cannabisnews.com: House Approves Use of Medical Marijuana





House Approves Use of Medical Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on March 14, 2007 at 06:07:24 PT
By Diana M. Alba, Santa Fe Bureau
Source: Las Cruces Sun-News 
Santa Fe, NM -- In a reversal of a decision last week, the House approved a measure Tuesday to legalize marijuana use for medical purposes.The House, on a 35-25 vote, passed a Senate bill that will allow patients to seek approval from the state to use marijuana to treat certain diseases. Thursday, the House on a 33-36 vote objected to a similar proposal.
Gov. Bill Richardson had said earlier in the day Tuesday that he was working on House members to get them to reconsider their vote.Legislators repeated several arguments that were made last week. Supporters of the measure maintained that medical marijuana use will help ease pain among sufferers of certain diseases, while opponents contended an approval will give children the impression lawmakers support illegal drug use.Rep. John Heaton, D-Carlsbad, a pharmacist, said medical benefits of marijuana are limited, and the drug could worsen some medical problems."That it has all this wonderful relief is not true," he said. "It's a weak anti-nauseant; there are much better products on the market. It's a very weak pain killer."But bill proponent Rep. Antonio "Moe" Maestas, D-Albuquerque, said there's evidence from studies that marijuana can aid ill patients."If it does have detrimental side effects, it may have far exceeding benefits," he said.Rep. Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque, said the Legislature, by approving the bill, sends the message it's giving tacit approval to narcotics, when the state has a drug abuse problem."I think that's the wrong message," he said.Other lawmakers, including Rep. Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque, said the Legislature's approval won't prompt drug use among children."I'm not worried about the message we're sending our children, because we have a lot of dangerous pharmaceuticals that are prescribed by physicians," she said. "Because those are legal, we're not telling our children it's OK to use them."Conditions that would be treatable with marijuana under the bill include cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, epilepsy and AIDS. Patients would have had to seek approval from the state and carry a registration card in order to use medical marijuana.Source: Las Cruces Sun-News (NM)Author: Diana M. Alba, Santa Fe BureauPublished: March 14, 2007Copyright: 2007 by Mid-States Newspapers Inc.Contact: editorlcsn zianet.comWebsite: http://www.lcsun-news.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Drug Policy Alliancehttp://www.drugpolicy.org/Second Time Around, House OKs Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22742.shtmlMedical Marijuana Bill Back on Floorhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22741.shtmlMMJ : Governor's Wrangling Revives Measurehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22734.shtml
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Comment #14 posted by Lucas on March 14, 2007 at 22:02:54 PT
preliminary analysis NM Medical Marijuana program
The original bill SB 523 allowed pain as one of the qualified conditions..the substiture bill does not list pain as a qualified condition.the original bill 523 allowed patients and caregivers to manufacture marijuana, the substitute bill only allows possession. Manufacture is reserved for a third class of person, besides patient and caregiver, the licensed producer.original bill had registry cards expire every 3 months, the substitute bill has cards lasting for one year.original bill had a 7 member medical board meeting monthly, new bill has an 8 member board meeting twice a year.. in both cases a quorum is 3 members.the board is responsible for approving medical conditions to be added to the list, and for determining how much Marijuana is an adequate supply for 3 months.The board also will determine how to qualify and apply to be a licensed producer, and how and where the marijuana will be distributed.The temporary provision, below, allows for a patient or caregiver to produce Marijuana, between July 1 and 30 days after rules are made, sometime after October 1, authorizing conditions, quantities, and manufacturing..http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/07%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0523FSS.htmlSection 10. TEMPORARY PROVISION.--     A. During the period between July 1, 2007 and thirty days after the effective date of rules promulgated by the department of health pursuant to Subsection A of Section 7 of the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, a person who would be eligible to participate in the medical use of cannabis program as a qualified patient, but for the lack of effective rules concerning registry identification cards, licensed producers, cannabis production facilities, distribution system and adequate supply, may obtain a written certification from a practitioner and upon presentation of that certification to the department of health, the department shall issue a temporary certification for participation in the program. The department of health shall maintain a list of all temporary certificates issued pursuant to this section.     B. A person possessing a temporary certificate and the person's primary caregiver are not subject to arrest, prosecution, civil or criminal penalty or denial of any right or privilege for possessing cannabis if the amount of cannabis possessed collectively is not more than the amount that is specified on the temporary certificate issued by the department of health.
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on March 14, 2007 at 11:28:12 PT
Genthirdday
Thank you. That link worked for me. I bookmarked it. 
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Comment #12 posted by Genthirdday on March 14, 2007 at 11:18:47 PT
Streaming Air America
 Fom and Nuevo Mexican
 I also LOVE Air America and generally get best access through this link. Hope it works for you. Randi is great[3PM] eastern time. Tom Hartman is on now and he is a great teacher.  More info... it is listed on my favorites as 1480 KPHX...Nova M Radio..  Enjoy !
Air America Phoenix
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Comment #11 posted by Max Flowers on March 14, 2007 at 10:11:55 PT
Gone-Zales?
Dare I hope that he be GONE so soon? Not a moment to soon, actually. The guy is a criminal. If he resigns, my thoughts immediately turn to "can he now be prosecuted for his violations against the Constitution?"That would brighten my mood considerably, to see him resign in shame. But his bloody fingerprints are all over a whole range of crimes, and I don't like the thought that he could slink away like a thief in the night with no accountability.I also think that when the Iraq nightmare ends and thousands of soldiers come home and finally have time to read and hear about how things had been going while they were gone, they are going to be *very* pissed, and there will be a veterans coalition to rival the Vietnam one.
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on March 14, 2007 at 10:03:44 PT
nuevo mexican
I tried to listen but it didn't work. I'll try again later.PS: Everything in this administration is going wrong and it reminds me about reaping what we sow.
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Comment #9 posted by nuevo mexican on March 14, 2007 at 09:57:40 PT
Gonzo gone by Friday?
CNN just ran a poll, 86 percent say Gonzo should go!If he goes, bush is next, as in 'what did bush know, and when did he know it!'Richard Nixon is doing cartwheels in his grave! (I would think he's come around by now, if not, he's rolling over).From watching the nervousness of his press conference in Mexico, I gather he knows it's gonna happen, Friday looks good in the Stars! (It is only going to build if he doesn't, and that is a blessing too, boxed in on this one, and the occupation in Iraq as well, the debate will not go well for him either!Great day for the Debate to begin!Let the protest for Peace this weekend begin!Just in time for bush to screw up in Mexico, and coming back with his tail between his legs is quite satisfying!How long have we waited for this day?
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on March 14, 2007 at 09:42:03 PT
nuevo mexican 
Thank you. I will give it a listen.
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Comment #7 posted by nuevo mexican on March 14, 2007 at 09:39:37 PT
Okay then, you'll just have to listen on the web!
http://www.airamericaradio.com/listen/It will make your day FOM, just turn down the commercials, the Radio hosts are excellent, and will give you the news of the day, ala the way Jon Stewart and Colbert do! (without having to watch corporate spews).You're gonna love Rachel Maddow!I love Randi, like we all love you FOM!Off topic:Buzzflash 'wings of justice' award goes to Impeachment Leader:http://wingsofjustice.com/07/03/woj07011.html"Dan DeWalt, a citizen activist from Newfane, VT," a BuzzFlash reader writes, "spearheaded the movement in Vermont and New England for holding the Bush Administration accountable through impeachment."And DeWalt lit a grassfire. His patriotic call for holding Bush and Cheney to be impeached was passed by 37 towns in Vermont on March 8.Next prediction, Impeachment will look like the only reasonable approach to bush, (other than to arrest, try, convict, and apprehend to Thug-in-charge)!'Arrest bush, cheney and Gonzo Now!' will be my sign this weekend!The tide has turned, and it is time to step up now, turn up the heat, maximize your outrage, and direct it to create a new world of peace, justice, compassion, acceptance and Gratitude!bush is getting defensive at his Mexican Press Conference, his voice is shrill, his body taunt, sneering and smirking, he-heing and giggling, it is so embarrassing to be a 'murican!The questioner made a joke, bush didn't get it, and answered the question he thought was asked, as usual!The audience knew he missed it, the joke was on him!Can we have Al Gore now pu-leese!
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on March 14, 2007 at 08:36:18 PT
nuevo mexican 
Glad you liked the news. I don't get any radio stations unless it would be on DirecTV's XM channels.
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Comment #5 posted by nuevo mexican on March 14, 2007 at 08:17:26 PT
Great way to wake up FOM!
What great headlines, and predicted here at C-News!Remember our discussion recently on Richardson, and how important the 'Cannabis block' has become to the Democratic Party? We were right!(thanks to C-Newsers, the Internets', and people like Bill Maher, John Stewart, and all of the voters who have VOTED into law Medical Cannabis the demonization propaganda has backfired).It was the bloggers at DailyKos, Americablog, Crooks and Liars, and all in cyberspace that made sure the MSM, who ignored it as long as they could, was forced to cover this huge story of how far Gonzo will go for bush, and NOT for the American People he was sworn under oath to defend.Keep on laptoppling!He is a criminal, this is treasonous, and these guys should get to suffer their crimes in a gulag called Guantanamo, only that form of their own brand of justice will be considered 'equal' for these maniacs! Imagine the movie about Gonzo and bush, for example, by Micheal Moore, when THAT comes out, (or anyone who decides to make it first!) The World and especially Americorp needs to see this film, when it gets made, and then we'll see what happens!Just imagine Gonzo suffering the horrors he and bush have inflicted on so many innocent men, women and children, (and what they have in mind for us)! What do THEY deserve?Check out yesterdays' protests in Mexico at DemocracyNow!
http://www.democracynow.orgLet's visualize 12 more states legalizing Medical Cannabis this year, and National Legislation to legalize Cannabis for Medical AND Recreational use!And it will be so!Let's make sure Gonzo goes, and takes the rest of Bushco with him, sign the petition:
http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=23690I would like to direct the readers here to www.AirAmerica.com and the syndicated radio show, in case anyone hasn't found it on their local radio dial, it is on the Internet, and I recommend you request it in your area if it is not!http://www.airamerica.com/
http://stephanymiller.com
http://therhandirhodesshow.com
For you FOM, hope you can get these in your car, sure puts the fun back into running your errands! LOL!Akron
WARF 1350 AM
"Radio Free Ohio"
(3-6pm)Cincinnati
1360 WSAI
(6-9pm)Columbus
AM 1230 WTPG
(6-7p and 4-6a)Rhandi Rhodes and Stephany Miller are great, Al Franken is off to become a Senator, (everyone but Ed whats-his-name that sounds like Rush limpbaugh, the rest are great compared to the Right Wing Echo Chamber which is the MSM.Call in and talk about Bill Richardson, and the positive turnabout of affairs regarding the legalization of Medical Cannabis (or if you're lucky, thermite and 9-!!,stopping bush from his crusade on Iran, or just to get your voice heard perhaps for the first time in six years)!Also, request that they drop the anti-cannabis ads from whoever sponsors them, obnoxious, and wrong for their audience, and a misdirection of energy.Like coming to C-News to find some sense in the world, AirAmerica Radio is the antidote to that helpless feeling we all have when you hear Rush blathering as you turn your Radio dial, and the Orwellian nature of 'top of the hour' news blasts. We should refer to America as Americorp, and Alberto Gonzales as Gonzo, it has already stuck, he'll resign soon anyway, bush quakes even more, 
Roves' subpoenaed, cheney moves to Dubai, and it all falls apart, and the people will have to lead, the Dems will have to Follow the People, so repeat it over and often! The Will of the People, The Will of the People, The Will of the People,.........Pro-Peace, bush out Rallies everywhere this weekend, our silence is complicity! Network, canvas, petition, signage, posters, banners, there's lots of fun work to be done.....
Look to South American banners and posters for inspiration if any is lacking, 'bush: Murderer' is very popular!
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Comment #4 posted by dongenero on March 14, 2007 at 07:46:26 PT
Great news!
This is really great news! However, I do have to question a bunch of legislators specifying or limiting what conditions a drug will treat. I feel the list of conditions for which cannabis is effective will expand over time with increased honest research. There is already evidence that it is effective beyond the limited list that they approved. Case in point; neuropathy.Such a medical specifications are way out of any of their scope of practice......including the pharmacist.This should really be at the discretion of ones physician based on the latest research and evidence of effectiveness.
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Comment #3 posted by mayan on March 14, 2007 at 07:13:07 PT
Pharmer John
Rep. John Heaton, D-Carlsbad, a pharmacist, said medical benefits of marijuana are limited, and the drug could worsen some medical problems.That it has all this wonderful relief is not true," he said. "It's a weak anti-nauseant; there are much better products on the market. It's a very weak pain killer."
What's with these politicians who just happen to be pharmacists also? We know who bakes their bread.
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Comment #2 posted by potpal on March 14, 2007 at 07:00:46 PT
Meet the Prohibitionists
Rep. John Heaton, D-Carlsbad, a pharmacist"That it has all this wonderful relief is not true," he said. "It's a weak anti-nauseant; there are much better products (and much more expensive)on the market. It's a very weak pain killer." (Not a killer though!)Sounds like he's tried some to me.Rep. Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque
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Comment #1 posted by doc james on March 14, 2007 at 06:55:43 PT
going to NM soon
Gonna open up a med mj saloon.
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