cannabisnews.com: Red Tape Thwarts Legal Use of Marijuana Red Tape Thwarts Legal Use of Marijuana Posted by FoM on October 07, 2000 at 11:39:06 PT By Dan Nakaso, Advertiser Staff Writer Source: Honolulu Advertiser Maribeth Forrest served three years in prison for a drug violation, so she wanted to make certain she followed the law for registering as a medical marijuana patient. Forrest asked her doctor of six years, Gary Greenly, to fill out a form attesting that she would benefit from medical marijuana because of chronic pain from a series of car accidents. Greenly turned the form over to state narcotics authorities last month, just as the medical marijuana provision mandated when it became law in June. Greenly and Forrest were surprised when the head of Hawaii narcotics enforcement told them the form was invalid because it didn’t come from the state. Their surprise turned to frustration when they were told that the state won’t have its own form until at least December, keeping medical marijuana out of reach for patients who want to follow legal channels."It’s just bureaucracy at its best," Greenly said. "The appropriate state agency is bluntly stating that there are no forms out there which are valid or legal. Until the paperwork gets resolved, unfortunately there isn’t much recourse for a physician to prescribe marijuana for patients’ usage."Forrest, a 50-year-old photographer, entertainment promoter and former belly dancer, couldn’t hide her frustration."I’ve been waiting for medical marijuana to be approved for a long time," she said. "If I wanted to smoke marijuana illegally, I’d do it and I wouldn’t wave a piece of paper signed by me in front of (narcotics agents) saying, ‘Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah.’ That’s like waving a red flag in front of a bull. This is ridiculous. This is stupid."Even as voters in Colorado consider joining Hawaii and seven other states and the District of Columbia in legalizing marijuana for medical use, critics say that Hawaii narcotics administrators continue to delay implementing the law."The result is that it has a chilling effect," said Tom Mountain, who has organized the Honolulu Medical Marijuana Patients’ Co-op and gave Forrest her medical marijuana form, which is based on similar forms in other states.Hawaii’s procedures still must go before public hearings, said Keith Kamita, administrator of the Department of Public Safety’s Narcotics Enforcement Division. Until everything is settled, Kamita said, no one can legally smoke marijuana in Hawai‘i.The delays haven’t helped the confusion and concern among Hawaii doctors."I don’t have much experience with this," said Dr. Jonathan Cho, a cancer specialist. "I want to feel comfortable with the legal issues."On Thursday, Kamita will appear for the first time before a group of doctors to discuss the implications for them.A federal judge in California ruled last month that federal officials cannot remove the prescription licenses of doctors who endorse medical marijuana for patients suffering from such things as AIDS and cancer. As is the case in Hawaii, the California law does not override federal prohibitions against doctors prescribing drugs such as marijuana."I’m not giving them assurances," Kamita said. "This is still a federal violation."Dr. Don Purcell invited Kamita to appear before the Queen’s Physician Group Foundation because Purcell’s patients have been asking about medical marijuana.All Purcell can tell them is "it’s not available at this time and the narcotics enforcement division is still working out the mechanism where it can be recommended."For Forrest, the delays "mean I’m still in limbo."She served time in two Hawaii prisons from 1990 to 1993 for trying to trade 8 ounces of cocaine for 12 pounds of marijuana, she said. Forrest said she needed the marijuana because it’s the only thing that eases her pain for migraines and a crushed hip."I did hard time once," she said. "The last thing I want to do is get in trouble with the law again." Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI)Author: Dan NakasoPublished: Saturday, October 7, 2000 Copyright: 2000 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.Contact: letters honoluluadvertiser.comAddress: P.O. Box 3110 Honolulu, HI 96802Fax: (808) 525-8037Website: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Hawaii Legislature: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/Drug Policy Forum: http://www.drugsense.org/dpfhi/ Hawaii Decriminalizes Marijuana for Medical Use http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6061.shtmlHawaii Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6060.shtmlHawaii Senate Approves Medical Marijuana Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5510.shtml CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by Roger Christie on October 09, 2000 at 01:46:33 PT: Get licensed for cannabis use...free! Ah, the dominator/controllers of state government here in Hawai'i are showing their authoritarian stuff... over the sick and dying bodies of their own people. The "aloha state"? A cruel joke.Listen-up. Want to have legal protection for your use of cannabis in Hawai'i and elsewhere? Get ordained as a legal minister from the Universal Life Church at www.ulc.org, AND paperwork from me at The Hawai'i Cannabis Ministry. Then get a license from your state to marry people. Bingo! The First Amendment is the one to protect our enjoyment of 'the high that heals', cannabis hemp. It is our sacrament, the one that prevents cancer and heart disease, reduces stress and makes us comfortable in our bodies as one with God/dess, the Great You Name It.A minister's license is the full driver's license to the First Amendment. Try it. You'll like it.All the best to you and yours, Roger Christie THE HAWAI'I CANNABIS MINISTRY "Come Grow With Us" (808) 961-0488 pakaloha gte.net [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by EdC on October 08, 2000 at 04:50:21 PT Medical mj She turned in a form from the doctor attesting that she would benefit from medical marijuana because of chronic pain from a series of car accidents. The head of narcotics enforcement said that the form was invalid because it doesn't come from the state, and the state doesn't have any forms. Nonsense. Pot isn't a narcotic anyway, except in the fuzzy world of the drug war, so they shouldn't even be involved. In fact, they shouldn't even exist. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: