cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Fight To Be Continued Marijuana Fight To Be Continued Posted by CN Staff on July 02, 2003 at 08:14:59 PT By Clifford G. Cumber, News-Post Staff Source: Fredrick News-Post The ink is still wet on a bill drastically reducing the penalties for possessing marijuana, but even as it dries, proponents are gearing up for another protracted fight in the next Maryland General Assembly session to finish the job on a law they say is incomplete.Under the Darrell Putman Compassionate Use Act, which goes into effect Oct. 1, users still face a penalty. And the drug is still illegal for medicinal use. Patients using the drug, however, should not face arrest. "The law as was passed and signed was one of those legislative compromises that kind of validates the old joke about people with weak stomachs should never watch either laws or sausages being made," said Bruce Mirken, communications director with the Marijuana Policy Project, the organization behind the refocused lobbying effort.But illegal is the way opponents -- specifically the federal government -- want the legislation to stay, saying supporters' efforts are part of the slippery slope toward legalization of marijuana throughout the U.S., part of a greater grand scheme in which states are won over one by one to pressure the federal government to accept new legalization laws."A lot of people might see this as a strong case of 'we told you so,'" said Tom Riley, a spokesman for the White House Office of Drug Control Policy. "... Other people tried to point out that this was just a Trojan horse for a drug legalization camp. I think this action (plans to resubmit the legislation) underscores that motivation." Under the bill, signed into law by Gov. Robert Ehrlich in May, medical marijuana users face only a $100 penalty and no jail time if they can prove the drug is used to alleviate their symptoms, from Crohn's Disease to advanced AIDS and cancer. For those without that proof, the fine is still $1,000 and up to one year in jail.It was the second version of the bill. The first, named the Darrell Putman Medical Research Act, would have tacitly legalized medical marijuana use, allowed for possession of up to seven plants for personal use and placed users on a registry to take part in a study.The bill was gutted, renamed the Darrell Putman Compassionate Use Act, and its language changed because of significant problems overcoming delivery of the drug and conflict with federal law.It's that bill proponents in the Marijuana Policy Project hope to revive.Mr. Ehrlich himself has been a longtime proponent of some form of medical marijuana legislation and, despite facing stiff lobbying from the White House over his support, he still penned his name to the law. It's unlikely he will move to support decriminalization, given the problems with federal law, some say.Whether Tom Walters, the White House "drug czar," will step in again to pressure the governor depends on influences that may come to bear in Maryland politics."Let's see what winds up happening," Mr. Riley said.On its Web site, the Marijuana Policy Project has begun the lobbying effort, even providing templates of letters to the editor for supporters to send off to newspapers around the state.It's part of a large grass-roots effort in a traditional lobbying vein, Mr. Mirken admitted. Eight states have some form of medical marijuana law. Mr. Mirken refers to Maryland as "eight-and-a-half.""I really do believe this, when people hear about this and look at the facts, its not a difficult issue, it's just not," he said.Opponents say arguments for medical marijuana go only so far before a greater goal becomes clear -- this is simply a further step along the road of drug legalization in America."There are levels at which people would want to look the other way," Mr. Riley said. "But let's be honest about the effort here. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. That's I think what's happening here."And people see the real story is a legalization effort, he said."As soon as (the Maryland Policy Project) show their real colors, people are a lot less enthusiastic," Mr. Riley said.Mr. Mirken acknowledges his organization would like legalization of marijuana, although they don't like that term."I'm always reluctant to use the word 'legalization,' because when you say that people think you mean putting on the candy counter at 7-Eleven next to the Snickers bars, which is absolutely not what we want," he said. "What we would like to see is marijuana prohibition replaced with a regulated system."And they are building support, he said. A number of places in the country are approaching "critical mass" as far as the issue of medical marijuana, although it's not an overnight process. Politicians are still nervous about the issue of drug use and it takes "years to build before people are willing to take a look at it with an open mind."The organization is in touch with some politicians who had the strongest opposition to the original form of the law, Mr. Mirken said.As for the idea that it's a slippery slope, "Doctors now can prescribe morphine cocaine, amphetamine," Mr. Mirken said. "No one says that's a foot in the door to legalization. I gotta say, give me a break."Focusing on Maryland may not be in the best interests of a group angling for medical marijuana legalization. Although Mr. Ehrlich showed independence from hard-line White House thinking by signing the bill into law, it is unlikely that the first Republican governor for 36 years and friend of the Bush administration will want to go any further. The General Assembly may not either, given their reluctance to stomach the bill's first drafts.And the issue may be almost certainly moot for the next session, and uncertain for at least the next three years, said state Sen. David Brinkley, a New Market Republican and key proponent of the medical marijuana legislation. Members of the MPP "need to get some other states to move in that direction," he said. "It's fine to keep it on the radar scope -- I'm not surprised that they will want to keep the issue in the forefront -- but I would expect the vast majority of their resources will go elsewhere."Any maneuvering to legalize medical marijuana use will likely draw the opposition of law enforcement agencies, such as the Maryland Troopers Association, who spoke out on the initial version of the Putman act. They took no position on lessening the penalties on the revised version, because it does not interfere with the troopers' day-to-day jobs. Anyone possessing marijuana can be arrested, so under the bill, as it will go into effect in October, nothing is changed for officers. It is up to a judge to decide whether someone is legitimately using the drug for medicinal reasons."Any bill that would actually legalize marijuana in this state, we would oppose because every day police officers face death from these people smuggling this stuff into our country illegally, and as president of the Maryland Troopers Association there is no way that I could ever support legalizing something that might get one of the troopers killed," association president Nick Paros said. "No way."It's having a judge decide what rightfully should be in a doctor's domain that could cause problems in the future, Mr. Riley said."It puts the medical determination about whether the person needed this 'medicine' in the hands of a judge," he said. "Public policy 101 would say that's not a good way to design a bill." Source: Fredrick News-Post (MD)Author: Clifford G. Cumber, News-Post Staff Published: Wednesday, July 2, 2003Copyright: 2003 Great Southern Printing Website: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/Contact: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/contact/index.htmRelated Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Canada, Maryland Going To Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16743.shtmlEhrlich Signs Marijuana Bill http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16364.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #15 posted by FoM on July 02, 2003 at 16:48:49 PT Thanks 312 I think the writer needs to get the facts straight before the next article. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by 312 on July 02, 2003 at 16:02:40 PT Maryland Policy Project? "As soon as (the Maryland Policy Project) show their real colors, people are a lot less enthusiastic," Mr. Riley said. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on July 02, 2003 at 12:50:45 PT Nicholas It seems the writer goofed on his name. We sure won't though!PS: I removed the extra posts. You must have had a small case of the hiccups! [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Nicholas Thimmesch on July 02, 2003 at 12:02:54 PT: Tom Walters? From the story: "Whether Tom Walters, the White House "drug czar," will step in again to pressure the governor depends on influences that may come to bear in Maryland politics."Surely ONDCP has not merged John Walters (the real "Drug Czar") with Tom Riley, ONDCP's chief flak, to create "Tom Walters, the White House "drug czar"! [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by afterburner on July 02, 2003 at 10:30:36 PT Speaks for Itself: "Legalization and any regulation of cannabis production, distribution and use would likely reduce some of the adverse consequences of using the criminal law in this area." - Jean Chretien, when Canada's Minister of Justice, in a 1981 policy paper - ego transcendence follows ego destruction, how soon they forget, eh? [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by delariand on July 02, 2003 at 10:10:44 PT one more comment... i'm done now... "Any bill that would actually legalize marijuana in this state, we would oppose because every day police officers face death from these people smuggling this stuff into our country illegally, and as president of the Maryland Troopers Association there is no way that I could ever support legalizing something that might get one of the troopers killed," association president Nick Paros said. "No way."Ignorant, ignorant. Look at what you said. Troopers face death every day because marijuana is smuggled ILLEGALLY. You support keeping marijuana illegal, thus you support keeping the troopers facing death every day. Hypocrite! Your association is responsible for the continued smuggling, and the continued need for troopers to risk their lives keeping this benign weed persecuted.Honestly, how could you make a statement like that, and not see how backwards things are? [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by delariand on July 02, 2003 at 10:07:34 PT A point to consider "But illegal is the way opponents -- specifically the federal government -- want the legislation to stay, saying supporters' efforts are part of the slippery slope toward legalization of marijuana throughout the U.S., part of a greater grand scheme in which states are won over one by one to pressure the federal government to accept new legalization laws."A slippery slope? Some conspiracy to overthrow the government? Lets examine what's happening here...The citizens of the country are, through their own means and effort, putting measures on ballots across the country, and subsequently the majority of voters approved these measures. The goal of the citizens behind this effort is to overturn the existing laws criminalizing marijuana, and replace them with a system of regulation, through popular referendum and elected representatives.In other words, the government is accusing the citizens of it's country to conspire to commit democracy. Now, who's the conspiracy, and who's on the side of justice? You decide [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on July 02, 2003 at 09:55:50 PT Here's An Article About The Olympics Vancouver Lands Games : http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030702.uvanc0701/BNStory/Front/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on July 02, 2003 at 09:52:24 PT John Tyler Here is an article that shows the difference between Canada and America. Canada is right on and we are still arguing about issues that shouldn't even be issues.Listen Up, Canada : http://globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20030702/COMENDEL02//?query=marijuana [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Virgil on July 02, 2003 at 09:51:30 PT JHarshaw- that is great news Let's hope the game ends before the games begin. The HempCity website has been down for a few days. I hope it has nothing to do with the advertising of cannabis/coffeeshops being against Dutch law. I would still like to see Nol Van Schaik do pot-tv one time especially as their is no permanent spokesman at the time. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on July 02, 2003 at 09:43:41 PT JHarshaw I'm very happy that Canada will host the 2010 Olympics! I can only imagine how wonderful they will be with Cannabis legal and I'm sure coffee shops will be all over the place! What times we live in! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by John Tyler on July 02, 2003 at 09:42:01 PT Police balogna "Any bill that would actually legalize marijuana in this state, we would oppose because every day police officers face death from these people smuggling this stuff into our country illegally, and as president of the Maryland Troopers Association there is no way that I could ever support legalizing something that might get one of the troopers killed," association president Nick Paros said. "No way."If cannabis were legal and regulated, its possession and sale would be legal. There would be no crime involved here. The cops would not be involved. Cops would not be at risk. Why can't the cops understand this? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by JHarshaw on July 02, 2003 at 09:34:05 PT Unrelated Item Hi Congratulations to Vancouver for winning the bid to hold the 2010 Winter Olympics! I'm sure everybody will have a smokin' good time in Vansterdam.peace and pot [ Post Comment ] Post Comment