cannabisnews.com: N.M. Could Legalize Marijuana





N.M. Could Legalize Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on March 05, 2003 at 11:28:45 PT
By The Associated Press
Source: Daily Lobo 
Santa Fe -- A proposal to allow the medical use of marijuana by New Mexicans with debilitating illnesses is heading to the House for debate. The measure cleared the House Judiciary Committee on a 9-1 vote Monday.The legislation would make marijuana possession and use legal under state law for patients seriously ill with cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, HIV or AIDS and certain spinal cord injuries.
Those patients, or their caregivers, would be protected from prosecution under state law. However, opponents warned that they could be subject to federal drug charges."If smoking raw marijuana is a medicine, Dr. Kevorkian wrote the prescription," said Rep. Ron Godbey, R-Cedar Crest, who opposed the bill. He was referring to American euthanasia advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian.District attorneys and law enforcement groups testified against the legislation.Among those supporting the bill was a Las Cruces man, Fred MacDonald, who suffers from MS and a spinal cord injury. He lives half the year in Seattle, Wash., and participates in that state's medical marijuana program.He said his prescription medication makes him lethargic or causes him to sleep.If he uses marijuana, MacDonald said, "I am functioning as a person." Under the legislation, a doctor would have to certify that someone suffers from a qualifying illness. The patient must register with the state Health Department, which would issue an identification card.It would be up to the patients to get the marijuana. The state would not be a producer or distributor. The proposal would permit a qualifying patient or their caregiver to possess a supply of marijuana to provide an "uninterrupted availability" for three months.MacDonald told the committee he uses up to 1.5 ounces per month when he is in Seattle.Eight states allow the use of marijuana as medicine: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon, Nevada and Washington.Medical marijuana legislation was part of former Gov. Gary Johnson's proposals for overhauling New Mexico's drug laws. In 2001, the House and Senate approved separate bills to permit the medical use of marijuana but never agreed on the same version of the proposal. Note: Bill may authorize medicinal use for debilitating illnesses.Source: Daily Lobo (NM)Author: Eric Howerton Published: Wednesday, March 5, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Daily LoboWebsite: http://www.dailylobo.com/Contact: http://www.dailylobo.com/main.cfm?include=submitRelated Articles & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmHouse To Debate Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15625.shtmlMedical Marijuana Bill Takes Step http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15528.shtmlMedical Marijuana Bill Alive http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15410.shtml 
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