cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Law Goes into Effect!





Medical Marijuana Law Goes into Effect!
Posted by FoM on March 04, 1999 at 08:29:37 PT

Nearly 60 percent of the voters in the November election favored the measure, which allows marijuana use for ailments including cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, chronic pain, seizures and muscle spasms, provided the patient has a doctor's recommendation. 
JUNEAU, Alaska -- Alaska's medical marijuana law goes into effect today, offering a legal shield to people who smoke the weed for a short list of medical ailments. The law allows patients to grow limited amounts of marijuana and protects doctors who recommend it. Growing, selling or using marijuana for recreational purposes remains illegal and marijuana is still classified with heroin and LSD under federal law. However, a bill introduced in Congress on Wednesday would set aside the federal ban on marijuana in the states that have approved its use: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and Nevada. Although the Alaska law calls for identification cards that medical marijuana users could show to fend off arrest, the Department of Health and Social Services is not yet accepting applications for a registry of qualified patients. Even without a card, the law will provide a defense if people are arrested for using medical marijuana. Patients will be allowed to keep 1 ounce of marijuana, or grow six plants, including three flowering plants. "I would expect that the police would exercise some discretion, and ask appropriate questions that would allow them to gain enough information to determine if the person is legitimately using marijuana for medical purpose or just using it as an excuse," said Dean Guaneli, the state's chief assistant attorney general. Ned Tuthill wishes the law had come about a few years earlier. The retired airline pilot was using marijuana to ease chronic pain caused by a severe car crash when a neighbor complained to authorities about the marijuana patch on his property in Homer. Tuthill was placed on probation after a plea bargain that forbids him from smoking marijuana. "I have period of times when my pain is so severe that I just can't do anything," said Tuthill, 48, who says other pain medications nauseate him. http://www.cnn.com/
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on March 05, 1999 at 06:17:34 PT
Can't Give Up!
It sure is discouraging at times but I don't want to give up hope! Bad laws need good people to help change them and I believe that the Internet will be the tool to show good people a way to help. Before the Internet there was no hope but maybe with this wonderful communication tool we will see change. Keeping my fingers crossed! Peace, FoM!
FoM's Freedom Page
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Comment #3 posted by BigAb on March 05, 1999 at 04:17:04 PT
re:
 I wish I could share your joy in this BUT!!!!!!!!All I see is another concerted effort to CRUSH the efforts of citizens with false hope! "Sure, we'll give pot to sick folks".... so we can arrest and rob them blind when they get into the "general public" with a few joints......Think not ?????? Does the name Kubby or Chavez mean anything to you ????? If you have'nt done so yet you should read Jack Herer's book "The Emporer Wears no Clothes"..........Any legalisation of pot will make the DEA's house of cards fall down.......Do you really in your wildest dreams think that a bunch of "smart ass" collage boys who are 3rd or 4th generation public service employees are going to allow their jobs to "go up in smoke"(sorry, I could'nt resist)......Not to mention the mulit-billion dollar a year monster that eats its young and the innocent!!!!Forfeture laws alone will keep the beast alive.......Would'nt it be addictive to "under cover of law" kick a door in and ransack the place filling your pockets with loot and getting a "new" car........Don't even say it don't happen !!!!!! Our local D.A. is touring town now in a Jag that was "popped" for "conspiracy...Until the "dirt" of years worth of out-right lies and gestapo tactics are cleaned from the eyes of the citizens ,and it's learned how the entire thing is fuled by corprate greed and personal gain of the "government" we are beaten.... It's obvious they will tell any lie, imprision without trial, and legally "rape,pillage and plunder" to keep this dinosauer going..........Too many jobs and too many billions of bucks.......Think of it. If you could steal and rob at will with no thought of being held accountable would you want to give it up?????I love you guys BUT, don't hold your breath........
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on March 04, 1999 at 08:58:25 PT
It's a happy day!
What you wrote is so true! I'm really excited about all this good news too! One step at a time. If marijuana could be reclassified to a Schedule II drug then it would be just a matter of time until the laws change, I believe! I can always hope it will!
FoM's Freedom Page
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Comment #1 posted by Cavern on March 04, 1999 at 08:47:17 PT
ALRIGHT!
It makes me pretty happy to hear more and more states passing medical marijuana bills. Soon MJ will be legal for medical purposes, and then in a few years you will see it become legal for recreational use!!!
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