cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Makes The Cut Medical Marijuana Makes The Cut Posted by FoM on March 09, 2000 at 07:48:20 PT By Pat Omandam and Richard Borreca Source: Star-Bulletin For years, advocates have argued that marijuana use should be legalized for medicinal purposes. Each time, such measures have gone up in smoke.Yesterday, the Senate and House struck the match to further debate on the issue by swapping bills permitting medicinal use of marijuana -- for the first time. Preliminary approvals came with a one-vote margin in the state Senate and a two-thirds majority vote in the House.The two bills were among hundreds passed by the House and Senate as both chambers exchanged bills before tomorrow's legislative crossover deadline.The Senate bill on marijuana would allow persons with a life-threatening or debilitating illness such cancer, AIDS or glaucoma to possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use. The Senate's two Republicans split on the issue, with Sen. Whitney Anderson (R, Kailua, Waimanalo) saying he opposed legalizing marijuana for anyone.But Republican Sen. Sam Slom (R, Kalama Valley, Aina Haina) said persons suffering from serious and painful medical problems should be free to use whatever means are available to stop their suffering.The Senate bill would allow people with a life-threatening or debilitating illness such as cancer, AIDS or glaucoma to possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Democrat Norman Sakamoto (D, Moanalua, Salt Lake) said any legalization would lead to "potential criminal activity." "We are not in business to tempt people to bend the law," he said.Voting against the bill were Sens. Sakamoto, Anderson, David Ige (D, Pearlridge, Pacific Palisades), Marshall Ige (D, Kaneohe, Enchanted Lake), Randy Iwase (D, Mililani, Waipio Gentry), Cal Kawamoto (D, Waipahu, Pearl City), Rod Tam (D, Downtown, Nuuanu), David Matsuura (D, South Hilo, Puna), Lorraine Inouye (D, North Hilo, Kohala), Jan Yagi Buen (D, North/West Maui, Molokai, Lanai), Bob Nakata (D, Kaneohe-Kahuku) and Jonathan Chun (D, South Kauai, Niihau).In the House, 18 lawmakers opposed the bill to allow patients to acquire, possess, cultivate, distribute and use marijuana with a written doctor's note for treatment.The two big glamour issues of the Senate session -- civil service reform and gun control -- passed with little debate.Published: Wednesday, March 8, 2000 © 2000 Honolulu Star-BulletinRelated Articles:Legislators Approve Marijuana Proposals http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5006.shtmlMedical Marijuana Bills Making Progresshttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4969.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana News Archives:http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml http://www.cannabinoid.com/wwwboard/politics/messages/22849.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by FoM on March 21, 2000 at 07:12:04 PT Marijuana Makes Chemotherapy Bearable Marijuana Makes Chemotherapy BearablePublished: March 20, 2000Star-Bulletinhttp://starbulletin.com/I am saddened by your March 9 editorial stance against the use of marijuana for medical purposes. I went through cancer chemotherapy last year and was given state-of-the-art, anti-emetic medications. It stopped the vomiting, but didn't work as well on the nausea.A friend who saw how I was suffering offered me a joint. I scoffed, remembering high school fumblings with a drug that did nothing more than make me giggly. To my amazement, it worked. After smoking it, I ate my first solid food in two weeks. I was a happy criminal for the rest of my treatment. If, God forbid, my cancer comes back, I hope to have access to marijuana again. I will not go through chemotherapy again without it. I don't wish cancer on anyone, but opponents of the medical use of marijuana need to walk a mile in a chemotherapy patient's shoes before condemning his or her decision to smoke marijuana. Catharine HoneymanMidway Island [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 09, 2000 at 08:02:21 PT Another Test Page http://www.cannabinoid.com/wwwboard/politics/messages/22879.shtml [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: