cannabisnews.com: State Assembly To Consider Medical Marijuana Bill 





State Assembly To Consider Medical Marijuana Bill 
Posted by CN Staff on April 24, 2003 at 15:29:40 PT
By Bay City News 
Source: Bay City News 
With Santa Cruz city officials filing a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the federal government's right to raid medical marijuana facilities, the California Assembly is set to take up the issue in a vote today. A bill introduced by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, urges the U.S. Congress and the President to pass laws that recognize a state's right to regulate medical marijuana and to amend federal laws that prohibit medical marijuana use. The legislation also asks Congress to review Drug Enforcement Administration treatment of medical marijuana users.
"Proponents contend that the federal government is actively harassing and intimidating California patients and caregivers through prosecution, and the California Legislature should defend the will of the voters,'' wrote Assembly legislative analyst Melanie Moreno in her analysis of the AJR-13. In 1996 California voters passed Proposition 215, which exempts medical marijuana users from prosecution under existing drug laws. The lawsuit filed by Santa Cruz officials is in response to an incident last fall in which DEA agents stormed a medicinal marijuana facility in northern Santa Cruz County, "terrorizing residents and patients,'' according to the Drug Policy Alliance, a medical marijuana advocacy group. The bill being considered today references this raid and other raids and says that such DEA conduct "has led to an undermining of confidence in the courts and the American judicial system.'' According to analysis by Moreno, the bill is being opposed by the Committee on Moral Concerns, whose members argue that "the harmful effects of marijuana are better documented than the positive effects, and further study is needed to legitimatize the claims of medical marijuana proponents.'' The legislation, which was given a push forward with a 15-9 vote in the Assembly Committee on Health Monday, will be considered on the Assembly floor today. Source: Bay City News (CA)Published: Thursday, April 24, 2003 Copyright: 2003 by Bay City News, IncWebsite: http://www.baycitynews.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htm San Francisco To Explore Growing Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14702.shtmlSF Votes to Explore City Pot Growing Program http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14675.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on April 26, 2003 at 21:13:30 PT
News Article from KXTV 10
Assembly Resolution Urges Congress to Okay Use of Medical Marijuana Published: April 25, 2003The Assembly has approved a resolution urging Pres. George W. Bush and the U.S. Congress to take steps to bring federal law in conformance with California's medical marijuana statute. California lawmakers want to persuade the federal government to recognize the Golden State's right to treat marijuana as a legitimate medicine.Sponsors of Assembly Joint Resolution 13 claim federal drug agents have been harassing medical patients who use marijuana to treat their illnesses. Use of marijuana for therapeutic purposes is permitted under the provisions of Proposition 215, which was passed by California voters in 1996.The author of the resolution contends the federal government has ignored public opinion and medical research. "You have to wonder why the federal government is feeling they need to stand between a physician and his or her patient and the medicine that they are recommending for their use," said Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco.Sponsors of the resolution are also lending their support to a lawsuit filed against the federal government for raiding a Santa Cruz farm that grows marijuana for the terminally ill.AJR 13 can be read in its entirety by clicking on the link below. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0001-0050/ajr_13_bill_20030422_amended_asm.html
News Article from KXTV 10
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Comment #5 posted by Tigress58 on April 24, 2003 at 22:16:54 PT
Meth use prompts caseworker action
 
 
  
 Thursday, April 24, 2003 __ 
 
© Copyright. Liberty Group Newspapers Meth use prompts caseworker actionBy KATHY JESSUP Sturgis JournalCENTREVILLE -- Marijuana use may be illegal, but in St. Joseph County it's not considered sufficient grounds to initiate a child protective services investigation.St. Joseph County Family Independence Agency officials said alleged methamphetamine use by parents will prompt caseworker action, however. According to Cindy Bare, county child protective services supervisor, the effects of methamphetamine use are considered so severe that users usually are unable to adequately care for themselves or their children."People using methamphetamine forget to eat, let alone feed their children," Bare told the St. Joseph County FIA Board Tuesday. "We can't automatically feel because a person's smoking pot they are abusing or neglecting their children."According to Chris Kadulski, St. Joseph County FIA director, a caregiver using marijuana may still be able to provide adequate care to children. However, Bare said caseworkers responding to a report of marijuana use in a home with children refer the case to police for investigation because marijuana is an illegal drug.The "methamphetamine epidemic" here identified by St. Joseph County prosecutors and law enforcement officers also is increasing the county's child protective services caseloads."We're getting calls when police investigate methamphetamine cases," Kadulski said. "The effect (of methamphetamine) is so severe that when someone is using it, they aren't taking care of their children. It's the correlation between what they're doing and the effect it has on their children."Officials say children also are impacted if their mothers use meth while pregnant or if they are living in a home where meth is produced. The chemical process involves highly toxic, explosive and hazardous materials.Bare said St. Joseph County's 2003 child protective services reports are running ahead of 2002's pace. FIA caseworkers conducted 581 investigations in 2002 and 155 have already been done in the first four months of 2003, including more than 40 thusfar in April. Bare said 68 court petitions were filed in 2002 to have children removed from the care of their parents when youngsters were considered at risk due to abuse or neglect. Twenty-three petitions have been filed in the first four months of 2003.Kadulski acknowledged that the definition of child abuse has changed over time and that protecting children is sometimes subjective.For example, a disciplinary spanking that leaves a mark on a child is considered abuse, Bare said. But a "dirty house" may be a relative thing, leaving caseworkers to decide if the conditions are only unsightly or whether they create a "danger" to children living there."I'd have been in jail," said Larry Rosenberg, FIA board chairman, of Sturgis, referring to his discipline of his own now-grown children. "Most of our parents probably would have been, too."While parents control most situations for their children, Bare said permission is not required for caseworkers to meet alone with their children when parents are suspected of abuse or neglect."We can interview kids away from their parents without notifying the parents in advance," Bare said. "Whenever possible, we prefer to interview kids alone because they want to please everyone in the room."
Meth use prompts caseworker action
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on April 24, 2003 at 18:28:18 PT
mayan
Everytime I see this I crack up laughing. Thanks!Oh Lucy! - You Gotta Lotta 'Splainin To Do
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Comment #3 posted by mayan on April 24, 2003 at 18:24:50 PT
10th Amendment
"A bill introduced by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, urges the U.S. Congress and the President to pass laws that recognize a state's right to regulate medical marijuana and to amend federal laws that prohibit medical marijuana use." It seems that all they would have to do is refer to the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It says it very clearly..."The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."If the feds try to argue that there wasn't marijuana back when the Constitution was written they are wrong. Our founders knew very well what cannabis & hashish were. They have been around for thousands of years. Many founders even grew hemp! Ironically, they would be in prison if they were alive today!!!The way out is the way in...MOHAMED ATTA WORKED FOR ELITE U.S.—GERMAN GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM:
http://www.madcowprod.com/index47a.html"Oh Lucy! - You Gotta Lotta 'Splainin To Do": 
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/02_11_02_lucy.htmlHijack Suspects Alive and Well: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1559151.stm7 of 19 Hijackers Still Alive:http://www.rense.com/general20/alives.htm9/11 - Guilt in High Places:http://emperors-clothes.com/indict/911page1&2.htmWho Gave the Green light for 9/11?http://www.willthomas.net/911part1.htm9/11 CitizensWatch:
http://www.911citizenswatch.org/
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Comment #2 posted by JSM on April 24, 2003 at 17:42:36 PT
You can not be serious
Committee on MORAL CONCERNS...no wonder California is going broke...what a laugher...utterly unbelievable I am laughing so hard I just wet my pants....
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Comment #1 posted by afterburner on April 24, 2003 at 15:41:05 PT:
more legal avenues from the Constitution
Section 4. The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on application of the legislature, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened) against domestic violence. -Article IV [The States] ..Section 4. [Guarantees to States]: The Constitution of the United States of America http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articleiv.html#section4...more legal avenues from the Constitution. ego transcendence follows ego destruction, and suddenly there is no question. 
The Constitution of the United States of America
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