cannabisnews.com: Rell Undecided On Medical Marijuana Rell Undecided On Medical Marijuana Posted by CN Staff on March 27, 2007 at 15:20:12 PT By The Associated Press Source: Associated Press Hartford, Conn. -- Gov. M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, said today she has not ruled out supporting legislation that would legalize the medical use of marijuana."I have mixed emotions on that," she told reporters after attending an event on stem cell research at the state Capitol. "I don't think anyone standing here probably doesn't feel the same way. You would want to do anything possible to alleviate the pain and suffering of any individual." Connecticut already has a medical marijuana law, one of the first in the nation. Under the 1981 law, a doctor can prescribe the illegal drug to relieve nausea associated with chemotherapy and eye pressure from glaucoma.But the law is unworkable because, under federal law, a physician who prescribes marijuana can be sent to prison and risks having his or her medical license revoked."They don't do it for fear of federal prosecution," Rell said.This year's bill, which cleared the Judiciary Committee last week, would allow residents over 18 with specific debilitating medical conditions diagnosed by a physician to cultivate and use marijuana to relieve symptoms.Patients with written certification from their physicians would have to register with the Department of Consumer Protection.Rell said she has concerns about allowing individuals to grow the plants."I think we will listen to the debate on that. I do still have some trouble with that aspect of it," she said. "I think it would almost be better if we would be able to go back and say, change the legislation right to allow doctors right now not to be prosecuted if they prescribe marijuana. It makes more sense to me."The bill awaits further committee action. Source: Associated Press (Wire)Published: Tuesday, March 27, 2007Copyright: 2007 Associated Press Related Articles: A Call For Reliefhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22803.shtmlMedical Marijuana Bill Gains Supporthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22802.shtmlRell Warms To Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22801.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by FoM on March 29, 2007 at 05:35:28 PT Hiya Hempity! Thank you for the news about Grant. He's a fighter and that's good. I will never forget the fun we all had on the Political Board on Marihemp back in 97 and 98. Please drop in here more often. You're special to me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by hempity on March 29, 2007 at 04:37:59 PT High! Hello my beautiful friend FoM, it is great to be seen by you. Even though I visit your wonderful site weekly I rarely leave a message, but know that I am always thinking good thoughts about you and yours. I thought you might like to hear this about Grant, he is a funny guy, but a warrior none the less. Love, hempity [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 28, 2007 at 06:28:19 PT Hempity I just wanted to say it's good to see you and I hope all is well. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by hempity on March 27, 2007 at 23:20:18 PT Grant Krieger gets cannabis in jail Judge wants medical marijuana user to get pot in jailLast Updated: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 | 3:31 PM MT CBC NewsA medical marijuana activist in Calgary was sentenced Tuesday to four months in jail for trafficking in marijuana, but the judge ruled that correction officials must make sure he has access to the drug while behind bars.Grant Krieger, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and has legal permission to smoke marijuana for medical purposes, had previously admitted to sending two packages of marijuana to Manitoba in 2003 and 2004.Provincial court judge William Pepler said Tuesday that incarceration is appropriate, but he is delaying Krieger's time behind bars until June to allow corrections officials to figure out how they will administer medical marijuana to him.Pepler said although he recognizes that Krieger has a special constitutional right to receive marijuana to alleviate pain, the federal government has a program for people in Krieger's situation and Krieger must now comply with the law.Outside court, Krieger said his condition had worsened when he was previously jailed for similar offences without access to marijuana."I had to sit in a wheelchair, couldn't walk."Krieger said he will keep defying the law because not all the people who need medical marijuana are getting access to the federal program.John Hooker, Krieger's lawyer, said most people would agree that ill people who need the drug should be able to get it."I think the law is in conflict with the general feeling of the population. This is a medicine that should be given to sick people." Supreme Court overturned unrelated convictionIn October, the Supreme Court of Canada overturned an unrelated conviction, ruling the trial judge erred by directing the jury to find Krieger guilty.The judge at Krieger's trial in 2003 instructed the jury to "retire to the jury room to consider what I have said, appoint one of yourselves to be your foreperson, and then to return to the court with a verdict of guilty."Two jurors objected, one on religious grounds and the other on grounds of conscience. They asked to be excused from the case, but the judge refused the request.The top court ruled that the judge deprived Krieger of his constitutional right to a trial by jury when he gave his instructions."The trial judge's direction was not a 'slip of the tongue' to be evaluated in the context of the charge as a whole," the court wrote. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by ekim on March 27, 2007 at 16:43:06 PT Dennis Kucinich on wed show ck out station near you -- http://democracynow.org/stations.shtmldir tv 6pm ch 375 http://blog.leap.cc/ [ Post Comment ] Post Comment