cannabisnews.com: Health Agency Would Be in Charge of Marijuana 





Health Agency Would Be in Charge of Marijuana 
Posted by FoM on January 25, 2002 at 11:37:46 PT
By Gilbert Gallegos, Tribune Reporter
Source: Albuquerque Tribune
The question is fairly straightforward: Can the state be in charge of growing and distributing marijuana to patients who qualify to use it for medical purposes?State Department of Health officials were skeptical about the prospect of being in charge of the marijuana, which is why they wanted to simply allow patients to grow the pot themselves. But some legislators felt more comfortable with the state being in charge.
The bill that decriminalizes the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, Senate Bill 8, was changed Thursday to put the onus on the Health Department to create rules for a medicinal cannabis, or marijuana, program.The department would "ensure that the cannabis produced for the program is grown only in a secure facility and that the producer of the cannabis provides an inventory of the product at regular intervals."Sen. Roman Maes, the Santa Fe Democrat who sponsored the bill, assured the Public Affairs Committee that the measure will meet constitutional muster. The committee passed the bill unanimously, and sent it on to the Senate Judiciary Committee.Cliff Rees, an attorney at the Health Department, said after Thursday's committee hearing that the issue could end up in court."There is a conflict," Rees conceded, "that will ultimately be decided, probably in court."The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that federal drug laws banning the possession of marijuana do not make an exception for medical patients.The Supreme Court case involved an Oakland "buyers cooperative" that distributed marijuana under a California law. The court ruled unanimously that the cooperative was violating federal law.Proponents of the bill making its way through the New Mexico Legislature say the Supreme Court ruling did not directly address the idea of a state government producing and distributing the drug.Legislators also questioned whether the state could be inviting legal problems by contracting with a company or individual to grow the marijuana.Randall Harris, the district attorney in Clovis, told the committee he believes the bill will be ripe for a constitutional challenge."It is my opinion that it would be in line with the Supreme Court cases that make this bill unconstitutional," Harris said.Rees said if the bill becomes law, and is challenged in court, the state will have plenty of ways to defend the law.Complete Title: Health Agency Would Be in Charge of Marijuana Inventory Source: Albuquerque Tribune (NM)Author: Gilbert Gallegos, Tribune ReporterPublished: January 25, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Albuquerque TribuneContact: letters abqtrib.comWebsite: http://www.abqtrib.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmStatistical Contradictionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11836.shtmlMedical Marijuana Bill Draws Objections http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11833.shtmlLegislators Rethink Supporting Drug Bills http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11826.shtmlSenate Cans Part of Pot Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11825.shtml 
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Comment #3 posted by Lehder on January 26, 2002 at 04:24:44 PT
endless contradictions of the drug war
Legislators also questioned whether the state could be inviting legal problems by contracting with a company or individual to grow the marijuana.There are problems with common sense here too. How would the state select a company or individual for growing marijuana? Bidders on contracts invariably must submit long resumes that display experience and expertise - which in this case would amount to long records of criminality. A responsible and trustworty contractor would of necessity have no experience whatever in growing marijuana - banish the thought!
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Comment #2 posted by bruce42 on January 26, 2002 at 00:29:27 PT
even sillier
I am hearing a lot of news regarding state budget shortfalls, setbacks, and crises, and now these dorks want to set up a stae program to grow nasty schwag. Why are these people so stupid. There are thousands of people who make a living on growing high quality bud with maximum efficiency. What the heel is wrong with giving some willing people licenses to set up coffee shops where people can come to smoke in peace. Now the state doesn't have to do any real work and there's some more small business to boost the economy. duh.I guess common sense goes out the window when you're trying to maintain absolute power. 
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Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on January 25, 2002 at 17:29:22 PT
Their secure facility fetish
The department would "ensure that the cannabis produced for the program is grown only in a secure facilityHow military!Don't ask, we won't tell! But notice how they presume that people aren't honest enough to grow on their own.These same people are presumably honest enough to vote on their own.Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive people out of their democratic system of government.
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