cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Bill is About Compassion
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Medical Marijuana Bill is About Compassion
Posted by CN Staff on April 03, 2009 at 06:37:39 PT
By Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing
Source: Republican Eagle
Minnesota -- This year, I’m working to pass legislation that will provide compassionate health care to those suffering from cancer and other end-of-life diseases. By providing for the legal use of medicinal marijuana, these folks could experience some relief from the debilitating pain they suffer on a daily basis.We’ve heard hours of testimony from patients and their family members who have said that medical marijuana was the only thing that could cure the nausea or increase their appetite enough to eat a meal.
Unfortunately, a seriously ill person must currently violate the law and fear prosecution to receive this medical relief.When such treatment is available, it’s not right to withhold it from a clearly suffering person.To this end, we’ve carefully crafted a measure to legalize medical marijuana. This bill sets up strict requirements for the use, sale, and possession of medical marijuana. It must be prescribed by a physician and the amount that can be prescribed is very limited.Only those with “intractable pain,” which is statutorily defined as the most serious pain a person could experience that cannot be medically alleviated, could be prescribed medical marijuana.Further, people who misuse their registration card face felony prosecution-a stricter penalty than the misdemeanor offense for illegal possession of the drug.I could count on one hand the number of times in my 17-year legislative career that an organization or group that opposes one of my bills has not contacted me regarding their concerns. Law enforcement’s objection to medical marijuana is one of these examples. They come before the committee and say such a law is not enforceable, but they’ve never met with me to discuss their concerns or work on a compromise.This is unfortunate, given the fact that in other states law enforcement has been supportive of the legalization of medical marijuana. They got involved in the process early on, and worked with lawmakers to craft a system that would be workable. Because of their involvement, other states’ medical marijuana systems have been successful. In Montana, they are actually increasing the legal possession limit because the law’s enforcement has worked so well.In Minnesota, our law enforcement expresses opposition to medical marijuana because it has not been approved by the FDA.I find this argument weak, as the FDA has never bothered to study medical marijuana. They also granted approval to Vioxx, a drug whose side effects ended up killing thousands of people.Law enforcement also contends that medical marijuana will lead to increased crime and increased use of marijuana. This argument is not warranted: No state with a medical marijuana program has seen an increase in teen marijuana use since the law was implemented.Law enforcement also opposes the legislation because they say it would put Minnesota in conflict with the federal government. Given the fact that 13 other states have such a law, and the feds have not issued repercussions, there’s no reason to deny our patients this pain relief. In fact, last week the U.S. Attorney General said it will end all U.S. raids on state-legalized marijuana distributors.In the end, the benefits of legalizing medical marijuana far outweigh the concerns. We need to decriminalize the efforts of the seriously ill, dying, and their families who are only trying to relieve their pain and ease their suffering.Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing, can be reached at 651) 385-7649 or sen.steve.murphy senate.mnSource: Red Wing Republican Eagle (MN)Author: Steve Murphy, DFL-Red WingPublished: April 3, 2009Copyright: 2009 Forum Communications Co.Website: http://www.republican-eagle.com/Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/fU8h73puRelated Articles:Marijuana Bill Gets State Senate Hearing Todayhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24669.shtmlMMJ in Minnesota Closer To Becoming Realityhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24660.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by Sam Adams on April 03, 2009 at 11:00:42 PT
what a great piece
Great legislator, I love his direct response to law enforcement concerns instead of just avoiding it."Republican Eagle" weird name, scary sounding, I'd rather read "Green Party Eagle". How about "Libertarian Raptor of Death"
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on April 03, 2009 at 10:19:34 PT
HempWorld
I'm sorry for your loss. I have hope or I wouldn't be here everyday. Nothing important in life is easy. At least it never has been for me. If we measure success by reaching the top of the mountain and don't think about the climb up to the top of the mountain we miss the small victories along the way. 
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Comment #2 posted by HempWorld on April 03, 2009 at 10:01:51 PT
Yes, FoM, I know, but I'm no longer hopeful.
In case you didn't notice, the House has voted to have cigarettes, that kill in excess of 450,000 Americans every YEAR alone, is now regulated by the FDA. (I am assuming these folks are heavily invested in the death services industries via stocks and bonds)Industrial hemp is 'regulated' by the DEA, whereas it is not possible to die from industrial hemp because it is 0% toxic, just as marijuana.This must be American logic, because it is ass backwards in science. Cigarettes are drugs, i.e. nicotine, a substance that is more addictive then heroin. Cigarettes killed my father and 4 of his brothers, my uncles.And, hee, never mind that marijuana is actually a cure for cancer, but you can't have it, just as you can't have hemp, if you live in the US, that is.
On a mission from God!
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 03, 2009 at 09:25:53 PT
Hemp News
New Bill Allowing Industrial Hemp Farming Expected to Be Introduced this WeekPublished: April 02, 2009WASHINGTON , April 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the third time since the federal government outlawed hemp farming in the United States over 50 years ago, a federal bill will be introduced that will remove restrictions on the cultivation of non-psychoactive industrial hemp.URL: http://newsblaze.com/story/2009040211430200002.pnw/topstory.html
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