cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Activists Kick Off Drive





Medical Marijuana Activists Kick Off Drive
Posted by FoM on January 19, 2000 at 19:05:17 PT
By Jason B. Harmon, Staff Writer
Source: Record Times
   Determined to demonstrate the power of grass-roots democracy, local medical marijuana activists officially began their campaign to collect about 70,000 signatures required to put the issue before Arkansas voters in November’s general election.   During their first signature collection rally held Saturday at the Fayetteville Public Library, observers say a near-capacity crowd filled the meeting room to listen as leaders from the Alliance for Reform of Drug Policy in Arkansas detailed the ballot initiative.
According to ARDPArk’s president, Denele Campbell, the proposed initiative is patterned on the success of a similar law approved in 1998 by Oregon voters, which allows physicians to recommend the use of marijuana for patients with “debilitating medical conditions.”   Such conditions, according to the proposal, include cancer, glaucoma, HIV or AIDS among others, or any other serious or chronic physical or mental condition recognized by the physician for which marijuana could potentially help.   Oversight for the proposed law would be conducted by the Arkansas Department of Health, which would issue patients an identification card to be used as proof the person was exempt from prosecution under the state’s drug laws, including statutes against possessing and growing marijuana.   During Saturday’s meeting, petitions were distributed, and the group viewed a video which included personal testimony from chronically ill people who had benefitted from using marijuana. Afterwards, the crowd was addressed by Fayetteville Alderman Kyle Russell, who believes strongly in protecting the rights of citizens to receive any medications which could improve their condition.   “I’ve never used marijuana in my whole life,” Russell said, “but I may be sick someday, and I don’t want the government standing in my way if I need it. It’s a social justice issue.”   While Campbell acknowledges ARDPArk faces an uphill battle against public misconceptions about marijuana, she remains hopeful the group can muster nearly 70,000 signatures necessary from at least 15 counties statewide to place the measure on the ballot in November.   “We’ve got a lot of hard work ahead,” Campbell said, “but people are motivated and already somewhat informed on the issue.”   Further, she added, there is a tremendous amount of support in Northwest Arkansas for the initiative, with both local leaders and concerned citizens becoming increasingly involved in the effort.   However, the proposal has received opposition from local residents and politicians, including 3rd District Congressman and former U.S. Attorney Asa Hutchinson, and one-time state senatorial candidate Anne Britton.   Seven states have already passed similar initiatives, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Washington as well as the District of Columbia, and Campbell claimed there are other states contemplating their own medical marijuana initiative efforts.   In Arkansas alone, three separate ballot initiative titles were approved by the attorney general in December, all proposed by different drug policy reform organizations.   The next meeting will be held at noon Saturday, Jan. 29 in the Fayetteville Public Library’s meeting room, where Campbell plans to provide a notary to make petition signatures official.   “This is truly an instance where the people are ahead of the politicians,” Campbell concluded.   Staff Writer Matt Wagner contributed to this report. Published: Wednesday, January 19, 2000 © 1998Related Article:Pryor Mulls 2 Proposals Making MMJ Legal - 9/23/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2985.shtml
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