cannabisnews.com: Bill Would OK Medicinal Use of Marijuana Bill Would OK Medicinal Use of Marijuana Posted by CN Staff on March 02, 2004 at 21:27:21 PT By Ryan Keith, The Associated Press Source: Associated Press Springfield, Ill. -- For 10 years, Ronald Shaw has smoked marijuana to help him overcome severe nausea caused by the medicine that battles the AIDS virus threatening to shorten his life. Each time he lights a joint, he knows he's breaking the law. The 38-year-old Chicagoan and other advocates asked Illinois legislators Tuesday to approve legislation that would legalize marijuana for medical purposes, saying people fighting serious illnesses aren't looking for a "cheap high." "All I'm asking is that you don't make me a criminal in order to keep myself eating and at a weight that I can maintain and allow me to keep taking the AIDS drugs that are keeping me alive," Shaw said at a Statehouse news conference. Law enforcement, the federal government and anti-drug groups oppose the proposal. "Since when is smoking leaves good medicine?" asked Peter Bensinger, former administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, speaking at another Capitol news conference. Even the bill's sponsor acknowledges it will face a tough road, especially in an election year. The highly scrutinized measure - similar to laws in California and eight other states - would authorize patients with debilitating illnesses to have up to six marijuana plants and one usable ounce of the drug. That's about a one-month supply, advocates said. Doctors would recommend which patients should receive state-issued identification cards protecting them from being charged with a crime under state law. Rep. Larry McKeon, a Chicago Democrat who has the virus that causes AIDS, said he expects legislators to be skeptical about his legislation, but he hopes it's not for the wrong reasons. "You've got to deal with the facts and not the emotion," McKeon said. "This is not about widening the drug epidemic. This is about saving lives and dealing with pain." McKeon and other supporters contend smoking marijuana is the only way some patients can take the pain and nausea associated with treatments such as chemotherapy for cancer. They say medical marijuana would be tightly controlled and doctors ultimately would be legally responsible for recommending and overseeing its use. But opponents argue that smoking marijuana has no proven medical benefit and it comes with a variety of dangerous side effects, including giving children more access to illegal substances. Legalizing it creates headaches for law enforcement and doesn't protect people from being prosecuted for violating federal law banning possession, they say. "Even if smoking marijuana makes people feel better, that's not enough to call it a medicine," said Andrea Barthwell, a deputy director in the federal Office of National Drug Control Policy. The U.S. Justice Department argues that federal drug laws outlawing marijuana trump the state laws. The courts have come down on both sides of the debate. In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that cannabis clubs could not dole out marijuana on the grounds of medical necessity, even if patients have a doctor's recommendation. In December, however, a federal appeals court upheld California's medical marijuana law and ruled the federal law outlawing marijuana does not apply to sick people who are allowed by state law to smoke pot with a doctor's recommendation. Some Illinois lawmakers believe federal regulators should be the ones making the call on legalizing drugs. "We are not in the business of deciding what is medicine," said Rep. Patti Bellock, R-Hinsdale. The bill is HB4868Source: Associated Press Author: Ryan Keith, The Associated PressPublished: March 02, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:IDEAL Reformhttp://www.idealreform.org/Statehouse Panel To Hear Medical Marijuana Plan http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18426.shtmlNothing Criminal in Healing Herbs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18416.shtmlMarijuana By Prescription Only http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18412.shtmlMarijuana is Not Medicinehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18366.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by gloovins on March 02, 2004 at 23:43:51 PT Lets educate Andrea Barthwell, well, She needs our help C-news.Lets ask her & her office via email and snail email if peferred, if she even knows of the 8 or so who still receive US Gov't (schwag) for their MEDICAL AILMENTS because had they not, they would have suffered endlessly or at worst, died. This was resolved in the 1970's really under Carter's Admin. and that lawsuit that demanded the U.S. gov't medical cannabis production and distribution for these deathly ill people. We all know Bush Sr ended it but does she just pretend it doesn't exsist? What is the rational over there at the ONDCP on the 8 who still receive??? I wonder, anyone else?Lastly, if you are a reg'd Michigan voter or know someone who is ... have them ck the link below out if possible...Thanks much..."Richard Nixon created the DEA. Our creator gave us cannabis, who do you trust?" -- Gloovins 2004 MICH HEMP SIGNATURE DRIVE TILL 6/5/04 - SPREAD THE WORD, MICH MEDIA WON'T!! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment