cannabisnews.com: Ketterer Says Impact of Marijuana Vote 'Overrated'





Ketterer Says Impact of Marijuana Vote 'Overrated'
Posted by FoM on November 04, 1999 at 06:50:53 PT
By Associated Press
Source: Boston Globe
The passage by Maine voters of a referendum legalizing marijuana for certain medical use will not have much impact on law enforcement operations, according to state Attorney General Andrew Ketterer. 
Ketterer said Wednesday that he believes the potential impact of the law is ''overrated.'' He added that he would not support any immediate effort to overturn the law. ''From a law enforcement point of view, because I believe it's going to have a negligible impact, it's not something I'm going to be pursuing,'' he said. ''I can live with that statute the way it's written.'' The citizen initiative allows possession of marijuana when patients are advised by a doctor that they might benefit by 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. Election officials have up to 20 days to tabulate the results and pass them on to Gov. Angus King, who would have up to 10 days to proclaim the results. The legislation would take effect 30 days thereafter. King is considering asking Ketterer to set up a task force to work out the details of the new law, according to spokesman Dennis Bailey. A task force would address such questions as physician liability, as the use of marijuana for any reason is still illegal under federal law, and questions about practical application of the law. ''I don't think anybody has a clear understanding of how this thing is going to work,'' Bailey said. Related Articles & Web Site:Mainers For Medical Rightshttp://www.mainers.org/Mainers Strongly Support Allowing Marijuana - 11/03/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3542.shtmlMaine Voters Endorse Medical Marijuana - 11/03/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3541.shtmlMaine Approves Medical Marijuana Measure - 11/03/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3540.shtmlMaine Approves Use of Medical Marijuana - 11/02/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3530.shtml 
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