cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Proposals Onerous





Medical Marijuana Proposals Onerous
Posted by FoM on November 23, 2000 at 08:46:28 PT
By Dan Nakaso, Advertiser Staff Writer
Source: Honolulu Advertiser
Speaker after speaker picked apart the rules and procedures proposed for Hawaii’s medical marijuana program yesterday, calling them "onerous," "burdensome" and far beyond what legislators wanted.At the first public hearing to discuss the proposed rules, patients, marijuana advocates, health-care providers and others recited a litany of problems they say threaten the program before it gets under way.
Among them: Doctors will hesitate to certify patients for medical marijuana use, the speakers said, when the doctors learn they have to monitor the amount of patients’ marijuana and report any changes in the patients’ information within five days. A ban on carrying medical marijuana from island to island discriminates against Neighbor Island patients, they said, many of whom must travel to Oahu for care. The proposed $25 fee charged to both patients and their caregivers to register with the state narcotics enforcement division is not required under the law and will be a hardship. Others said it might not be enough to keep the program running. While the comments were sometimes contradictory, the overall sentiment was summed up by Jeff Crawford, a former clinical psychologist who treated AIDS patients who used marijuana. "These rules would turn the compassionate act passed last April into an expensive and risky bureaucratic maze for patients and physicians," Crawford said. "These unworkable rules represent an arrogant slap in the face to the governor, our legislators and, most of all, the sick and debilitated patients who have spent the past five months needlessly suffering while law-enforcement bureaucrats ignored public input and wrote these draconian restrictions."Not all of the people who spoke yesterday focused on criticisms of the rules.Paula Arcena, legislative and government affairs director for the Hawaii Medical Association, repeated the organization’s opposition to legalizing medical marijuana. The group, which has 1,700 members, believes the hazards of smoking mean that marijuana should only be prescribed to terminally ill patients, Arcena said.The narcotics enforcement division will review the comments and decide within 30 days whether any changes need to be made, said Pauline Namuo, deputy director for administration for the Department of Public Safety, which oversees the narcotics enforcement division.Gov. Ben Cayetano signed the bill into law in June, making Hawaii the eighth state to legalize possession of marijuana when used for medical treatment. The law allows people to use marijuana if they have a "debilitating medical condition" such as cancer, glaucoma or AIDS or for a medical condition that causes pain, nausea or other problems.In the time since, patients have complained that they can’t get marijuana legally because no procedures have been put into place. Some have tried to use their own registration forms, only to have them rejected by state narcotics enforcement officials. Outlaw growers also have organized illegal huis to provide marijuana.But those who complained about the proposed rules yesterday also worried that changing them will only result in further delays. "People are dying painful deaths as we speak," said Kat Brady, who took care of two terminally ill people. "Many people have been unable to alleviate their agony. They are waiting. They know they are close, but how long will it take? What will it take?" Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI)Author: Dan Nakaso, Advertiser Staff WriterPublished: Thursday, November 23, 2000Copyright: 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:Drug Policy Forum 0f Hawaiihttp://www.drugsense.org/dpfhi/ Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institutehttp://www.medijuana.com/Hearing To Discuss Rules On Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7444.shtml Medical Marijuana Hearing Nov. 22 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7494.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by robby on May 27, 2001 at 18:04:19 PT:
send sanctuary kit ro this e-mail 
send sanc tuary kit
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Comment #3 posted by Rev. Jonathan Adler on November 25, 2000 at 10:04:13 PT:
Rules and Reverends.
Aloha Again from the Big Island of Hawaii! Recently, I attended the hearings on marijuana rules. As a reverend of the REligion of Jesus Church here in Hawaii since March 20, 1974: I am considered an elder of our ministry. I have publically and actively supplied cannabis to needy medical patients and members of my branch of our church legally and have been arrested, imprisoned, defamed, shot at, kidnaped, and hindered by police with no compelling interest in burdening my religious freedom. I still operate my website www.medijuana.com since 1997 and we offer our services to everyone who wishes to be legal and protected in their use of our holy herb. Call toll-free 1-877-medijuana or 808-982-7640 for membership information. They can't stop us now! I missed you at the hearing Roger, but your spirit was felt.I did corner the Governor and Ted Sakai- Public Safety, so they know how serious I am first hand! My green t-shirt said    "GOT POT!?" They smiled. I am never giving up.
Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute
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Comment #2 posted by dddd on November 23, 2000 at 23:54:27 PT
Ministry
Roger,,I like your positive approach.I am amazed,and curious about how you went about being licensed by the State of Hawaii,as a "Cannabis Sacrament Minister". May JAH shine on you....dddd
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Comment #1 posted by Roger Christie on November 23, 2000 at 13:07:14 PT:
 "We use cannabis religiously."
Aloha from Hilo on the big, smoking volcano...Hawai'i. The Hawai'i medical marijuana legislation PASSED and SIGNED INTO LAW on June 14, 2000 is a very mixed bag. The State says cannabis is NOT available to anyone, yet, inspite of the new law. Huh? I (we) say cannabis IS available here now for those under the protection of a cannabis sacrament ministry. The Hawai'i Cannabis Ministry, the Religion of Jesus Churchand Rastafarians clearly have, in my opinion, the legal right to cultivate, use and enjoy cannabis NOW. Want or need marijuana for medical purposes? Join a cannabis ministry or church and proceed. "We use cannabis religiously!"  Bingo! What is clear to me is that the recent legislation provides just the REASONABLE DOUBT necessary for a "patient" to keep from being transformed into a "prisoner". The law is so confusing, restrictive and bureaucratic that no one can figure it out satisfactorily. "Reasonable doubt". Steve Alm, the Federal Prosecutor here told me and others personally that he would NOT prosecute ANY medical marijuana patient.  Local police, prosecutors and juries are NOT likely to indict, more less convict, a patient with basic qualifications for med-pot. The new law gives most of us the reasonable doubt to win a legal case.What is much better than the new law is the time-honored tradition of a ministry to provide 'comfort' for its people.That comfort in the form of the Holy Sacrament cannabis IS available now. I was licensed by the State if Hawaii in June 2000 as a "Cannabis Sacrament Minister". Reasonable doubt? You bet!Please email or call me for a "Cannabis Sanctuary Kit", a sincere and legal basis for enjoying cannabis now.{If you want protection for medical use of marijuana, insist that your doctor write on your medical record this statement: "Patient says he/she gets relief from medical marijuana." More "reasonable doubt" without begging your doctor for a recommendation or a prescription. Bingo!}All the very best Thanksgiving to you and yours,Roger Rev. Roger ChristieThe Hawai'i Cannabis Ministry"We use cannabis religiously."(808) 961-0488
http://www.thc-ministry.org
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