cannabisnews.com: Groups Call for Medical Pot Legalization Groups Call for Medical Pot Legalization Posted by CN Staff on January 23, 2003 at 13:07:48 PT By Eric Durr The Business Review Source: Business Review Doctors, pharmacists, and patients called for legalizing marijuana as a prescription drug Wednesday morning, during hearings held by Assembly Health Committee Chairman Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan).Since 1997, Gottfried has introduced legislation that would enable physicians to certify patients to possess up to eight ounces of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Seventeen Assembly Democrats have signed on to Gottfried's bill as either a co- or multi-sponsor, including Albany Assemblyman Jack McEneny. The bill would regulate the use of the drug to benefit cancer patients, and people suffering from pain that doesn't respond to other treatments, Gottfried said.A 1999 Zogby International poll found that 80 percent of New Yorkers supported medical marijuana use. Many otherwise illegal controlled substances are legal for medical use, such as morphine, Valium and steroids, Gottfried pointed out in his hearing memorandum.In Wednesday's hearings Gottfried and other lawmakers heard from John Morgan, a professor of Pharmacology at the City of New York Medical School, Ann Purchase, a registered nurse, and Keith Cylaw, representing the advocacy group Housing Works.Hearings like the one he held Wednesday will help build momentum for changing the laws, Gottfried said. There's no state Senate sponsor for his bill, and during the 2002 election campaign Gov. George Pataki said he opposed legalizing marijuana for medical use, but he thinks the tide will turn, Gottfried said.Politicians read polls, and the polls show the public supports his ideas, Gottfried said. New Yorkers for Compassionate Care, a group advocating marijuana as a medicine, scheduled a press conference to urge passage of the Gottfried legislation.The New York State Nurses Association, the American Bar Association, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and the American Public Health Association all support the measure.A New York law enacted in 1980 allows the use of marijuana for medical purposes, but the law treats marijuana use as a research issue, which makes it too hard for the patients who need the drug to obtain it, Gottfried said.Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Oregon, Nevada and Washington, have passed medical marijuana initiatives to allow medical use of the drug.Source: Business Review (NY)Author: Eric Durr, The Business ReviewPublished: January 22, 2003 Copyright: 2003 American City Business Journals Inc.Contact: albany bizjournals.com Website: http://www.bizjournals.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmAdvocates For The Ill Ask Lawmakers to Legalize http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15255.shtmlSeriously Ill Join Marijuana Buyers' Clubs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9420.shtmlState Passed the Law, but Never Used It http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9419.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment