cannabisnews.com: Money Talks in Drug Bill Tussle










  Money Talks in Drug Bill Tussle

Posted by CN Staff on March 25, 2003 at 20:49:53 PT
By Tim Craig, Sun Staff 
Source: Baltimore Sun  

With the Senate poised to vote on medical marijuana legislation as early as Wednesday, an aggressive lobbying battle is being waged in Annapolis between well-financed supporters of the proposal and dogged opponents who include the White House.The debate makes Maryland the latest battleground in what have been a series of costly struggles across the nation on the issue, which is often viewed as an indicator of a state's willingness to loosen drug laws. 
After making the passage of Maryland's bill a top priority this year, medical marijuana supporters have spent at least $40,000 trying to persuade legislators to drastically reduce penalties for sick patients found with the drug, said Robert Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project. "If you want to play to win, you got to spend the money," said Kampia, whose group is leading the effort. The Washington-based group has hired Annapolis lobbyist Gilbert J. Genn, sent mailings to lawmakers and donated $10,000 to legislators. The organization has also reached out to voters in districts with undecided senators. "They have an unbelievably strong lobbying group," said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, who reports receiving a letter from his "oldest surviving aunt" urging passage of the legislation. Supporters had initially hoped the legislature would approve a bill to decriminalize the drug for patients who enroll in a state-run pilot program. Last month, a House of Delegates committee replaced that plan with one that keeps the possession of marijuana a crime but sets a maximum $100 fine for people who are seriously ill. The House approved the measure two weeks ago. Tuesday, the Senate gave an identical bill tentative approval, with a final vote scheduled for Wednesday. Supporters say they have at least 22 of the 24 votes needed to win Senate approval. Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a longtime supporter of medical marijuana, said Tuesday he has not taken a formal position on the bill. He added that he is inclined to support it. But a vocal band of opponents are refusing to concede defeat. "Parents should know there is a very effective, well-financed lobbying force trying to destroy all drug laws in this country," said Joyce Nalepka, founder of Drug-Free Kids: America's Challenge. Nalepka, a Silver Spring resident, has been to the State House almost daily decrying medical marijuana as "a hoax." She calls it the first step toward all-out drug legalization. Tuesday, Nalepka set up a television in Lawyers Mall and showed a videotape that she said proved her point. The tape showed several leading medical marijuana advocates admitting they use the drug for nonmedicinal purposes. Nalepka, who has challenged Ehrlich to a debate on the issue, has also been telling lawmakers that Kampia was arrested 14 years ago for possessing 96 marijuana plants in college. Kampia, who has been to Annapolis to lobby and testify in support of the bill, acknowledged Tuesday that he was convicted of marijuana possession in 1989 and spent three months in jail. Nalepka's campaign was boosted Monday when White House drug czar John P. Walters and U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings announced their strong opposition to the bill. Miller said "hundreds" of letters supporting the proposal have been sent to senators. He suspects advocacy groups such as the Maryland Policy Project are orchestrating the letters. "Their funding mechanism is certainly very effective," he said. Some of the money for the effort is coming from wealthy individuals who have led -- and bankrolled -- efforts to change drug laws in at least a dozen other states. Peter B. Lewis, a Cleveland businessman who has spent more than $1 million on similar efforts nationwide, has donated thousands to Maryland legislators in the past six months, according to campaign finance records. That includes $750 to each of the two Baltimore County Democrats who are the main sponsors of the proposal, Sen. Paula C. Hollinger and Del. Dan K. Morhaim. In other states, Lewis often teams with billionaire George Soros and John Sperling, an Arizona businessman, to back ballot initiatives. The three men spent more than $1 million on an Arizona ballot measure last year, according to National Families Action, a Georgia-based group opposed to medical marijuana. But Kampia said Maryland represents a new strategy for medical marijuana supporters, who think it is more cost-effective to focus on legislatures instead of costly ballot initiatives. Nalepka said she will stick to the old-fashioned -- and cheaper -- lobbying style. "We will gather the names of people who voted to pass this and then try to publicize it to voters." Note: Medical marijuana issue is high-stakes lobby battle; 'You got to spend the money'; Measure passed House; Senate vote due shortly. Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)Author: Tim Craig, Sun StaffPublished: March 25, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Baltimore SunContact: letters baltsun.comWebsite: http://www.sunspot.net/Related Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Drug Czar Calls Marijuana Bill 'Immoral' http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15791.shtmlHouse Approves Medical Marijuana Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15751.shtmlMedical Marijuana Advances in Md. House http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15721.shtml

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Comment #9 posted by ekim on March 26, 2003 at 10:17:25 PT
Please Eminem --go to the Hash Bash
Yes, that is our MC Adam Brook playing Roy Darucher in the movie 8 MILE starring Eminem and Kim Basinger. We will gather at the FEDERAL BUILDING in Ann Arbor at 11am. This building is on South side of Liberty Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues. There has been no PA or speakers at this gathering, in the past, BUT with the Ed Rosenthal situation and the latest raids on the PIPE industry,  IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE!!!! Bring signs and banners so we can educate passing motorists . This year we need to be loud and vocal. From here it will be a short 4 block walk to the Diag, 
 http://hashbash.com/ 
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Comment #8 posted by Truth on March 26, 2003 at 08:34:05 PT
'splain
I wonder how Joyce is going to explain to her Maker that she fought long and hard to see that her fellow humans suffered in pain and suffered in cages, shame on her.
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Comment #7 posted by Sam Adams on March 26, 2003 at 06:30:20 PT
This article is terrible
What a terrible misrepresentation. MPP and other groups are only spending money because they've been forced to! Med MJ is supported by 80% of the population! MPP has spent 10 years trying to get this bill passed in Maryland. I'll bet letters, emails, and faxes from supporters outnumber naysayers by 50 to 1! The corrupt tyrants that run the state have ignored the suffering of the these people for years. Playing "dirty" and trying to indirectly bribe them is the only way to get the law changed. Shame on the Sun for printing lies.
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Comment #6 posted by The GCW on March 26, 2003 at 05:26:46 PT
Joyce Nalepka
is special.As there are lower forms of plant life, there are higher forms of plant life. So too with humans. Joyce doesn't understand it yet, but it is evil to spend human energy on caging fellow humans for using a plant.Caging humans for using a plant is very important to Joyce. What a waste.UN -progressive.
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Comment #5 posted by delariand on March 26, 2003 at 01:56:04 PT
misguided people
"But a vocal band of opponents are refusing to concede defeat. "Parents should know there is a very effective, well-financed lobbying force trying to destroy all drug laws in this country," said Joyce Nalepka, founder of Drug-Free Kids: America's Challenge."In response, I'd like to offer this alternative, as to what the papers and the people should be doing with their time"But a vocal band of opponents are refusing to concede defeat. "Parents, children, everyone should know there is a very efficient lobbying force, financed by billions of dollars of tax money, trying to destroy all individual freedom in this country," said Joyce Nolongerasheepka, founder of No More Lies: America's Challenge"
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Comment #4 posted by Virgil on March 25, 2003 at 23:27:21 PT
Ann Harbor Hash Bash is Saturday 4/5
First, I would like to note I now have 7 $4.20 petroleum purchases. Catch me if you can.I qouls likw to thank the Hempcity community for surfacing the following paragraph and link. From http://www.hempcity.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=119&highlight=That's right! The 32nd annual Ann Arbor Hash Bash is coming April 5th at Noon! Right on the University of Michigan campus. This is one of the biggest pro-marijuana events in the U.S. with thousands of people every year. This year we've secured for John Sinclair and Chef Ra to make appearances. There's always plenty of fun had. http://hashbash.com/ 
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Comment #3 posted by freedom fighter on March 25, 2003 at 22:54:32 PT
Those freaks..
May I remind you fellow countrymen?? are the cause of half of the population of this fine country to live in fear..I hate that feeling of not being free when I wake up in the morning.. Knowing that Joyce would be so very happy to peek over the fence to see what I grew.. So replusive! Just remember that Joyce once said that it would suit her fine if half of the population are sitting in prisons for smoking the evil weed. Do'nt tell me that I am evil if I said it is not my business what you put in your mouth..2 cents worth, nobody who gets sick calls FDA and Johnny to find out what to put in their mouth...ff
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Comment #2 posted by afterburner on March 25, 2003 at 21:43:52 PT:
Burning Leaves Have a Long Medical History.
Dr. Bob Dupont, a Maryland physician and founding Director of the National Institutes on Drug Abuse commented, "Doctors don't prescribe burning leaves to treat any illness." I have one word for these politicians and doctors: Asthmador. Asthmador is a medicine once available in the USA in the 1950s and 1960s. Doctors would cringe with this ad (showing a woman with a cigarette):
"Asthmador Saves the Day!" Asthma attacks without warning--be prepared with Asthmador Cigarettes, Powder or Pipe Mix--for relief from the painful, suffocating paroxysms. Breathe Asthmador's aromatic, medicated fumes and you'll find this time-tested inhalant tops for convenience and 
dependability. At all drug stores." -source: Redbook Magazine from 1948Medical use:
Asthmador, a physically fine powder, is a nonprescription mixture of belladonna and stramonium; the directions on the package state that the powder is to be burned and the smoke inhaled to relieve bronchial asthma. Erowid Datura Vault : Journal Article #1
http://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_journal1.shtmlNote: belladona and stramonium are medicinal leaves and the instructions on the package recommended burning the leaves.Caution: this information is for scientific interest only. Non-medical use of Asthmador could lead to disorganization, intoxication, and hallucinations that were not particularly attractive. Tired of the lies.ego destruction or ego transcendence, that is the question.
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Comment #1 posted by Virgil on March 25, 2003 at 21:08:27 PT
RC addressed this issue today at MJnews.com
What Richard Cowan says today about the Maryland legislation pretty much says it all- http://www.marijuananews.com/news.php3?sid=651He also presents the DEA insanity that came out 3/24 on their website- http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/news/press03/032403.html I wish I had something for my sore neck from shaking my head at this unreal crap. The DEA release made Richard Cowan repeat one of his necessarily well-used lines- "We couldn't make this up!" They say Marinol is safe and wonderful even if the synthetic THC has other stuff. Synthetic THC is great and natural THC trades your little house for a stay at the big house. You are just homeless when you get out which is the real bummer part. Copy follow:FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
Contact: Rafael Lemaitre / Tom Riley 202-395-6618 
Monday, March 24th, 2003 WHITE HOUSE DRUG CZAR, CHAIR OF CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS AND MARYLAND COMMUNITY LEADERS DISCUSS HARMS OF "MEDICAL MARIJUANA" AND WARN OF DANGERS OF MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION(Washington, DC) - Today, John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), along with several Maryland political and community leaders, responded to the recent efforts by drug legalization advocates to change state law in order to permit the use of smoked marijuana as medicine in Maryland.Director Walters stated, "We owe people with debilitating medical conditions the best that science has to offer - not the results of interest group lobbying and political compromise. Research has not demonstrated that smoked marijuana is safe and effective medicine. Legalizing smoked marijuana under the guise of medicine is scientifically irresponsible and contradictory to our high standards for approval of medications. The legislation being considered in Maryland for so-called medical marijuana would also mean more availability of a dangerous drug in our neighborhoods. The citizens of Maryland deserve better."Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Maryand), the Ranking Democrat on the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources, said, "I believe we should defer to the scientific community as to whether there are legitimate medical uses for marijuana. We know all too well the dangerous health risks that accompany tobacco smoking, and the Institute of Medicine has found that '[b]ecause of the health risks associated with smoking, smoked marijuana should generally not be recommended for long-term medical use.' At the same time, the FDA has approved the drug Marinol which isolates the properties in marijuana that may be of some medical benefit to certain chronically ill patients. Research to develop safe marijuana-derived medicines should continue, but absent a broadly accepted scientific basis for determining that, for certain patients, the benefits of smoked marijuana outweigh the known harms, I don't see a reasoned justification for rescheduling marijuana as a controlled substance."Joseph Cassilly, Vice President of the Maryland State's Attorneys' Association stated, "Maryland prosecutors don't think it's appropriate for legislators to preempt the role of the Food and Drug Administration or physicians. State legislators should not be determining what's appropriate medicine." Dr. Bob Dupont, a Maryland physician and founding Director of the National Institutes on Drug Abuse commented, "For years, decriminalization was the stalking horse for the marijuana lobby. Today 'medical use' has become the symbol behind which the pro-pot activists are marching. I urge state legislators to oppose bills to make marijuana available as a 'medicine'. Doctors don't prescribe burning leaves to treat any illness. People need to see medical marijuana for what it is: a fraud and a hoax. This is not about compassion. This is about legalizing dangerous drugs."Leaders of Maryland youth and community organizations are voicing their opposition to medical marijuana as well. Joyce Nalepka, a Silver Spring resident and President of Drug-Free Kids: America's Challenge stated, "The ridiculous myth that smoked marijuana is medicine is being swept across the country by admitted proponents of legalization of all drugs. The Maryland State Assembly should send a strong, clear message to all children by voting 'no' on this legislation." David Evans, Executive Director of the Drug Free Schools Coalition added, "I am appalled how seriously ill people have been victimized by the cruel hoax of smoked marijuana as medicine. Smoked marijuana, an impure and toxic substance, has no place in our medicine cabinets." Joseph E. McGeeney, State Chairman for the Maryland, Delaware, & District of Columbia Elks Association Drug Awareness Program concluded, "The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is adamantly opposed to the legalization of marijuana." 
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