More than likely. Legitamitized? Most assuridly.
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Comment #7 posted by dddd on March 09, 2000 at 01:47:53 PT
rain on the parade
Although it is encouraging to see this,and I dont like being a perveyor(sp?),of negativity,,I think the road ahead looks quite rough,long and uphill. The regime has their strategy planned,and it wont matter if we end up with Bore,or Gush,the money is too big,and the demagogues are too well entrenched,to let any significant changes occur,or be brought into the national forefront. Look at the apparent 'non-issue',anything to do with the drug war,or prison population has been in the current political circus. All we can do is keep on keepin' on.I know my comments are depressing and perhaps discouraging,My hope is that it will strengthen our resolve.dddd
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Comment #6 posted by Doc-Hawk on March 08, 2000 at 20:24:40 PT:
Format
Looks great. I could really go for a walk in that garden about now.
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Comment #5 posted by military officer guy on March 08, 2000 at 19:16:04 PT
you said a mouth full
Puritan, you're exactly right...i couldn't have said it better myself...the dam is breaking alright, piece by piece, it's a slow leak, but it will come crashing down, just give it some time...we're winning this war all, let's keep up winning the little battles like this one, because the war can be won...
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Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on March 08, 2000 at 17:41:20 PT:
Really sharp!
I like the format. Nicely done!
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 08, 2000 at 15:43:57 PT
Just a Test
Hi Everyone,Ron Bennett is working on adding different features to his message boards at Cannabis.com and I used this article to see how pictures would look. This is just a test and if you click on the url you will see near the top of the article a link that will bring you right back here. I hope you like it so far.Peace, FoM!http://www.cannabinoid.com/wwwboard/politics/messages/22849.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by Dave in Florida on March 08, 2000 at 12:44:08 PT
It is a Plant
>Sen. Jonathan Chun (D-S. Kauai, Niihau) said that marijuana is associated with lung damage and loss of short-term memoryand that legislators, who have no medical background, should not make decisions about legalizing drugs.Then neither should DEA, any othe LEO or anyone else for that matter. It's not a drug, it is a plant !“I believe we should stick with the tried-and-true method that if there is a drug that should be legalized, it should go through the regular process of the federal drug agency,” he said.It's a plant, why should the FDA have anything to do with it?
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Comment #1 posted by Puritan on March 08, 2000 at 12:08:00 PT
Medical Usage
This has to be a historical first - the house and senate (of Hawaii) both approving a measure allowing marijuana to be used for medical purposes. Perhaps the dam is beginning to show some cracks.  
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