cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana May Return Medical Marijuana May Return Posted by FoM on October 09, 1999 at 06:55:14 PT By Jackie Jadrnak, Journal Staff Writer Source: ABQ Journal New Mexicans might be able to smoke marijuana under a doctor's prescription again if efforts are successful to revive a program that is on the books but hasn't been funded since the 1980s. Alex Valdez, secretary of the state Department of Health, said Friday he has been informed by the Drug Enforcement Administration about what federal requirements he must fulfill to reinstate the program that became law in 1978. His inquiry began last summer while advocates were planning a class-action lawsuit to demand that the program be reinstated. Bryan Krumm, a potential plaintiff, said the group delayed filing the lawsuit when Valdez told them he would move to restore the program. "We still may file," added Krumm, a nurse who works at the University of New Mexico. Valdez said spending for what is called the Lynn Pierson therapeutic research program would not be a priority in his budget request for the next fiscal year. "I have to think about how to proceed with this," Valdez said. Krumm said Valdez had sent him a letter this summer saying the health department was going to reactivate the program. On Friday, though, Krumm said Valdez told him he wanted to see interest from more than one person. About 30 people were to be named as plaintiffs in the potential lawsuit, and many of them will be contacting Valdez, Krumm said. Krumm said that he has a referral from his doctor to the Lynn Pierson program, which exists only in law. He said he wants the marijuana to help ease knee pain from an accident, as well as depression. Ed McWilliams, another potential plaintiff, said he hasn't been able to get a physician's referral to the program, but that he wants to be able to use marijuana to treat migraine headaches. "Medical research from a lot of sources has stated it unquestionably helps in that area, with not a lot of the dire side effects other medications have," he said. McWilliams said his own grandfather smoked marijuana to help slow down the progression of his glaucoma. The state statute creating the program specifically targets people suffering from glaucoma and the side effects of chemotherapy for cancer. It does leave the door open, though, for a review board to broaden the use to other medical conditions. The state's medicinal marijuana law took effect in 1978, setting up the therapeutic program through the University of New Mexico, where it was run until 1986. A news report at that time said the program would close down because its $50,000 annual funding was not renewed by the state Legislature. But Krumm said he thought it died after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced regulatory restrictions against the use of marijuana to test its health benefits. In June, however, the federal agency announced an easing of restrictions so that such programs are possible again. At the same time, the federal government said it couldn't provide adequate supplies of medicinal marijuana it produces on a farm in Mississippi, he said. "It's possible the state could become its own supplier," Krumm said. State law puts the Department of Health in charge. A patient qualification review board, made up of a ophthalmologist, an oncologist and a psychiatrist, reviews and approves all applicants and their doctors for participation. The marijuana would be made available to the patient through a pharmacy, with the secretary of the health department responsible for finding a supplier. During the program's operation, more than 250 patients participated, Krumm said. Valdez said he wanted to make it clear that his attention to this program is completely unrelated to Gov. Gary Johnson's high-profile discussions on legalizing drugs such as marijuana and heroin. Valdez said he has discussed the research program with Johnson and that the two agree it would be pursued -- if a decision even is made to revive it -- strictly for medical research purposes. "I know others would say this is the first step toward legalization," Valdez said. "I don't want this to get clouded with other discussions taking place. It (marijuana) already is legal in New Mexico for medical research purposes." Saturday, October 9, 1999 Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999 Albuquerque JournalN.M. Governor Predicts Marijuana Legalization - 10/06/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3163.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by Sienna Pierson Glass on May 05, 2001 at 20:30:17 PT: Interest in Knowing......... I was interrested in knowing if this has gone any further.I am the sister of Lynn Pierson and would like to know if the program is going to be reinstated. Thank you. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: