cannabisnews.com: House Rejects Medical-Pot Bill 





House Rejects Medical-Pot Bill 
Posted by CN Staff on March 07, 2003 at 07:53:18 PT
By Steve Terrell, The New Mexican
Source: Santa Fe New Mexican 
Although the state House of Representatives passed a medical-marijuana bill two years ago, the House overwhelmingly rejected a similar bill Thursday. A majority of Democrats and a huge majority of Republicans defeated House Bill 242 with a 46-20 vote Thursday. The House vote effectively killed the bill, since no similar measure is before the Senate. The mother of a 26-year-old cancer patient who died last year was angered by the vote.
"These people who voted against it, I just pray that they never find out what they've done," said Vicki Plevin of Albuquerque, who is working as an unpaid lobbyist on an unrelated issue.She said marijuana was the only thing that eased her son's nausea from chemotherapy and stimulated his appetite. Her son, Max Gardner, suffered from the disease for two years, Plevin said.It was easy and legal to get morphine and other narcotics, she said. "But what he couldn't get - legally - was the one thing that helped him."The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ken Martinez, D-Grants, would have made possession and use of marijuana legal for seriously ill patients with cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy, HIV or AIDS, multiple sclerosis and certain spinal injuries.Under the bill, a doctor would have had to certify the patient was suffering from one of those conditions, and the Department of Health would have issued such patients identification cards.Unlike some medical-marijuana bills in the recent past, HB242 would not have established a state marijuana-distribution program. Patients would have to grow their own or obtain it from illegal sources.Each approved patient would be allowed to keep a three-month supply of marijuana.The reasons for the lopsided defeat were not clear."I was surprised by the strong vote against this," former Gov. Toney Anaya, who lobbied for the bill, said immediately following the vote. "We felt good about it going in."A medical-marijuana bill in 2001 - which was part of then-Gov. Gary Johnson's drug-reform package - passed the House 35-32. Although the Senate passed a similar bill that year, neither bill made it through both houses, so it did not become law.Rep. Diane Hamilton, R-Silver City, voted for the medical-marijuana measure in 2001 but voted against Martinez's bill. The main reason for her change was that the 2001 bill would have had the state Health Department distributing marijuana to patients.Rep. Joe Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, also changed his vote from 2001 because, he said, Martinez's bill did not give doctors as much of an oversight role as the 2001 bill did.Support for medical marijuana has dwindled on both sides of the aisle since 2001.Two years ago, House Republicans voted 18-10 against the bill, while Democrats voted 25-14 in favor. On Thursday, Republicans voted 24-3 against it, while Democrats voted 22-17 against it.During the floor debate, Martinez stressed repeatedly that the purpose of the bill was to help people suffering from serious medical conditions, not to legalize marijuana.However, opponents claimed the end result would open the door to more drug abuse."We are legalizing marijuana by passing this bill," said Rep. Debbie Rodella, D-San Juan Pueblo. "The door is being opened to full-blown legalization."Rodella said her husband, a former state police officer, once arrested a woman with 250 pounds of marijuana - "strictly buds" - who claimed she used it to treat cancer.Rep. Larry Larranaga, R-Albuquerque, said as a Vietnam veteran, he saw marijuana use in a negative light. "It's an addiction that starts you into harder drugs," he charged.Rep. Earlene Roberts, R-Lovington, said the bill's purpose was to show compassion to people suffering from serious medical problems. "Another group we need to show compassion to are those kids coming up who we're trying to tell, 'Just say no to drugs.' "However, Rep. Dan Foley, R-Roswell, who supported the bill, scoffed at some of the more emotional arguments against it."I've heard about this leading to kids selling drugs on street corners. That's absolutely ludicrous," Foley said. "If people aren't smart enough to keep the level of debate to where it ought to be, they shouldn't be here."According to a statewide poll in September paid for by The New Mexican and KOB-TV, 72 percent said they would favor "legalizing marijuana use by those who have serious medical conditions, to alleviate pain and other symptoms."Only 20 percent opposed the idea, while 8 percent were undecided.Source: Santa Fe New Mexican (NM)Author: Steve Terrell, The New MexicanPublished: March 7, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Santa Fe New MexicanContact: letters sfnewmexican.comWebsite: http://www.sfnewmexican.com/Related 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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Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 07, 2003 at 11:27:30 PT
Virgil
Yes it is amazing. I believe it too. Current drugs have so many side effects and I just can't believe that Cannabis based medicine will have bad side effects. PS: Everyone please vote. It was 54% in favor. That doesn't seem high enough to me.
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Comment #2 posted by Virgil on March 07, 2003 at 11:20:04 PT
FoM. striking statements in comment1 article
But Jeffrey's physician, Dr. Mike Alcalay, believes more research on marijuana needs to be done, saying the plant contains cannabinoids that heal. "Fifteen years from now, half of pharmaceuticals will be cannabinoid based," Alcalay said.How amazing is that. How long can the liars in the government hold the "no medical value" position? I call myself an Extremist more in jest than anything, but the Waltersco guys are the real thing. It really shows how sorry the media is.I wonder about Montel Williams that has MS. What will he be allowed to say when GWP extracts are marketed 300 days from now and his MS only progresses. The one person that should be approached on a humanitarian level is Annette Funicello whose advanced MS might be best addressed by cannabis. The pot-tv show that was done Wednesday is still up and it has not even crossed 1500. It is a sad thought.On the bright side I cannot wait to hear what Jack Herer says when NORML presents him with an award next month. I think the old-timer is going to give a speech heard around the world myself. I only hope he is recorded in HDTV format for posperity. I wish Bill Mayer would break down and give him a Segway scooter with a neon sign on it that said, "The Emperor of Hemp." It would be worth a hundred billboards-years.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 07, 2003 at 10:58:54 PT
News Article from KCRAChannel.com
Mother Treats Problematic Son With Marijuana March 7, 2003Debbie Jeffries Writes Book About Ordeal. The book will be available in April. For more details on the book and the Jeffries: http://www.laraynesplace.net/ An El Dorado County mother who treats her son's behavioral problems with marijuana is defending her pot prescription. Most doctors will say that giving marijuana to a child is wrong. Others call the treatment controversial. But according to Debbie Jeffries and her son Jeffrey, medical marijuana has done something conventional medicine could not."As a mom, I would do everything to help Jeffrey," Jeffries said.Less than two years ago, Jeffries says her 9-year-old son was out of control and dangerous to himself and others."If it wasn't windows breaking because he was throwing things out the windows, it was harming the dog, harming me," Jeffries said.Jeffrey was so violent that he was in and out of day cares, kicked out of schools and given several types of medications. SURVEY Do you think this treatment is appropriate? Yes NoI need more information Vote Here: http://www.thekcrachannel.com/health/2026173/detail.html Jeffries says that stability finally came in a little capsule. Desperate and feeling hopeless, she learned about medical marijuana and gave it to her son in May of 2001.Jeffries says that she noticed an immediate change."He said 'Mommy, I feel happy.' His head wasn't noisy," Jeffries said.Pediatrician Dr. Ravinder Khaira says that he remains skeptical and that while it may have worked for Jeffrey, other parents should be wary of marijuana."It's something that is not the norm, that it's that needle in the haystack, not an applied treatment for other children," Khaira said.But Jeffrey's physician, Dr. Mike Alcalay, believes more research on marijuana needs to be done, saying the plant contains cannabinoids that heal. "Fifteen years from now, half of pharmaceuticals will be cannabinoid based," Alcalay said.To document her experiences, Jeffries has written a book called Jeffrey's Journey. She realizes that the treatment is controversial and that some may criticize her. Her response is that marijuana worked for Jeffrey."Until you walk the walk, you don't understand," Jeffries said.Jeffrey takes his medical marijuana capsules twice a day. He's now in 4th grade and is able to attend a public school. But Jeffries realizes that even with marijuana, her son will never be normal.Copyright 2003 by TheKCRAChannel
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