cannabisnews.com: Md. Lawmaker Pushes Bill To Study Marijuana Md. Lawmaker Pushes Bill To Study Marijuana Posted by CN Staff on March 25, 2009 at 06:59:37 PT By Kathleen Miller, The Associated Press Source: Baltimore Sun Baltimore, M.D. -- Maryland advocates for medical marijuana say the state is sending mixed messages about using the drug to treat debilitating illnesses. They are hoping to persuade lawmakers to create a task force to study the issue.In 2003, the Maryland General Assembly approved less severe fines for people convicted of marijuana possession who can prove a medical necessity for the drug in court. Seriously ill people can still be arrested, however, and fined up to $100 if convicted of possession or use of marijuana or related paraphernalia, even if they prove in court they have a medical necessity. Otherwise, violators are subject to fines of up to $1,000 and can face up to a year in jail for simple possession or use of the drug.Delegate Henry Heller, D-Montgomery, said the 2003 law was "well-intentioned," but gives people a "false sense of security."Heller, who says he doesn't use medical marijuana himself, said he is sponsoring legislation to study the issue after some his neighbors in a Silver Spring senior community told him they wanted to use marijuana to treat severe illnesses but were afraid of running afoul of the law.Heller's proposal is to have a task force staffed by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene study legal and feasibility issues related to the research, use and procurement of medical marijuana. The group would have to issue a recommendation to repeal or maintain the state's current policy for medical marijuana.Thirteen states have removed criminal penalties for patients who use and possess marijuana with their doctor's approval or certification, according to a Maryland Department of Legislative Services analysis. The task force would require additional general fund expenditures, however, to research and produce the report.A number of medical marijuana advocates told the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday that Maryland is sending mixed messages about using marijuana to provide relief from debilitating illnesses such as cancer or HIV.Howard County resident Suzi Rank told lawmakers she has used marijuana to battle the nausea that accompanied chemotherapy and steroid treatment for cancer and a blood disease.Rank said she tried eight different anti-nausea medications from her doctor and was hospitalized twice for dehydration before she tried marijuana and "it helped like nothing else had.""I have been a law-abiding citizen my whole life except for using marijuana," Rank said. "I feel like I am a typical medical marijuana patient, we are not out dealing drugs, we are your average person. I feel like I had to choose between my life, losing my life and breaking the law."On the Net:Read House Bill 1339: http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/fnotes/bil_0009/hb1339.pdfSource: Baltimore Sun (MD)Author: Kathleen Miller, The Associated Press Published: March 24, 2009 Copyright: 2009 The Baltimore SunContact: letters baltsun.comWebsite: http://www.baltimoresun.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/0lSgNGUwCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #12 posted by FoM on March 26, 2009 at 08:54:24 PT Hope When I right click on the topic Budget or Green Jobs and Energy and open in a new window that's how I see the questions. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Hope on March 26, 2009 at 08:50:10 PT FoM Open for Questions.I must be run up the wrong hallway over there or something. Like I used to get lost in all the hallways of C-News.What I'm seeing is that they're not taking any more questions and that they have a list of the most popular questions and I'm into the "Most popular" questions seventy deep and haven't seen any questions pertaining to marijuana prohibition. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on March 25, 2009 at 14:30:15 PT yoshi You're welcome. Oh for the days of Marijuana and LSD and about nothing else. Those were the days so many years ago. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by OverwhelmSam on March 25, 2009 at 14:10:19 PT The "DRUG" "It's not a drug, it's an herb." ~ Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by yoshi on March 25, 2009 at 13:00:38 PT: Great hippy LSD Thanks FoM. I'm surprised that the psychedelics aren't more widely used, they really can pack a paradigm shifting punch. I have visited the Peyote Way Church in arizona and would highly recommend it to anyone. It is a remote retreat where the pastors have been at their craft for 30 years, great people. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Had Enough on March 25, 2009 at 10:41:20 PT Massachusetts Looks to Legalize Pot Massachusetts Looks to Legalize Pot: Eyeing Millions in Tax Revenue(ChattahBox)—The state of Massachusetts, the bastion of the Kennedy dynasty and all things democratic, is looking into the massive revenue the state can bring in from legalizing and taxing the commercial cultivation and sale of marijuana. Massachusetts, like many states in this deep economic recession, are scrambling to find additional sources of revenue to keep state services afloat. This is good news for the many people who oppose the criminalization of marijuana use, believing law enforcement efforts to stop people from smoking pot have been a complete failure.The Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act, contained in house Bill 2929 and Senate Bill 1801, was just introduced in the state legislature. The bills seek to regulate marijuana the same way it controls alcohol: by legalizing its use for those over 21. The language of the bills make it clear what many already know: “The governor and the representatives of the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging that previous efforts have not succeeded in eliminating or curtailing marijuana use and abuse…”More…http://chattahbox.com/us/2009/03/24/massachusetts-looks-to-legalize-pot-eyeing-millions-in-tax-revenue/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on March 25, 2009 at 10:29:18 PT Had Enough Thank you. I just can't find an article to post about it. There was one yesterday. I'm looking for one from the Boston Globe or Boston Herald. As soon as I find one I will get it posted.Legalize Pot: Who Didn’t See This Coming?http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24611.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on March 25, 2009 at 10:24:47 PT The Great Hippy LSD Enlightenment Search Party Skinny Dipping in Reality: The Great Hippy LSD Enlightenment Search PartyBy Joe Bageant, JoeBageant.comMarch 25, 2009URL: http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/133256/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Had Enough on March 25, 2009 at 10:20:18 PT Norml-breaking-news Marijuana legalization bills introduced in MassachusettsCalifornia’s highly publicized effort to legalize the commercial cultivation and sale of cannabis is getting some well-deserved company!These proposals seek to legally regulate the commercial production and distribution of marijuana for adults over 21 years of age. Like California’s proposal, they would impose licensing requirements and excise taxes on the retail sale of cannabis. By some estimates, these taxes could raise nearly $100 million in annual state revenue.Adults who possess or grow marijuana for personal use, or who engage in the non-profit transfer of cannabis, would not be subject to taxation under the law.More…http://blog.norml.org/2009/03/23/norml-breaking-news-marijuana-legalization-bills-introduced-in-massachusetts/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by dongenero on March 25, 2009 at 09:21:38 PT cannabis prohibition Knock down that wall Mr. President!Constitutional freedom. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on March 25, 2009 at 08:31:29 PT White House: Top Questions on Open For Questions Popular questions: Current Top Question:""Will you consider decriminalizing the recreational/medical use of marijuana(hemp) so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and a multi-billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?”"Green Machine, Winchester,Va ***http://www.whitehouse.gov/OpenForQuestions/Currently Third Most Popular Question:"Has your administration given any serious thought to how legalizing marijuana could help solve the economic crisis? We could tax this green product and create an influx of cash while reducing violence created by the war of drugs & illegal trafficking"Ashley, Brooklyn, NY [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 25, 2009 at 07:32:23 PT Medical Marijuana Supporters Ready for Referendum Wednesday, March 25, 2009 Augusta, Maine (AP) -- Supporters of a proposal to make medical marijuana available through state-licensed facilities are preparing for a referendum if it fails.Maine has had a medical marijuana law on the books for 10 years but medical patients say there's no practical way for them to legally obtain marijuana.The Maine Medical Marijuana Act would create sites licensed by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services where marijuana could be dispensed.Ben Chipman from Maine Citizens for Patients' Rights tells the Maine Public Broadcasting Network that the state's medical marijuana law is useless if patients can't obtain marijuana. The group has obtained 55,000 signatures to put the issue on the ballot if lawmakers balk at the bill.Copyright: 2009 Sun Journalhttp://www.sunjournal.com/story/309283-3/MaineNews/Medical_marijuana_supporters_ready_for_referendum/ [ Post Comment ] Post Comment