cannabisnews.com: State Would Distribute Confiscated Marijuana State Would Distribute Confiscated Marijuana Posted by FoM on March 13, 2000 at 07:39:33 PT Law is Meant to Help People Get Marijuana Source: Foster's Daily Democrat A bill before the Legislature would have the state distribute confiscated marijuana plants to people who are allowed to use it for medical reasons.The law is meant to help people who have trouble getting marijuana to help treat their medical conditions, a practice that Maine voters approved in November. But even the bill’s sponsor doubts it will pass, as long as marijuana possession remains illegal under federal law. "The federal government really has to change its attitude about marijuana, it’s got to allow research," said Sen. Anne Rand, D-Portland.The bill calls for the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency to distribute the marijuana, and provides for a registry of patients allowed to use it.Bryan Clark, 26, favors the law. He has been using marijuana to quell the nausea that began after he got the AIDS virus at age 13 from the blood clotting agent prescribed for his hemophilia.His doctor has written a letter saying Clark meets the requirements of the state law. But federal anti-marijuana laws keep Clark from getting it by prescription, and growing it at home is too expensive, he says — $500 for lighting equipment and about $50 in electricity per month.The only other option is buying it illegally, he says, which defeats the purpose of the new state law."The fear ain’t over," he said. "You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do, and that’s the unfortunate thing about this."The Health and Human Services Committee planned a hearing on the bill this morning.Maine Attorney General Andrew Ketterer is forming a task force to study the question. It includes Rand, as well as three physicians and Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion.Dion sympathizes with Clark and supported the November ballot question, but says the new proposal raises "delicate" public policy questions, such as any liability the state might face for any harm caused by the marijuana plants it distributes."Shall the state be engaged in growing material in order to assure safety, and then pass that on to designated individuals?" he said.The co-chairs of the task force are state Rep. Edward Povich, D-Ellsworth and chair of the Criminal Justice Committee, and James Cameron, the assistant attorney general who coordinates state drug prosecutions.It also includes the president of the Maine Sheriff’s Association, which opposed the medical marijuana law, the director of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the commissioner of the Maine Department of Public Safety.The law approved in November limits medical marijuana use to those who have nausea, vomiting or wasting syndrome from AIDS; who are undergoing chemotherapy; who have glaucoma; or who have chronic seizures or muscle spasms.Patients must be under a physician’s care and must discuss the use of medical marijuana with the physician.Patients may have up to an ounce-and-a-quarter of marijuana or six plants, no more than three of which may be flowering.Medical marijuana patients are not permitted to smoke marijuana in public places.Portland, Maine (AP) Published: Monday, March 13, 2000© 2000 Geo. J. Foster Co. Related Articles & Web Site:Mainers For Medical Rightshttp://www.mainers.org/Maine Voters Endorse Medical Marijuanahttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3541.shtmlMaine Approves Medical Marijuana Measure http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3540.shtmlMaine Approves Use of Medical Marijuana http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3530.shtml CannabisNews Articles On Maine:http://www.google.com/search?q=CannabisNews+Maine Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by James Markes on March 13, 2000 at 19:47:15 PT bad idea This law would bve a bad idea. I would hate to be the medical patient who got the poy laced with PCP or cocaine. I seriously doubt the state will spend the big buck and take the time to test every single seperate sample. And the quality would be inconsistant each time, also a bad scenario for medical patient. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by MMM on March 13, 2000 at 12:37:30 PT They already distribute What do you think they do with the marijuana they now confiscate? Believe me, I know first hand that it's not going to waste. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on March 13, 2000 at 08:56:06 PT: Robbing Peter to pay Paul? So, the State *steals* cannabis from one group (some of who were medical users, no doubt), and gives it to another group of medical users which it has blessed with sanctity? This is one more illustration as to why governments at all levels should simply back off and accept the fact that the proscription against MJ use was unworkable, period, and regulate its' sale in controled, licensed stores at prices that discourage black-marketeering while simultaneously allowing less stringently limited cultivation. Otherwise, the State will soon be legal Peeping Toms, poking it's nose in every window to see if only the regulation number of plants are being grown. God, how dumb. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: