cannabisnews.com: Reefer Politics Reefer Politics Posted by CN Staff on May 06, 2002 at 15:29:37 PT Editorial Source: Rutland Herald It sometimes happens in an election year that politicians will do the right thing for the wrong reasons. Such, hopefully, will be the case with Vermont’s medical marijuana initiative. The Vermont House of Representatives did the right thing last month when it passed the bill sponsored by Rep. David Zuckerman, P-Burlington, that would set up a system for desperately ill people to ease their pain with marijuana without fear of prosecution. Zuckerman’s bill, which would effectively give certifiably ill people with a note from their doctor a license to possess, grow and smoke marijuana, received support from all three political parties in a chamber dominated by the Republicans. Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Margaret Flory, R-Pittsford, hardly a bleeding heart liberal, was apparently persuaded by the testimony of sick people in her committee; she gave a stirring speech on the House floor in support of the measure. More support came from another unlikely quarter: state’s attorneys reportedly have indicated they wouldn’t prosecute these cases if it were shown that the marijuana user was using the drug for legitimate medicinal purposes. Still, the House bill’s prospects looked dim, with Gov. Howard Dean standing on his Hippocratic Oath and saying he’d reconsider if the Food and Drug Administration were to declare marijuana safe and therapeutic. Translation: When pigs fly. The Senate, meanwhile, said it was much too busy to consider it. Things have changed since reports trickled back to the State House that a key constituency in Dean’s putative presidential bid, gay activists in California concerned for AIDS sufferers, had asked him to reconsider. And then Anthony Pollina, Progressive candidate for lieutenant governor, weighed in on behalf of the bill. This left Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin, D-Windham, who also wants to be lieutenant governor, caught between a threat to his left and the governor’s intransigence on his right. Shumlin, who vehemently denies that he ever thinks about Pollina, and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard Sears, D-Bennington, have come up with a scheme to pass the governor’s test: Allow marijuana defendants to enter an affirmative defense to a possession charge – yes, I use marijuana but I do it only to ease my suffering, and here’s my doctor to tell you about my symptoms, your honor. Meanwhile, the governor made some cryptic utterances at a press conference that led some to speculate that the pig might be taking pilot lessons. The Senate bill is political cover for those who need it. It allows Dean to seem compassionate without actually legalizing marijuana, allows Shumlin to be liberal but not weak-kneed. But it doesn’t offer the protection of the House bill – people who suffer from multiple sclerosis, cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and other debilitating illnesses, or their caregivers, would still be forced to buy the drug from a dealer, that is, illegally. The House bill is a compassionate, responsible piece of legislation – it redresses the pointless cruelty of denying marijuana to desperately ill people without lifting the ban on recreational use. Enacting it into law would only increase Vermont’s national reputation as a kind, caring and tolerant state. This is the bill that should pass, whether for the right reasons or the wrong ones, this session or next, one way or another. Source: Rutland Herald (VT)Published: May 4, 2002Copyright: 2002 Rutland HeraldContact: info rutlandherald.comWebsite: http://rutlandherald.nybor.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmSenate Panel OKs Marijuana Measurehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12711.shtmlMedical Marijuana Still Alive in Montpelierhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12699.shtmlMedical Marijuana Clears Senate Hurdle http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12646.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by dddd on May 08, 2002 at 04:25:36 PT ..one of my favorite places for amusement ...I hate to recommend websites,,but I like Barry Crimmins..he's like a Jewish Dolomite,,a hebrew Rudy Ray Moore...I think alot of his sardonic quips are killer!..... http://www.barrycrimmins.com/quips.html#5-1-02 dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on May 07, 2002 at 21:57:16 PT dddd and el_toonces The news is maturing. Good articles are getting written and published. A far cry from when C News started. I mean we have the Mayor's Pictures all over New York! What is so remarkable about this is it is since 9-11. Our world is different now and that makes the ad campaign even more important. I know we have a way to go but I don't want it to take forever. People are afraid because of 9-11 and cannabis would help calm them better then any drug. http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/mayor1.jpg http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/mayor7.jpg http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/nyd.htm NORML Conference Pictures & Articles [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by dddd on May 07, 2002 at 14:07:32 PT ....Federal Empire... ..I think you're right FoM...The federal drug war empire will continue to intrude on states rights concerning Marijuana.They will fight any attempts to have it rescheduled,or legalized...The war on drugs is a huge corporate industry..Billions of dollars would be lost if Marijuana was decriminalized,or legalized......Look at it this way,,when they supreme court decides an election,,and a war is declared on "terror",,,and Kenny Boy Lay/Enron can burn California with a fake energy crisis,and steal billions from stockholders and employees,,and NO ONE is in jail for this Grand Fraud,,,,then it's time to realize that we have a federal government that is beyond the control of the People......it aint pretty...dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by el_toonces on May 07, 2002 at 13:32:46 PT: I guess we don't disagree..... ....because I agree with your impatience. I want my old life back so I can practice full time and be active! In fact, I am nut sure how much effort (and resources) it even makes sense to spend to stay healthy without the 'green mediicne'. Kind of hard to be functional and active when the most (and pretty much only) effective medicine is illegal!Hurry up and change this:)! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 07, 2002 at 13:11:08 PT el_toonces I understand where you are coming from. I don't mean people shouldn't follow their convictions but I just want to see change soon. When I am tired that is how I feel and I am tired. It's like hurry it up and change the law because the laws are antique. Just wishful thinking on my part. I get very impatient from time to time. Don't mind me! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by el_toonces on May 07, 2002 at 12:57:23 PT: Sorry to disagree, FoM.... ...and of course I do so in a civil manner and with respect for your position. However, I can't see the feds re-scheduling until more states -- especially in the Midwest and other areas that voted heavily for Bush -- have clubs like they do in Oregon and the Bay area in California. Only then will the administration back off and let the states be "laboratories". If these "lab experiments" turn out okay, the feds may then begin to move to re-schedule.And, as far as what can be done until that happens, Oregon, California, Washington and Hawaii show us that a lot can be done. In Portland, I at least saw local doctors aware of and in some cases working with the clubs to help their patients, which is one hell of a lot more than we have here in the Midwest, especially for the people without a whole bunch of many, social status, or political power.When something like a VICS or a CHAMP opens in Michigan, Ohio, or, God forbid, Texas, well, only then will I say "the writing is on the wall." [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 06, 2002 at 18:39:46 PT I Get Depressed I believe in the medical use of marijuana but I have come to this point that I do not believe anything can happen without it being shut down by the Feds unless marijuana is rescheduled. Am I alone in this thinking? They will turn it all around like they've been doing until they accept that marijuana has medical value and we know and they know it does and the spin is getting very very old! Just a rant!PS: It's like they stick their fingers in their ears and say, La la la la la la la la I can't hear you! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on May 06, 2002 at 18:22:53 PT great editorial The new bill is absolutely useless - the prosecutors already said they would dismiss charges on any legit med-MJ patient! The bill adds nothing. Patients don't need "medical necessity defenses". They need to be able to guarantee a family member that no cops will break down their door if they grow herb as a caregiver. They need to guarantee that their houses won't be seized. Aren't we supposed to teach our kids that being a spineless coward is BAD?The funniest part is that Dean thinks he can run for president. Wake up buddy, as soon as you signed the civil unions bill you forfeited any chance you had in about 1/2 of the states in the US. It will be fun watching him get destroyed in primary season. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment