cannabisnews.com: Expand Medical Pot, But Keep Low Profile





Expand Medical Pot, But Keep Low Profile
Posted by CN Staff on February 04, 2008 at 05:26:16 PT
Editorial
Source: Star-Bulletin
Hawaii -- A state legislator from Maui has proposed a facility where patients using marijuana for medical purposes could grow their own under state protection. While well-intended, such a facility would invite a raid by the Bush administration's Department of Justice and probably would be unnecessary under a more compassionate federal government.Rep. Joe Bertram would authorize the state Department of Health to create a facility on his island where a patient or caregiver would be given space to grow as many as 98 plants at a time. Such a facility would wave a red flag to federal zealots who stubbornly regard marijuana as a dangerous drug with no medical value.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2005 that the federal government may prosecute medical users of marijuana, even in the 12 states, including Hawaii, where marijuana is permitted for medical use. The Justice Department has been raiding California medical dispensary facilities since then, while Hawaii, which has no marijuana facilities, has kept a relatively low profile.The state Narcotics Enforcement Division administers the medical marijuana law, and its chief, Keith Kamata, says the growing facility would violate federal law. More than 4,000 Hawaii patients have medical marijuana cards and such a facility would give them false assurance that their therapy with marijuana would be protected.A better approach would be to improve protection to doctors recommending marijuana treatment for such ailments as nausea, vomiting and AIDS. Existing state law also could be revised to expand the "adequate supply" of marijuana, now limited to three mature plants, four immature plants and one ounce of usable marijuana.The Issue : A state facility for patients to grow marijuana for medical purposes has been proposed by a state legislator from Maui. Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI)Published: Monday, February 4, 2008 Copyright: 2008 Honolulu Star-BulletinContact: letters starbulletin.comWebsite: http://www.starbulletin.com/Related Article: Lawmaker Addressing Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23653.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #13 posted by FoM on February 15, 2008 at 08:19:21 PT
AP: Medical Marijuana Bill Advances 
Friday, February 15, 2008 
HONOLULU (AP) -- A medical marijuana measure is moving forward at the state Capitol, even after Governor Lingle said it's meaningless and won't become law. The trimmed-down marijuana proposal doubles the amount of plants patients would be allowed to grow from seven to 14, with each plant allowed to produce up to one ounce of marijuana. Lawmakers backed away from other changes in marijuana laws, such as creating a state-run growing facility and honoring other states' medical marijuana certificates. Lingle criticized media coverage of the issue in a speech this month in which she said the bill ``is meaningless to our lives'' because it wouldn't survive and the state has more important issues to deal with. The measure passed the House Health Committee on Wednesday and now advances to another House committee for review. Copyright 2008 Associated Press http://www.kpua.net/news.php?id=13949
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #12 posted by Truth on February 04, 2008 at 11:58:00 PT
Mich.
My wifes from there. She's so glad were in Northern Cal.You can work on national laws from anywhere.Our lives have totally grown since we moved to the Golden land of opertunity and freedom.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #11 posted by fight_4_freedom on February 04, 2008 at 11:18:12 PT:
IN CANNABIS WE TRUST
EDINBURG -- He calls himself the Rev. Adam E. Zuniga.His religion is illegal.According to his business card, he is ordained by the Shemshemet Ministry, which teaches the Cannabis Sacrament."It's a means to my survival, spiritually," he says.For Zuniga, his Eucharist is pot. But he doesn't call it that."Please refer to it as cannabis. I don't refer to propaganda names. It's sacrament. It's herb. It is a plant."In July 2003, the 27-year-old had just wrapped up working security in the U.S. Air Force, and was awaiting an instructor position at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.That's when a car accident changed his life. He hydroplaned while driving in the rain and collided with several trees.Prior to the accident, Zuniga says he dabbled in marijuana use in high school, but switched to cigarettes when he joined the Air Force.After shattering several bones in his left arm and tearing ligaments in his right leg during the car accident, he found himself chasing the strong pain medicine he was prescribed with beer, and still feeling the pain.It took one year before a friend finally convinced him that he had become addicted to prescription medicine.Right about that time, his girlfriend, a nursing major, turned in a research paper at the University of Texas-Pan American on cannabis and its medical affects.Through his own research, Zuniga discovered the drug could help him.What he didn't expect was that it would also help him spiritually, too. 
whole article
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by fight_4_freedom on February 04, 2008 at 11:06:37 PT:
California is the place to be
I figure in a few years I'll move out there. I helped my sis move out to San Diego a year and a half ago. Her and hubby love it out there. I spent the first summer out there with them and fell in love. Met so many really nice people, made so many friends. Her place is 20 minutes from the ocean, you can't beat that.Eventually I see myself out there, but it is quite expensive. Plus I want to help change these laws in Michigan first :)
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by Truth on February 04, 2008 at 10:57:41 PT
California
I love living here. Californian's actually fight for freedom.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by FoM on February 04, 2008 at 10:55:40 PT
Related Article from The Hawaii Reporter
Hawaii Legislators Consider Becoming Dope Dealershttp://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?538f89d0-424c-4189-918b-4a98c760aed7
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by dongenero on February 04, 2008 at 10:01:13 PT
Go S.F.!!!!
Go San Franciso!Now that's the patriotic spirit! Stand up against the tyranny...especially if it is your own government!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by fight_4_freedom on February 04, 2008 at 09:58:46 PT:
"If you're going to San Francisco"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shona Gochenaur 415-240-5247
axisoflovesf gmail.comSan Francisco Responds to Safe Access Crisis and Calls on Mayor Newsom to Lead the WayBirthplace of Medical Marijuana Defends Sanctuary Status Against DEASan Francisco-Officials, community leaders and patient advocates will hold a press conference on Monday, February 4th at noon on the front steps of City Hall to demonstrate support for a resolution condemning the DEA recent tactics to undermine California's medical cannabis laws.Speakers will include California State Senator Carole Migden, San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly, San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, two commissioners Robert Haaland Board of Appeals and David Campos - Police Commissioner, San Francisco Democratic Party Chairman Scott Wiener, President of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club Rafael Mandelman, Michael Goldstein and Mira Ingram of the San Francisco Marijuana Offenses Oversight Committee, Alex Franco of ASA SF, Shona Gochenaur of Axis of Love SF, Bruce Wolfe will be spokes person for SF Greens, Steve Kubby, and others TBA.The DEA has sent letters to property owners who rent to dispensaries in San Francisco -- and all over California -- threatening them with property seizure unless they evict the dispensaries operating there. Many dispensaries statewide have already had to close. With the DEA's latest round of letters to Northern California property owners who rent to dispensaries, many San Francisco dispensaries are facing closure.The Democratic Central Committee recently passed a resolution condemning the DEA sending threatening letters to landlords of regulated medical cannabis safe access centers (http://www.sfdemocrats.org/sfd/resolutions.html). San Francisco Supervisors are scheduled to hear a similar resolution on Tuesday, February 5th, pledging their support to the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of Congress, John Conyers Jr - who called for hearings to investigate the DEA attempt to undermine California state laws (resolution 080152 http://www.sfgov.org/site/bdsupvrs_page.asp?id=74605).The resolution also calls on Mayor Newsom to stand with Mayor Dellums of Oakland - who has issued a statement in support of congressional hearing to protect access for his city's medical cannabis providers."Patients in San Francisco and across the state support this resolution "says Alex Franco of ASA SF, a local patients advocacy group "We hope that the pressure from the Board will urge the Mayor to publicly reaffirm his support for safe access and the landlords who house medical cannabis dispensaries." The resolution also called for state legislators to protect state laws regarding medical cannabis, as well as Congressional Representatives.The resolution is lead by Supervisor Chris Daly, co-sponsored by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi. Both the Harvey Milk Democratic club and SF Green party have endorsed this resolution.Now it's time to tell the rest of those we elected to positions of power to take action in support of sick and disabled people in California!When: Monday, February 4, 12:00 noonWhere: The front steps of San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett PlaceDellums Statement: http://safeaccessnow.org/downloads/Dell … tement.pdfDellums Letter to Conyers: http://safeaccessnow.org/downloads/Dell … onyers.pdf
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by fight_4_freedom on February 04, 2008 at 09:43:14 PT:
I don't even know how they can call it a study
with only 12 people involved.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by dongenero on February 04, 2008 at 09:40:25 PT
weird article about cannabis withdrawl
Study of 12 people leads to conclusion that marijuana withdrawal is similar to nicotine withdrawal......which as most know is ridiculous.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080204/hl_nm/marijuana_withdrawal_dc_1I quit smoking cigarettes 30 years ago and it was one of the hardest things I've done.Stopping cannabis has never caused me any of the difficulty of nicotine. Nicotine is clearly physically and psychologically addictive.Another bunk science article that will probably be trumpeted far and wide by the prohibitionists and their subservient media.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 04, 2008 at 06:42:54 PT
Storm Crow 
No kiss of death this time. I haven't been this excited about anything political ever! 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by Storm Crow on February 04, 2008 at 06:26:00 PT
To me, the headline reads...
"Yes, you can grow your medicine- but keep hiding and being ashamed of your "dirty little secret"!" I am so tried of being afraid and having to hide! I want him to "Go For It"! Force the Fed's hand! Make it so the DEA must either crack down on a state run facility, or give it up as the losing battle it is!And on Obama- I think he's going to get the nod! Dang- am I actually going to vote for a winner this time? My presidential vote is usually "the kiss of death" to a candidate! 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by Dankhank on February 04, 2008 at 06:07:17 PT
go for it ...
This would invite Federal attention?I think they would look away ...This would be an attack on a State Facility ...something new ...think about it DEAboys ....don't do it ... as Nancy said ...
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment