cannabisnews.com: WA Lawmakers Consider Expanding Marijuana Law WA Lawmakers Consider Expanding Marijuana Law Posted by CN Staff on February 19, 2009 at 19:46:07 PT By Brian Slodysko, Associated Press Source: Associated Press Olympia, Wash. - Lawmakers are considering expanding the state's medical marijuana law to allow registered nurses, physician assistants and naturopathic doctors to recommend pot to their patients. Currently, only medical doctors can recommend medical marijuana.Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, the bill's sponsor, argues that patients in rural areas have to drive too far in order to find a doctor to recommend the drug to them. "I'm trying to visualize someone suffering from the ravages of cancer having to travel a few hundred miles to talk to a physician," Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, said Thursday at a hearing before the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee. "It just doesn't make sense."Under state law, marijuana cannot be prescribed, but doctors may recommend it to their patients by signing a form that patients can carry with them as protection against arrest for pot possession.Supporters of the bill say many who could be eligible to use marijuana don't have regular access to a doctor.Joanna McKee, a co-founder of the Green Cross, a medical marijuana advocacy group, noted that nurses and physician assistants already provide significant levels of care to people."So if they are the primary person giving care, why not let them recommend it to people too?" she asked.Law enforcement groups oppose the bill, arguing it would lead to more abuse of the medical marijuana law."Not everybody out there is using it as medical marijuana," said Bill Hanson, a lobbyist for the Fraternal Order of Police. "It's pretty easy to get a prescription and abuse it."The medical marijuana bill is Senate Bill 5798.On the Net:Washington State Legislature: http://www.leg.wa.govSource: Associated Press (Wire)Author: Brian Slodysko, Associated Press Published: Thursday, February 19, 2009Copyright: 2009 The Associated PressCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by FoM on February 20, 2009 at 16:43:53 PT Correction: Medical Marijuana Story In a Feb. 19 story about medical marijuana, The Associated Press reported erroneously that registered nurses could recommend marijuana to their patients under a bill being considered by the Legislature. The bill would allow advanced registered nurse practitioners, not registered nurses, to recommend marijuana to their patients. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Hope on February 20, 2009 at 09:07:28 PT Comment 2 Storm Crow Very well said, Storm Crow. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by BGreen on February 20, 2009 at 07:50:40 PT Like I wrote in another post, Bill Hanson Law enforcement groups oppose the bill, arguing it would lead to more abuse of the medical marijuana law."Not everybody out there is using it as medical marijuana," said Bill Hanson, a lobbyist for the Fraternal Order of Police. "It's pretty easy to get a prescription and abuse it."Like I wrote in another post:I'll call my doctor the next time my car is stolen. That makes every bit as much sense as getting medical advice from a cop. What's even more stupid is allowing that cop to second guess our doctors and otherwise actively interfere with our doctor/patient relationship.STUPID!The Reverend Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Storm Crow on February 20, 2009 at 07:03:31 PT Get it right, Mr. Hanson! Bill Hanson- "It's pretty easy to get a prescription and abuse it."(A) It is NOT a prescription, it is a recommendation! It is bad enough when I have to correct the "kids" (all above 18 according to the TOU) on some of the other sites, but someone who holds a position of influence should be able to keep simple facts straight! (B) Has he even noticed that where medical cannabis is available, teen use goes down? Think of the children, sir! (C) And didn't I just read an article stating that PRESCRIPTION DRUG abuse is on the rise? Especially among our youth? These are drugs that CAN actually kill you! And that doesn't even address the meth problem!(Which although the press has seemingly forgotten it, is STILL THERE!)(D) Has he noticed that bush is no longer prez? The administration has changed, and so has the way the US thinks about cannabis. One fourth of the US has MMJ, and more states have MMJ and decriminalization bills in the wings. (E) He's worried about that someone might be having a little FUN with a non-lethal herb? With all the REAL problems in the world.... he really needs to get a life! It seems a shame to waste all that energy (which could be directed toward a real problem- meth, or child abuse,)on a mad desire to control a useful plant! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on February 19, 2009 at 20:21:31 PT Expanded AP Article http://www.examiner.com/a-1861300~WA_lawmakers_consider_expanding_marijuana_law.html [ Post Comment ] Post Comment