cannabisnews.com: Medical Pot OK'd; Session Ending Today Medical Pot OK'd; Session Ending Today Posted by CN Staff on May 20, 2004 at 08:06:07 PT By Darren M. Allen & John Zicconi Source: Rutland Herald Montpelier -- A measure legalizing the use and possession of marijuana by people suffering from AIDS, cancer or multiple sclerosis crossed its final legislative hurdle Wednesday, paving the way for it to become law without the signature of Gov. James Douglas. Senators, voting 20-7 in favor of the heavily lobbied bill, made Vermont's Legislature only the second in the country - Hawaii is the other - to legalize the use of medical marijuana. The bill was sent to the governor, who confirmed that he would decline to sign it, meaning the measure automatically becomes law in five days. Vermont will become the ninth state with such a law on the books. In seven of those states voters, not legislators, approved the medical marijuana legislation. "I will not oppose this decision of the elected representatives of the people, nor will I support it by signing it into law," Douglas said in a statement. "I cannot actively support a measure that allows Vermonters to be subject to prosecution under federal law, increases the availability of a controlled substance and sends a dangerous message to our children." According to administration officials, the White House lobbied Douglas to veto the bill. Indeed, President Bush's deputy drug czar came to Vermont last month in a daylong lobbying blitz, and, in the last several days, a Bush administration official placed a phone call to Douglas urging his rejection of the bill. The new law is actually a much narrower package than that passed earlier this year by the Senate. And while the governor was poised to veto that measure, he was said to be cognizant of the political popularity of making marijuana available to terminally ill people. "I believe that we owe Vermonters with debilitating medical conditions the very best that medical science has to offer," Douglas said. "Proven science has not demonstrated that marijuana is part of that," he said. "Despite that fact, marijuana offers those with the most painful chronic diseases a measure of hope in a time of suffering." The measure's supporters included the leader of Vermont's Catholics, who yesterday praised the governor for allowing it to become law. "I believe this bill is a very encouraging indication that our legislature and our governor are seriously concerned about improving end-of-life care in Vermont," said Bishop Kenneth Angell of the Burlington Diocese. "I know this was a hard decision for Gov. Douglas." Under the new law, people will be allowed to grow up to three marijuana plants in a locked room and possess 2 ounces of "usable pot." Users will be under the supervision of the Department of Public Safety. The medical marijuana law was the highest profile action on a day that many thought might be the biennium's last. Despite a late afternoon handshake agreement on the $955 million operating budget, legislative leaders agreed to return to the State House today, a day on which almost everyone agrees will be the session's last. Note: Portions of article removed that are unrelated to drug policy.Reporter Claude R. Marx contributed to this story. Source: Rutland Herald (VT)Author: Darren M. Allen & John Zicconi, Vermont Press Bureau Published: May 19, 2004Copyright: 2004 Rutland HeraldContact: info rutlandherald.comWebsite: http://www.rutlandherald.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmMedical Marijuana Bill Will Become Law http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18878.shtmlDouglas Behind Effort To Pass Restrictive Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18869.shtmlHouse: Very Sick Can Use Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18856.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by billos on May 21, 2004 at 04:13:58 PT: Bend over and spread those cheeks............. Jonny Pee....................here it comes. And, oh yeah, where is that expense report you are being sued to produce? Is the expense, funded by my money no doubt, for the Vermont debacle you just went through in vein on it?? [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by goneposthole on May 20, 2004 at 19:11:32 PT Plants in a locked room Those meddlesome politicians even put cannabis in prison, too. Cannabis is an 'unterplant', one not worthy of being part of the 'plant kingdom'. Lots of cannabis 'unterplants' in locked rooms all over the United States and Canada. Their guardians let them free when they're ready to smoke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Jose Melendez on May 20, 2004 at 15:37:47 PT Can't sit still? Spin: " . . . the very best that medical science has to offer," http://www.kfor.com/Global/story.asp?S=1882784 [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on May 20, 2004 at 12:06:32 PT Related News Article from The AP Vt.'s Medical-Marijuana Bill to Be Law By David Gram, Associated Press WriterMay 20, 2004MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Vermont will become the ninth state to let very sick patients use marijuana to alleviate pain, nausea and other symptoms without fear of state prosecution. Gov. James Douglas will let the bill become law without his signature. "I will not oppose this decision by the elected representatives of the people, nor will I support it by signing it into law," Douglas said Wednesday. Douglas said the bill covers "symptom relief for a small percentage of individuals with only the most debilitating conditions," like cancer and AIDS. Patients may keep up to three marijuana plants in a locked room accessible only by the sick person and caregiver, who both must register with state police. Opponents complained that the law would put Vermont at odds with federal law, which forbids marijuana use, and that it would send a mixed message about drug use to Vermont's young people. Douglas, a first-term Republican, repeatedly had voiced both arguments while the bill was pending, and he said he hoped advocates for legalization of marijuana for recreational use would not take cheer from the new Vermont law. "To ease suffering is commendable, but to crusade for legalization of an addictive, destructive and dangerous drug is contemptible," he said. Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington state already have laws allowing marijuana for medical needs. Arizona passed an initiative to allow marijuana by prescription, a largely symbolic law because federal law prohibits doctors from writing such prescriptions. Copyright: 2004 The Associated Press [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on May 20, 2004 at 12:02:22 PT Off Topic: Christian Science Monitor In Iraq, Key US Ally Falls from GraceThursday, US forces raided the Baghdad house of Ahmed Chalabi, who loomed large in the decision to invade Iraq. From the May 21, 2004 Edition http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0521/p01s01-woiq.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Max Flowers on May 20, 2004 at 10:07:57 PT Very gratified ...to see someone finally saying the word TREASON in a commentary in a national paper instead of just in fine websites like this one.It boosts my hope for this nation. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on May 20, 2004 at 09:50:09 PT TN senator's son gets DUI Bill Frist's son was picked up in Princeton for driving under the influence. http://www.zwire.com/site/11757836.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by mayan on May 20, 2004 at 09:37:47 PT Riptide... We'll take it, eh? It's actually pretty signifigant considering the dark times we live in. Bush's entire house of cards is about to fall and the neo-cons may be forced to unleash their "October surprise" a little early. The sh*t could hit the fan any time.Some Dare Call It Treason: Wake Up America! http://baltimorechronicle.com/041704reTreason.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Riptide on May 20, 2004 at 08:22:28 PT Victory! A small victory, but still a victory. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment