cannabisnews.com: Hawaii Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Bill Hawaii Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Bill Posted by FoM on June 14, 2000 at 17:11:44 PT Breaking News Source: Reuters Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano signed a bill on Wednesday legalizing the medical use of marijuana, making his state the first to pass such a law through the legislature.Seven other states -- Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Maine and California, as well as the District of Columbia -- have similar laws on the books, but they were passed as voter initiatives and never tested by lawmakers. Medical marijuana advocacy groups hailed the Hawaii law -- which makes it legal for seriously ill people to grow, possess and use the drug -- as ``landmark legislation'' that they predicted would eventually sweep the nation.``To have the legislature and governor do this sends a very strong message,'' Chuck Thomas, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project said after Cayetano signed the bill passed by the state Senate in April.``We think it's not going to be a lot easier to get bills passed in other states,'' Thomas said. ``Our goal is to have a checkerboard of states (legalizing medical marijuana) and ultimately put the federal government in a position where they pretty much have to change federal law.''Marijuana possession, cultivation and use remain offenses under federal law, but enforcement is generally carried out at the state and municipal levels.Thomas said opponents of medical marijuana had long said that voters in the other seven states were ``tricked'' into approving the measures, an argument that could not be made in Hawaii's case.Thomas said the bill would allow seriously ill people to use marijuana if they get approval from their doctor. He said the law spelled out the nature of serious illness and the means by which the patients could grow and use the drug.``We wanted to make sure we can really help patients but do so without any loopholes,'' Thomas said. Honolulu (Reuters) Published: June 14, 2000Copyright © 2000 Reuters Limited. Related Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Drug Policy Forum Of Hawaiihttp://www.drugsense.org/dpfhi/Hawaii Lawmakers Approve Bill on Med. Use of Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5518.shtmlHawaii Senate Approves Medical Marijuana Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5510.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by Dmitry on July 24, 2000 at 06:56:23 PT: Downb with ppseudo-morality! Down with the enforcement of pseudo-morality!!! Down with the federal nanny. This is a start of something wonderful,but only a start. Anyway, cheers everybody!!!By the way, labeling hemp together with heroine, etc. by the same label "illegal drugs" is an extremely damaging idea. People will think that if they've triedweed, they may as well try heroine since the border is already crossed. But heroine may cause an immediate addiction, while marijuana is safer than tobacco.Not that brute force is an efficient way to fight heroineabuse. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Kanabys on June 15, 2000 at 17:40:33 PT Not rejoicing yet I know I will sound like a real bummer, but I just hope that something doesn't happen that will make them repeal the law somehow. I am just a novice at the law, but I hope the feds don't do something under the table politically to make the Hawiian legislature do a 180.Otherwise, this is a great start! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on June 15, 2000 at 05:01:18 PT: A wedge for us... And a wedgie for the antis.As DRFIST pointed out, three plants won't be nearly enough. But the very fact that this is a law *that has gone through the rigors of the legislative process* will allow for further consideration, and possible expansion of the limit after it has been around for a while. Unless, of course, the antis want to try to declare martial law there to stop the whole process. (After all, that's how the Feds stole the place to begin with.)Somehow, though, I don't think they'll want to try (smile). But we can expect to hear all kinds of caterwalling from the antis now. The people of the Great State of Hawaii have just deposited about ten pounds of crow on the front doorstep of every anti. Perhaps we should ask them if they'd like some ketchup? [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Dr. Ganj on June 14, 2000 at 21:47:25 PT 50th State Goes Medical Although it is restrictive, it does show politicians are now seeing this is what the people want. Yeah, they've been way behind times, but at least there is good progress.Just wait until this November folks, when numerous states will vote for medical marijuana. Just a little longer....Dr. Ganj http://www.champsf.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by drfist on June 14, 2000 at 19:44:36 PT not as good as you think! The doctor has to "turn in" the patient to the Dept. of public safety, share the medical records with the Hawaii Narks. They will know right where to send the federal helicopters. You are only allowed 3 plants, which is not going to be enough for most needs. Most Doctors will not go along because they do not want to have to provide medical records to the cops. But Yes ,Brah! it's a foot in the doorbut we have a long way to go. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dankhank on June 14, 2000 at 18:17:37 PT: hurrah again ............... Good for Hawaii ......................One more nail in the coffin of prohibition ...Who's next??????Peace and fight the fight ..... HEMP n STUFF [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by MikeEEEEE on June 14, 2000 at 18:10:08 PT GREAT NEWS This great news for people suffering, I just wish the Feds would see it this way. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: