cannabisnews.com: Bill Expected to Revive Medical Marijuana Law





Bill Expected to Revive Medical Marijuana Law
Posted by FoM on November 26, 1999 at 15:13:38 PT
The Associated Press 
Source: ABQjournal
State Health Secretary Alex Valdez has drafted a measure to revive a New Mexico law that allows marijuana to be used for medical purposes, such as relieving the nausea associated with chemotherapy. 
"We need to move forward on this deal," Valdez said Tuesday. Valdez drafted the measure on orders of Gov. Gary Johnson, and said the legislation, which would appropriate $150,000 for the program, had been submitted to Johnson's office. New Mexico lawmakers in 1978 passed the Lynn Pierson Act, named for a 26-year-old cancer patient. The law allows marijuana to be used to relieve nausea associated with chemotherapy and to ease eye pressure from glaucoma in connection with a research project. It also allows a review board appointed by the Health Department secretary to approve other legitimate medical uses. The board, made up of a psychiatrist, ophthalmologist and oncologist, must approve all applicants and their physicians. More than 250 people used marijuana under the law until 1986, when lawmakers stopped appropriating the $50,000 needed annually to run the program. Valdez began studying the law last summer after threats of a class action lawsuit by its supporters. "It says the administrator -- that's me -- shall appoint a patient qualification review board," Valdez said. "It says the administrator shall obtain marijuana. There's no discretion in here in terms of what I must do, and the fact of the matter is we're mandated to have this program in place." Critics contend medical marijuana is a smokescreen for legalization. "I don't want any back-door approach trying to legalize this stuff, and I will fight it as far as I can," said House Minority Leader Ted Hobbs of Albuquerque. "If this is a campaign to figure out a way slide in the closet with this thing, I don't like it at all. I'd rather have it straight out -- and straight out it's going to lose." Rep. Max Coll of Santa Fe, vice chairman of the Legislative Finance Committee, said he wanted to see the legislation before commenting on the issue. "I'd probably vote to fund it if it's just a straight vote to fund," said Coll, D-Santa Fe. "We passed that (Pierson Act) . . . to help people who are badly in need of that kind of help. I think in those kinds of cases it's OK." Last Monday, attorney Charlie Knoblauch sued Valdez for nonfeasance and asked the state Supreme Court to force the secretary to provide marijuana for his client, electronics technician Tony Cognetto of Albuquerque, who has non-Hodgkins lymphoma. No hearing has been set. "Last January, Tony went through an initial round of chemo and radiation, and they thought they had it," Knoblauch said. "But about three weeks ago it was discovered again, and he's going through intensive chemotherapy right now. And he needs the stuff to control his nausea and vomiting." Two other men, University of New Mexico nurse Bryan Krumm and Ed McWilliams, have threatened a lawsuit to reactivate the program. Krumm has said he wants marijuana to ease knee pain from an accident and for depression. McWilliams hopes to get it to treat his migraines. Valdez said last month funding a marijuana therapeutic research program would not be a priority in his budget request. But Johnson's legislative liaison, Dave Miller, said the governor -- who has pushed to legalize drugs such as marijuana and heroin -- told Valdez to get a medical marijuana program going. Published: November 26, 1999Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999 Albuquerque JournalRelated Articles:Med. Marijuana Research Program Could Be Revived - 10/10/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3227.shtmlMedical Marijuana May Return - 10/09/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3216.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by jami on January 24, 2001 at 04:00:09 PT:
i have glaucoma
i am 14 and was born with a very very rair form of glaucoma called reegers disease. i in herited it from my father whom is now blind in one eye from glaucoma and will soo go blind in the other because of a caterac. when most people grow in to it when they get old i was born with it and will have to deal with it for the rest of my life. i was put on eyes drops in with if i do not take every morning and night i wil slowly go blind. i just wanted to say if this is made legal im sure i will benifit for itthank youjami hilderbrand
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