cannabisnews.com: House Rejects Plan To Legalize Medical Marijuana House Rejects Plan To Legalize Medical Marijuana Posted by CN Staff on May 21, 2003 at 17:30:32 PT By Susan Haigh, Associated Press Writer Source: Associated Press Hartford, Conn. -- A bill that would have fully legalized marijuana for medical purposes in Connecticut was narrowly defeated in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. The bill died on a bipartisan 79-64 vote. Rep. James Abrams, D-Meriden, who first proposed the legislation in 2001 to help a constituent whose son was suffering from cancer, said he was pleased and surprised the bill made it as far as the House of Representatives for a vote. Abrams said he will bring it back next year for another vote, likely changing the language to address some lawmakers' concerns. "I'm a Red Sox fan, so it's always wait until next year," he said. Debate on the bill lasted about two and a half hours. Republicans and Democrats alike spoke for and against the legislation. Critics said the bill sends a bad message, especially to children. They questioned why the state would want to make it legal for a group of citizens to use an illegal substance. "We are at a crossroads because the underlying activity we are talking about is illegal," said Rep. Lawrence Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk. "We are passing a law statewide, developing a law statewide, with full knowledge that the activity we are trying to get around is illegal." Connecticut already has a medical marijuana law on the books, one of the first ones in the nation. It was passed in 1981. Under that law, a doctor is allowed to prescribe the illegal drug to relieve nausea associated with chemotherapy and eye pressure from glaucoma. But the law is unworkable because, under federal law, any physician who prescribes marijuana can be sent to prison and risks having their medical license revoked, Abrams said. That's why a single prescription for marijuana has not been issued since the law was approved. The defeated bill would have allowed doctors to provide a written certification that qualifies their patient to use marijuana only for medical purposes. The patient or a caregiver could then grow three plants for personal use and use the doctor's certificate as a legal defense for having the illegal substance. Lawmakers brought up numerous scenarios where someone might be able to abuse the law. Others questioned where a patient could purchase the marijuana seeds, an illegal act under state law. Rep. John Wayne Fox, D-Stamford, questioned why the state would require people to go to "Johnnie Junkie" to buy their plants or seeds. But those lawmakers who spoke of relatives suffering from cancer voiced support for the bill. Rep. Penny Bacchiochi, R-Somers, told how her late husband suffered from terminal bone cancer, had to undergo an aggressive therapy of chemotherapy and endured incapacitating nausea for days. Bacchiochi said doctors prescribed numerous drugs, but nothing worked until one physician privately suggested marijuana. "It worked and it worked wonders and it gave him back some quality of life," she said. "I will always remember how my husband suffered and I will always remember how, if this legislature had passed legislation like this, he would have suffered less." Complete Title: House Rejects Plan To Fully Legalize Medical MarijuanaSource: Associated PressAuthor: Susan Haigh, Associated Press WriterPublished: May 21, 2003Copyright: 2003 Associated Press Related Articles & Web Sites:A Better Way Foundationhttp://www.abetterwayct.org/Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmMarijuana Bill Surprises Some With Support http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16253.shtmlMedicinal Marijuana Bill Heading For Househttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15805.shtmlProposal To Let Doctors Recommend Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15407.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment