cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Advocates' Hope Renewed
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Medical Marijuana Advocates' Hope Renewed
Posted by CN Staff on October 21, 2009 at 05:04:25 PT
By Aaron Marshall and Joe Guillen, PD Reporters 
Source: Plain Dealer
Ohio -- The federal government's recent decision to ease up on prosecuting patients using medical marijuana has brought hope to activists in Ohio seeking a medical marijuana law. But getting lawmakers here to approve therapeutic marijuana use promises to be an uphill battle.State Rep. Kenny Yuko, a Richmond Heights Democrat, is drafting legislation with groups that want Ohio to become the 15th state to allow those who are seriously ill to use medical marijuana. While working on getting backers to unite behind a single approach, Yuko was heartened by the recent decision by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to redirect investigations away from patients in states that allow medical marijuana.
"It's definitely good news for people who care about this issue," said Yuko, who has multiple sclerosis but is not seeking to use medical marijuana. "I hope this gives us an opportunity to get due consideration in the House and Senate."But Yuko acknowledges that it's "not going to be an easy sell" to get a medical marijuana measure through the legislature, especially with the vehement opposition of prosecutors and police groups.Even supporters of medical marijuana like Ed Orlett, a former Ohio lawmaker who heads the Drug Policy Alliance Ohio, said that time is running out on passing a bill this session."The legislature hasn't been terribly productive anyway, and I think it's not likely they will want to tackle any controversial bills next year," Orlett said.In 1996, Ohio lawmakers passed a criminal sentencing bill that allowed an "affirmative defense" for the medical use of marijuana. However, lawmakers said they weren't aware of the provision slipped into the 1,000-page bill, and legislation removing it was passed in early 1997. Since then, several medical marijuana bills have died in the legislature."I think it's because of the history of it, and people still have the perception that this is really about somehow trying to get recreational marijuana legalized," Yuko said. "But what this is really about is giving opportunities to make a difference in the quality of life for some sick people."Yuko said his legislation probably will be modeled after Senate Bill 343, which Sen. Tom Roberts, a Dayton-area Democrat, introduced last session. That bill would have allowed Ohio doctors to prescribe marijuana to patients who would be issued cards by the state health department to show to police if necessary.House Speaker Armond Budish, a Beachwood Democrat, took a cautious approach in declining to comment on the merits of medical marijuana in Ohio. But Senate President Bill Harris, an Ashland Republican, was firm in his opposition. "He is not supportive, nor does he think there is support in the Senate for something like that," said Harris' spokeswoman Maggie Ostrowski. Snipped    Complete Article: http://drugsense.org/url/pAuCUibWSource: Plain Dealer, The (OH)Author: Aaron Marshall and Joe Guillen, Plain Dealer ReportersPublished: Wednesday, October 21, 2009Copyright: 2009 The Plain DealerContact: letters plaind.comWebsite: http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #9 posted by Hope on October 21, 2009 at 08:45:05 PT
No Problem, FoM.
Also that "1 in 25" people in the world have smoked cannabis "study" article (in spite of prohibition) is pretty hateful, snarky, arrogant, horrified, aghast and more or less, ripely pungent with prohibitionist's disdain.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on October 21, 2009 at 08:35:01 PT
Hope
I did post that article but I have a hard time with the writer. I have seen her on news shows and she is too uppity for me. 
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Comment #7 posted by Hope on October 21, 2009 at 07:44:44 PT
Reefer Sanity
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/20/AR2009102003084.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
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Comment #6 posted by runruff on October 21, 2009 at 07:42:44 PT
Mr. Weener.....
...you may convince us of your theory by citing the great impact prohibition has had on cannabis these past 70 years. Maybe if you tell Mr. Holder how we started out with a couple of hundred cannabis users in the US to a few hundred million users during the worst most draconian prohibition of all time!Just show him the positive results of killing people to save them from themselves.Mr. Weener, Mr Webster included a name in his big book just for you. The name: Idiot Boy! 
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Comment #5 posted by josephlacerenza on October 21, 2009 at 07:14:47 PT
Just More of The same fear mongering!! 
Where are these talking heads when people, Anna Nichole etc., are dying from prescription drugs abuse? It drives me bat sh*t crazy when the perception is, be careful healthy people are going to abuse the system.We do not hear this sh*t when Eli Lilly puts out a new drug.
Healthy people take advantage of the laws ALL the time to get their drugs of choice!!!And, how is it taking advantage, in the negative sense, when a doctor recommends cannabis to ANY patient?"Prescription marijuana use may explode for healthy people.", and prescription drug abuse has not exploded for other drugs that KILL?It seems to me, like my mom used to say, "It is the guilty that scream the loudest." It seems that if they, prohibitionists, point their finger long enough at cannabis, we will forget the DRUGS they LET get to the market that do KILL!!!!!!Pot 2.0, it aint your parents weed, what a crock of SH*T!!!!
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on October 21, 2009 at 06:49:14 PT
Sorry, Mr. Weiner
I guess I'll have trouble with "ie" and "ei" always.
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on October 21, 2009 at 06:47:29 PT
Comment 1
We already got more than we bargained for.A prohibitionist Wiener.
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Comment #2 posted by runruff on October 21, 2009 at 06:44:30 PT
Bob Weiner AKA " Chicken Little"!
Friend of Calvina Fay, Michele Leonhart, and of course Mr. Dough-boy himself, the consummate mamma's boy, Mr.-I never ate lunch because the bullies took my money, Mr.-My nose is permanently brown stained with W dew, Ol' A lie is better than a budget cut, himself.....Ta Da....John [I want your pee] Walters!According to Mr Whiner My Prez has opened a Pandora's box of evil scourge.According to Runruff the Prez has tipped the cornucopia of wealth!
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on October 21, 2009 at 05:27:04 PT
Press Release From Bob Weiner
Medical Marijuana: 'Be Careful,' Ex-White House Drug Spokesman Bob Weiner Tells DOJ About 'New Lax Enforcement' Policy; 'Use May Explode for Healthy People'
 Washington, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Be careful about the new lax enforcement policy for medical marijuana," former White House Drug Policy Spokesman Bob Weiner is telling the Department of Justice and the Obama Administration."You may get way more than you bargained for", Weiner cautions of the new policy barring states attorneys from busting and prosecuting users and caregivers of so-called "medical" marijuana who act "in accordance with state law.""Prescription marijuana use may explode for healthy people."URL: http://newsblaze.com/story/2009102105010900043.pnw/topstory.html
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