cannabisnews.com: Lawmakers Take Testimony on Medical Marijuana Bill Lawmakers Take Testimony on Medical Marijuana Bill Posted by CN Staff on April 14, 2004 at 17:21:42 PT By Tim McCahill, Associated Press Writer Source: Associated Press Montpelier, Vt. -- The Democratic and Republican candidates for governor aired their differences over using marijuana for medical purposes Wednesday, while the personal, legal and scientific facets of the issue intertwined in testimony before a panel of legislators. "I believe that we as Vermonters need to ask ourselves whether it makes any sense for Vermonters with life-threatening illnesses to face arrest or legal penalties for the simple act of taking a natural medicine that relieves their suffering," Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle, the Democratic candidate for governor, told lawmakers. "It sends a mixed message to young people in our state," said Gov. James Douglas, the Republican incumbent, said at his weekly news conference. Both men were referring to a bill in front of the Health and Welfare Committee that would exempt patients with certain chronic conditions or illnesses - cancer, HIV or glaucoma, for example - from arrest and prosecution for possession of limited amounts of marijuana. The committee spent the day taking testimony on the bill, which was approved by the Senate last year. "If the intent of the legislation is to decriminalize marijuana, just do it," said Dr. Jamie O'Brien, president of the Vermont Medical Society. "Don't dress it up as medicinal." O'Brien said the evidence claiming the efficacy of marijuana as a pain reliever was too anecdotal for him to support the bill. Commissioner of Public Safety Kerry Sleeper said the measure, if passed, would cause an increase in petty crime and a proliferation of the drug trade in Vermont. "You cannot debate this legislation without realizing the lack of adequate controls," he said. Rep. David Zuckerman, P-Burlington, called such statements "myths based on fear." "Hopefully we can get it to the (House) floor," said Zuckerman, who is sponsoring the legislation. That assessment was not shared by Thomas Koch - the Barre Republican who chairs the committee - and Douglas, who said he hoped to work with legislators to keep the bill from reaching his desk. At his news conference Douglas defended his support of a bill to decriminalize up to one ounce of marijuana when he was a state representative in 1978. He said he voted for the measure because of the impact people arrested for drugs were having on the corrections system. Source: Associated Press Author: Tim McCahill, Associated Press WriterPublished: Wednesday, April 14, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Associated Press Related Articles & Web Sites:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Transcript: Hearing On Medical Marijuanahttp://freedomtoexhale.com/hearing.htmHouse Moves Marijuana Bill a Step Forwardhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18610.shtmlThe Trouble with Marijuana and Legislatorshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18573.shtmlMedical Pot Law Opposed by Douglas http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15583.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by FoM on April 14, 2004 at 21:19:02 PT Related News Brief from TheChamplainChannel.com Committee Hears Passionate Medical Marijuana TestimonyApril 14, 2004MONTPELIER, Vt. -- The Vermont Senate last year passed a bill allowing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Now the House is hearing the pros and cons of the controversial issue -- along with some heart-wrenching stories.The House Health and Welfare Committee Wednesday heard from all sides of the medical marijuana issue, including those who say the drug helps ease the pain of chronic illness and those who say there’s no good science supporting that view.Mary Cheney argued in favor of the bill. Her husband David died of AIDS in 1999. Near the end of his life, “he lost sensation in his feet and he couldn't feel things,” she said. The 50 pills he swallowed every day didn’t help him, so the couple decided to try something new. They obtained some marijuana from friends.“My husband did not smoke marijuana. I cooked it. I baked it,” she said, adding that it helped her husband with his pain and boosted his appetite.She said that before they tried the marijuana, “I had to constantly remind this man that it was time to eat -- because he didn't even think of food anymore.”Dr. Michael Borrello, of the University of Vermont’s Fletcher Allen Health Care clinic, told the committee a different story.He said that while marijuana makes “good medication,” there’s not enough concrete evidence to support making its use legal.“It doesn’t seem like good public policy,” he said.Members of the Vermont Medical Society, including its president, Dr. Jamie O'Brien, also voiced similar concerns.Testimony on the bill is scheduled to continue Thursday. Copyright 2004 by TheChamplainChannel.com Medical Marijuana Information Links [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by observer on April 14, 2004 at 19:11:42 PT messages recieved "It sends a mixed message to young people in our state," said Gov. James Douglas, the Republican incumbent, said at his weekly news conference.Yeah ... make sure that "the message" gets through to "young people." The message that the iron will of government is to be obeyed at all costs. The message that arbitrary rules are more important than human suffering. The message that government can make up new "sins" out of thin air, like the sin of using marijuana that was discovered by the oh-so concerned, in the 20th century. Or the message that punishments must be made only more harsh, the message that punishments need not fit the "crime", or the message that the Constitution that politicians like the good Gov., there, swore to uphold, can be disregarded at any time. Or perhaps he wants the kids to get the message that police can shake you down, steal your cash, bash in your skull, and put a few rounds in your back, because of (you guessed it) "drugs." (Meaning, pot.)Yes, I think I know exactly what kinds of messages the nice government people want kids to get. http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot raw breaking drug news [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by The GCW on April 14, 2004 at 18:16:06 PT Meanwhile, back in Colorado... Notice Of Public Rule-Making Hearing Before The Colorado Board Of Health.May 19, 2004 in the Sabin-Cleere Conference Room of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Bldg, A., First Floor, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, denver Colorado.To consider the promulgation of amendments to the Rules and Regulations Partaining to Medical Use of Marijuana - Regulation 7:...Amendments to the Rules and Regulations pertaining to the Medical Use of Marijuana - Regulation 7, Determination of Fees to Pay for Administrative Costs of the Medical Use of Marijuana Program.http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/op/bh/bhhom.asphttp://www.cdphe.state.co.us/op/bh/upcomingnoticesproposedrules.htmlThis hearing is to consider lowering the cost of using cannabis with the blessings of the state of Colorado from $140 per year to $110. (The proposed revisions to be considered at the hearing ...will be available for inspection at the address below or at the website, by any person at least five working days prior to the hearing.)Colorado Board of Health Attn: Linda Shearman, Program Assistant Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South EDO-A5 Denver, Colorado 80246-1530420.!.!.!.I don't think Christ God Our Father wishes for Us to pay mammon to the state for using what He already gave to Us.!.!.!. This whole thing is tweaked... A hundred + to sprout seed that's already Ours according to the Ecologician.&420If the Repub thinks it "sends a mixed message to young people," then He should stop mixing the message with lies. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment