cannabisnews.com: Updated Pot Law Backed Updated Pot Law Backed Posted by FoM on July 25, 2000 at 06:50:31 PT By Loie Fecteau, Journal Politics Writer Source: ABQjournal Health Secretary Alex Valdez said Monday he thinks New Mexico should repeal its medical marijuana law and replace it with one modeled on Hawaii's new program. "It's an ineffective piece of legislation for all intents and purposes, which should be repealed," Valdez told fellow members of the newly appointed Governor's Drug Policy Advisory Group. "However, something should be put in its place to reduce the pain and suffering that many people in this state are going through," Valdez said. New Mexico's medical marijuana act was passed in 1978. The state's Lynn Pierson Act was named for a 26-year-old cancer patient. New Mexico's law allows marijuana to be used to relieve nausea associated with chemotherapy and to ease eye pressure from glaucoma, but only in connection with a research project. More than 150 people used marijuana under New Mexico's law until 1986, when lawmakers stopped appropriating the $50,000 needed annually to run the program. Valdez said he tried to revive New Mexico's medical marijuana law last fall. But he said he ran into several obstacles, including a lack of interest by the academic community in a medical marijuana project. "UNM said since Marinol is on the market, there's no need for marijuana," Valdez said. Marinol, taken in pill form, is a synthetic form of a marijuana extract. Vernon Jackman, a 59-year-old Taos electrician with lung cancer, told the council that Marinol was not nearly as effective as marijuana in reducing his pain and suffering from chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Jackman said he was reluctant at first to try marijuana because it is illegal. "I didn't want to be against the law, but I was so sick I was ready to try anything," Jackman said. He said he was unable to eat or drink for weeks after undergoing chemotherapy, losing 50 pounds in two months. He also broke out in hives. "I didn't know I could be so sick," Jackman said. Jackman said he first tried two marijuana cookies made by friends on June 17. "The next morning I had an appetite," Jackman said. "I felt I could possibly get over this for the first time. ... It made a difference overnight. For the first time, I was hungry. I could eat and not throw up. For the first time, I had a glimmer of hope." Jackman said he thinks using marijuana helped put his cancer into remission, which was diagnosed in the past few weeks. "It has made a tremendous difference," he said, choking back tears. "If my friends had not brought me these cookies, I'd be dead." "You're a victim of what we've been talking about," retired state District Judge W.C. "Woody" Smith of Albuquerque, who chairs the panel, told Jackman. "That's one example of the complete insanity we're here to address." Department of Public Safety Secretary Nick Bakas, who sits on the council, said Jackman should not have to worry about breaking the law while fighting cancer. "The last thing he should worry about in his cancer state is that a police officer is going to take him to jail for marijuana," Bakas said in an interview. "We have a full plate dealing with people who injure other human beings and prey on other human beings. That's who we (police) need to concentrate on." Valdez said New Mexico should consider adopting a medical marijuana law modeled on Hawaii's, which took effect in June. The Hawaii law permits people with specific conditions, such as AIDS, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and people with glaucoma and epilepsy, to use marijuana as a medical treatment. The Hawaii law allows a qualifying patient to possess an "adequate supply" of marijuana "provided that an 'adequate supply' shall not exceed three mature marijuana plants, four immature marijuana plants, and one ounce of usable marijuana per each mature plant," according to the legislation. "Allowing people to grow their own medical marijuana will be an issue," Valdez told his fellow council members. Gov. Gary Johnson created the privately funded drug policy advisory group last month to develop drug policies in New Mexico in line with his national push to legalize marijuana and to change other drug laws. The group, which is meeting one day a month through the summer, is charged with developing so-called "harm reduction" policies in New Mexico for harder drugs, such as heroin. The policies would include treatment and prevention programs, needle exchanges, increased education, government-run clinics to dispense drugs to addicts and methadone prescription programs.Letter To The Editor: opinion abqjournal.com Contact Information:http://www.abqjournal.com/contact.htmPublished: Tuesday, July 25, 2000 Copyright Albuquerque Journal Related Articles:Med. Marijuana Research Program Could Be Revivedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/3/thread3227.shtmlMedical Marijuana May Returnhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread3216.shtmlN.M. Governor Predicts Marijuana Legalization http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread3163.shtml CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by CD1 on July 25, 2000 at 11:25:59 PT LESSONS LEARNED Thanks, FoM. One thing I have learned from this web page is follow the money. Whenever I read about a politico doing or saying something that doesn't make any sense, I just research his campaign finances and WOLAH...the answer suddenly very clear. Unfortunately, I could not find anything on Sec. Valdez (yet.) [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on July 25, 2000 at 09:21:06 PT I want to know CD1, I hope that someone follows the money trail. I want to know too. Who is making money off of what. Money can block a person's real feelings. Money can be the ultimate drug and blinder of justice.Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by CD1 on July 25, 2000 at 09:07:31 PT MARINOL Most users report that marinol has more disorienting effects than marijuana. (The psychoactive effects of marijuana is supposedly one of the main reasons for its prohibition.) Let's read between the lines: Pharmaceutical companies can make a profit with marinol, but not with marijuana (which can easily be produced in one's own home.) I can't say for sure, but I am willing to bet that Sec. Valdez may have received campaign contributions from "Health Industry" organizations. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: