cannabisnews.com: Maine Approves Medical Marijuana Measure 





Maine Approves Medical Marijuana Measure 
Posted by FoM on November 03, 1999 at 10:02:50 PT
By Francis X. Quinn, Associated Press
Source: Boston Globe
Maine voters approved a proposal to legalize marijuana for certain medicinal uses after a lopsided campaign in which proponents raised and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and opponents made their case mainly by word of mouth. 
A leader of the victorious effort said Tuesday now advocates of medical marijuana must work with state officials in hopes of developing an acceptable way for patients to obtain the drug. ''What Maine people have accomplished here today is the first step,'' said Craig Brown of Mainers for Medical Rights. ''Obviously, the next step needs to be creating a safe and responsible distribution system.'' With 607 of 664 precincts reporting, unofficial returns produced a majority favoring passage of 61 percent to 39 percent. The unofficial raw vote from 91 percent of precincts was 231,352 in favor of the measure and 145,768 against. Voter approval means the proposed legislation could take effect within 60 days. Brown said the Maine vote would demonstrate that ''compassionate and common sense use'' of medicinal marijuana ''should be endorsed by federal policy.'' Gordon Smith, executive vice president of the Maine Medical Association, said voter approval shaped up as ''no surprise.'' ''We essentially had a one-sided campaign with one group spending hundreds of thousand of dollars on TV ... I don't consider it a campaign,'' he said. The citizen initiative asked voters: ''Do you want to allow patients with specific illnesses to grow and use small amounts of marijuana for treatment, as long as such use is approved by a doctor?'' Question 2, similar to legislation enacted in several other states, was designed to authorize possession of marijuana for specific medical conditions when patients are advised by a doctor they might benefit from the drug. The list of qualifying ailments includes persistent nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite from AIDS or cancer treatments, glaucoma, and seizures or muscle spasms from chronic diseases, such as epilepsy or multiple sclerosis. The proposed law defines a usable amount as up to 1.25 ounces of harvested marijuana and up to six marijuana plants, no more than three of which may be mature, flowering plants. Mainers for Medical Rights, virtually unchallenged by organized opposition as it promoted passage of the marijuana proposal, reported receipts of about $650,000 through Oct. 21 to finance its drive. Critics of the initiative challenged the medicinal value and reliability of privately obtained marijuana. Also at issue were at least some of the claims by proponents that it would be beneficial in the cases outlined in the proposal. The ballot initiative drew opposition from the Maine Medical Association and some law enforcement officials. In the first three weeks of October, Mainers for Medical Rights reported receiving $170,670 in cash and $41,724.65 in in-kind contributions from Americans for Medical Rights of Santa Monica, Calif. The same California-based group, said Brown, supplied ''90 percent plus'' of the funding for Mainers for Medical Rights over a two-year period. Brown said a trio of prominent contributors who have been active nationally in the same cause included George Soros, the internationally known investor. Since 1996, five states California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Arizona have passed medical marijuana initiatives. Voters in the District of Columbia also registered approval. In March, a panel of medical experts concluded in a report to the federal government that marijuana has medical benefits for people suffering from cancer and AIDS and should undergo scientific trials to see how it works best. Gov. Angus King came out against enactment, noting a conflict between the proposal and federal law and suggesting that for some proponents, the initiative would be ''a first step toward the ultimate legalization of marijuana.'' Elections officials have up to 20 days to tabulate the results and pass them on to King, who would have up to 10 days to proclaim the results. The legislation would take effect 30 days thereafter. Associated Press, 11/03/99 Related Articles & Web Site: Mainers For Medical Rightshttp://www.mainers.org/Maine Approves Use of Medical Marijuana - 11/02/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3530.shtmlMaine Speaks on Medical Marijuana Measure - 11/02/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3526.shtml 
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Comment #3 posted by mitch on November 03, 1999 at 13:48:54 PT:
article-Maine approves
excellent!!! 6 down, 44 to go.
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Comment #2 posted by mitch on November 03, 1999 at 13:48:38 PT:
article-Maine approves
excellent!!! 6 down, 44 to go.
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Comment #1 posted by Dankhank on November 03, 1999 at 12:45:47 PT:
What you say???
 So phreaking what? The conflict exists beause of the myopia, fear and evil position of the Drug Czar.Americans continue to prove that they are samrter than the average bear when it comes to just plain old compassion.Good work, Mainers ....The rest of us need to get busy in the states that have no law, yet ... Let's go .....Peace 
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