cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Humanitarian Way To Go Medical Marijuana Humanitarian Way To Go Posted by CN Staff on May 17, 2005 at 21:57:06 PT Editorial Source: Troy Record New York -- The passage of an on-time budget by the state Legislature this year has cleared the way for action of bills that have languished in limbo for more years than we care to count. And that's good news. The better news is that our legislators are taking their jobs seriously this session and acting on long-dormant matters. One concern that has been prominently featured for several years is the passage of a law that would allow the medical use of marijuana in the state, and it would be a humanitarian law that is long overdue.TV personality Montel Williams was in Albany again this year. He suffers from multiple sclerosis and, as he readily admits, he is in constant pain, and the only relief he gets is from the use of medical marijuana obtained when he is at his residence in California, where use of the drug when prescribed by a doctor is legal.He made an ardent and articulate plea last week for relief when he is in New York. One of the people who listened with a sympathetic and supportive ear was Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.Bruno, a cancer survivor, has experienced first-hand the pain and trauma of suffering from a debilitating disease, and we applaud him for adopting the cause.Gov. Pataki, however, seems to need a lot more convincing before he will go along with legalizing marijuana under any circumstance.Weighing in along with Pataki is the state Department of Health, which says there are legal remedies just as or even more effective as marijuana. If so, why can't people who find themselves in Williams' situation get access to these drugs?Department officials also talk of the dangers of smoking "raw" marijuana. What the Legislature should be considering is that the cannabis in question would be farmed under controlled conditions, processed and dispensed only through pharmacies.The argument that the marijuana could get into the hands of illegal users and young people doesn't hold water either.Anti-depressants and other powerful, psychoactive drugs regularly get stolen by addicts, but we see no move to ban those legitimate pharmaceuticals.Medical marijuana works, and it should be legitimized, the sooner the better, so as to ease the suffering of thousands. Source: Record, The (Troy, NY)Published: May 18, 2005Copyright: 2005 The RecordWebsite: http://www.troyrecord.com/Contact: newsroom troyrecord.comRelated Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Montel Williams Lobbies for Medical Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20665.shtmlMontel Williams Pushes for Medicinal Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20659.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 20, 2005 at 08:01:40 PT Medical Marijuana Introduced in New York NORML Alerts: Medical Marijuana Introduced in New York Take Action Now!http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=7623691&type=SThttp://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=7623801&type=STDear Friends:NORML is pleased to announce that Assembly Bill 8265, along with it's companion bill S5040, which seek to legally protect medical marijuana patients, have been introduced in the New York Senate. Now is the time to contact your state elected officials and urge them to stop arresting medicinal marijuana patients.With bills in the New York Assembly and Senate, NORML believes that medical marijuana has a significant chance of passing into law this year.These bills seek to ensure that medical marijuana patients who grow and possess cannabis will no longer have to fear arrest or prosecution from state law enforcement. They also provide protection for those medical marijuana caregivers who attend to patients who are too sick to take care of themselves. However, these bills will only receive serious consideration if New York's elected officials hear an unmistakable message of support from their constituents.Please take two minutes of your time to write your state Assemblyman and Senator and tell them how important it is that they support medical marijuana. NORML has created pre-written letters that you can send to your legislators by visiting: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=7623691&type=ST and http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=7623801&type=STIn addition, A8264 is scheduled for a vote in the Assembly Committee on Health this coming Tuesday, May 24. While NORML expects the bill to pass out of committee as the bill's sponsor, Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, is the chair of the committee, it is still important that committee members hear from their constituents in support of this legislation.The following members serve on the Assembly Committee on Health:Richard Gottfried (D-NY 75th), Chair, (518) 455-4941, gottfrr assembly.state.ny.us James G. Bacalles (R-NY 136th), (518) 455-5791, bacallj assembly.state.ny.us Jonathan L. Bing (D-NY 73rd), (518) 455-4794, bingj assembly.state.ny.us Jeffrey D. Brown, Jr. (R-NY 121st), (518) 455-4505, brownj assembly.state.ny.us Kevin A. Cahill (D-NY 101st), (518) 455-4436, cahillk assembly.state.ny.us James D. Conte (R-NY 10th), (518) 455-5732, contej assembly.state.ny.us Steven Cymbrowitz (D-NY 45th), (518) 455-5214, cymbros assembly.state.ny.us Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-NY 81st), (518) 455-5965, dinowij assembly.state.ny.us Patricia A. Eddington (D-NY 3rd), (518) 455-4901, eddingp assembly.state.ny.us Sandra R. Galef (D-NY 90th), (518) 455-5348, galefs assembly.state.ny.us Diane Gordon (D-NY 40th), (518) 455-5912, gordond assembly.state.ny.us Alexander B. Grannis (D-NY 65th), (518) 455-5676, grannis assembly.state.ny.us Aileen M. Gunther (D-NY 98th), (518) 455-5355, guntheA assembly.state.ny.us Rhoda S. Jacobs (D-NY 42nd), (518) 455-5385, jacobsr assembly.state.ny.us William B. Magnarelli (D-NY 120th), (518) 455-4826, magnarw assembly.state.ny.us Nettie Mayersohn (D-NY 27th), (518) 455-4404, mayersn assembly.state.ny.us Maureen C. O'Connell (R-NY 17th), (518) 455-5341, oconnem assembly.state.ny.us Amy R. Paulin (D-NY 88th), (518) 455-5585, paulina assembly.state.ny.us Crystal D. Peoples (D-NY 141st), (518) 455-5005, peoplec assembly.state.ny.us Naomi Rivera (D-NY 80th), (518) 455-5844, RiveraN assembly.state.ny.us Robin Schimminger (D-NY 140th), (518) 455-4767, schimmr assembly.state.ny.us Darryl C. Towns (D-NY 54th), (518) 455-5821, townsd assembly.state.ny.us Catharine M. Young (R-NY 149th), (518) 455-5241, youngc assembly.state.ny.usTo help support NORML's state legislative efforts, please donate today at: https://secure.norml.org/join/Thank you for your help.Sincerely,Kris Krane, Associate Director NORML [ Post Comment ] Post Comment