cannabisnews.com: Med MJ Sponsors Blast Senate Attempt to Gut-692!





Med MJ Sponsors Blast Senate Attempt to Gut-692!
Posted by FoM on February 23, 1999 at 17:17:13 PT

SEATTLE, A senate bill proposing to amend Washington's new medical marijuana law would stifle its implementation, rather than helping doctors, patients or police, says the sponsor of Initiative 692. 
"We need to give the law a chance to work," said Dr. Rob Killian, primary sponsor of Initiative 692, in response to Senate Bill 5771, introduced last week by five state senators. "This is an outrageous attempt to make the new law less effective," Killian said. "It puts a heavy burden on physicians already nervous about federal restrictions, and compromises the privacy of the patient-physician relationship. "This is a delayed attempt to overturn the overwhelming vote of the people." Sponsors of SB 5771 claim the bill would remain true to the intent of the new law, merely clarifying certain elements. But in reality, SB 5771 proposes changes that will hurt patients. In addition to adding bureaucratic interference in the patient-physician relationship, it specifically allows any employer to fire an employee who uses medical marijuana under their doctor's approval. Dr. Killian said, "The challenges we face in implementing this new law come from the Federal Government, which continues to deny patients access to this medicine. Why add layers of bureaucracy and regulation at the state level, too?" SB 5771, currently before the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee, was drafted without consultation with supporters of I-692 -- and it shows. The bill requires physicians to report to the state every time they advise a patient about the medical use of marijuana. Moreover, the bill would restrict I-692's protections to only those patients who waive confidentiality of their medical records, specifically giving law enforcement officials access to this private information. Dr. Killian continued, "It is simply cruel to impose these burdens on doctors and patients. This is a not-so-subtle attempt to gut I-692 by making it totally unattractive for anyone to access its protections." Finally, SB 5771 would allow employers to fire -- at will -- any patient who uses medical marijuana under their doctor's approval. "The sponsors' hostility to medical marijuana patients is obvious in this provision," Dr. Killian states. "I-692 already includes protections for employers, but they want to add fixes for problems that don't exist. This provision underscores our position that I-692 should be given the chance to work before any tinkering or unraveling of the new law is considered." Initiative 692, the Washington State Medical Marijuana Act, was approved into law by 59% of voters in the general election held in November of 1998. 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: