cannabisnews.com: Senate Panel OKs Marijuana Measure





Senate Panel OKs Marijuana Measure
Posted by CN Staff on March 21, 2003 at 08:08:56 PT
By Stephanie Desmon, Sun Staff
Source: Baltimore Sun 
A measure that would lessen the penalty for sick people found with marijuana if they can prove they possessed it for medical reasons eked out a key Senate committee victory yesterday. The bill, approved 6-5 by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, stops far short of legalizing marijuana for those who contend they need it, but it allows a judge to impose just a $100 fine if it is shown the drug is a medical necessity. 
It is similar to a bill approved this week by the House of Delegates.The House passed similar legislation last year, but it failed in the Senate committee that gave its approval yesterday. The bill still needs approval from a second Senate committee, where half of its members were co-sponsors of the original measure.Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. generally supports medical marijuana use but he has yet to take a formal position on this legislation.The senator considered the swing vote yesterday was Nancy Jacobs, a conservative Harford County Republican, whose mother suffered from Parkinson's disease."I am not for legalizing marijuana in any way," she said, "but I do know that it helps people who are in the end of their life. If it would have helped my mother, I would have gotten it for her somehow."At a hearing last month, senators heard from cancer patients who said the drug saved their lives, giving them relief that no prescription medicine could. They also heard from those opposed to the bill, including the Maryland State Medical Society, who said science has yet to prove the benefits of using marijuana as a medicine."I don't see the need to prosecute people who are suffering horribly or are dying," said Sen. Brian E. Frosh, the committee chairman and a Montgomery County Democrat. "It's an effort to be humane to those in intractable pain."Sen. Leo E. Green, a Prince George's County Democrat, is firmly against the bill. "It indirectly legalizes marijuana -- that's basically what it does," said Green, the committee's vice chairman. "It gives a defense to drug dealers because they will now say they're caregivers." Note: Bill would ease penalty for medicinal use of drug. Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)Author: Stephanie Desmon, Sun StaffPublished: March 21, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Baltimore SunContact: letters baltsun.comWebsite: http://www.sunspot.net/Related Articles & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmHouse Approves Medical Marijuana Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15751.shtmlMedical Marijuana Advances in Md. House http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15721.shtmlMedical Marijuana Bill Advances in Househttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15718.shtml 
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 24, 2003 at 14:11:12 PT
White House 'Drug Czar' Opposes Md. Med. Marijuana
White House 'Drug Czar' Opposes Md. Medical Marijuana BillWalters Cites Research About Safety, EffectivenessUPDATED: 4:12 p.m. EST March 24, 2003WASHINGTON -- The nation's drug czar is siding with opponents of a bill in Maryland that would decriminalize marijuana for medical uses. The director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, John Walters, said research has not shown that marijuana is safe and effective medicine. He also said legalizing the drug for medicinal purposes is scientifically irresponsible. Walters' office issued a statement Monday that included similar comments from Rep. Elijah Cummings, and Harford County prosecutor Joseph Cassilly, who is also the vice president of the Maryland State's Attorney's Association. 
Cassilly said his group considers it inappropriate for legislators to preempt drug approval decisions of the Food and Drug Administration and physicians.Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. http://www.nbc4.com/health/2060755/detail.html
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Comment #2 posted by Sam Adams on March 21, 2003 at 09:30:47 PT
Tyranny is the norm
This is basically the equivalent of "Negroes now caught on the sidewalk with white people may be beaten and arrested by the police, but to express our fairness and justness, only a $100 fine will be imposed instead of a jail sentence"What a joke. Any politician should be embarrassed to offer this as a solution. It's pure tyranny, there's no other word for it.
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Comment #1 posted by TecHnoCult on March 21, 2003 at 08:49:55 PT
Fine a patient?
So, if they prove they need it, then they are only fined? What kind of crap is that. "Well son, I see that you need this to stay alive, so I am sure you won't mind paying a $100 fine for using it."How does that make any sense? But, I will take that over the status quo.THC
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