cannabisnews.com: House Panel Refuses to Back Medical Marijuana House Panel Refuses to Back Medical Marijuana Posted by FoM on February 09, 2001 at 06:45:04 PT By Chris Osher, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Supporters came in wheelchairs and with walking sticks to push legislation that would allow the medical use of marijuana, but they left the state Capitol disappointed Thursday. The House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee declined to recommend passage of House Bill 1303 by state Rep. Jim Lendall, D-Mabelvale. Opponents expressed fears that the measure would make it harder for law enforcement to prosecute illegal marijuana trafficking and could harm those who want to use the drug to treat their ailments. Betty Wicker of Imboden said the drug was the only thing that gave her relief from cerebral palsy, which she said was caused when she fell from a horse. "I have had more seizures in this last year since I quit taking marijuana," Wicker said. "Doctors have had me on morphine and tranquilizers, but none of them seems to keep me from having seizures as the marijuana did." She trembled violently as she spoke into the microphone. She said her palsy caused the trembling. Wicker told the committee that she stopped using marijuana after police arrested her last year for possession of marijuana after they responded to a domestic disturbance at her niece's home. She said that in 1993, a doctor told her she should start taking the drug to treat herself. Reps. Shawn Womack, R-Mountain Home, and Bill Scrimshire, D-Malvern, pointed out that the Federal Drug Administration has approved the use of Marinol, which can be prescribed and is composed primarily of tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly known as THC, a component of marijuana. Several of those with ailments who were present said Marinol did not give them the same relief. They said they couldn't control the dosage, it was costly and it made them nauseous, causing them to regurgitate the pills in some instances. Speaking from a wheelchair, John Markes of Conway, a disabled veteran, said he had been diagnosed with a digestive disorder that caused him to lose 75 pounds. After a doctor told him to try marijuana, he gained 28 pounds in the first month, he said. He said he wanted to try Marinol, but the doctor told him he would need to have a good digestive system to receive the benefits of Marinol. The legislative activity regarding medical marijuana in Arkansas follows ballot successes last November in Colorado and Nevada, where voters approved the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The movement has gained momentum for such use of marijuana since California voters allowed cooperatives to buy marijuana to treat ailments in 1996. Since then, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon and Washington, D.C., voters have passed similar measures, according to press accounts. The U.S. Supreme Court in November of last year agreed to weigh the legality of California's law. The case is pending. Lendall failed to convince the Legislature to pass a similar bill during the 1999 legislative session. He said he will talk to committee members before deciding whether to make another try at passing the measure this year. Fay Boozman, director of the Arkansas Health Department, told the committee that his agency thinks more research is needed on the issue. He added that he feared passage of the bill would require additional resources so his agency could weed out illegal drug traffickers from those legitimately seeking treatment. Lendall's bill would authorize the department to issue identification cards to those 18 and over if a doctor decides they should use marijuana for medical reasons. Possession of an ounce or less of marijuana is now a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine not exceeding $1,000. The smoking of marijuana actually will cause more harm than benefits for the ill, predicted Ken Fithen of Sherwood, the associate director of the Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council. He said the inhalation of smoke is dangerous when cigarettes are involved and even more dangerous with marijuana. Denele Campbell, who lives near West Fork and is executive director of the Alliance for the Reform of Drug Policies in Arkansas, said her group will continue gathering signatures in an effort to force a statewide referendum on whether marijuana can be used for medicine. The group failed to get enough signatures to put such an initiative on the ballot last year. Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (AR) Author: Chris Osher, Arkansas Democrat-GazettePublished: Friday, February 9, 2001Copyright: 2001 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Address: 121 East Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72201 Contact: voices ardemgaz.com Website: http://www.ardemgaz.com/ Forum: http://www.ardemgaz.com/info/voices.html CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by fixjuxa on February 10, 2001 at 17:22:23 PT: Don't think I'll reside here for much longer. I'm quickly coming to the conclusion that I will not live in America for the rest of my life. When your own goverment is so misinformed and ignorant that they won't even legalize marijuana for sick people who actually have a reason to consume it besides the fact that it get's you high, you know for a fact that it never be legalized for recreational use. I have absolutely no respect for our goverment. If only people who didn't smoke marijuana or use drugs would realize that the longer marijuana and all other illicit drugs remain illegal the greater the chance the goverment will take away more and more of our rights and personal freedoms. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Frank on February 10, 2001 at 05:14:01 PT Preachers, Politicians, Liars Know What's Best? Fay Boozman, director of the Arkansas Health Department, told the committee that his agency thinks more research is needed on the issue. The smoking of marijuana actually will cause more harm than benefits for the ill, predicted Ken Fithen of Sherwood, the associate director of the Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council. He said the inhalation of smoke is dangerous when cigarettes are involved and even more dangerous with marijuana.How is it that an organic molecule can be discovered in a laboratory then be tested as a drug and be brought to market in 5 years? And after centuries of use, marijuana needs more research? The associate director of the “Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council” knows all about medicine? Is it not strange that policeman, lawyers, politicians, preachers and liars make all the decisions when it comes to the medical use of marijuana? It’s never a medical doctor? [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on February 09, 2001 at 19:46:03 PT I'm Sorry John I'm really sorry that this happened. What a disappointment you must feel. Let's hope that the court case in California helps brings this to a head soon. I never thought I would see so many people fight against Cannabis as I have. I'm stunned almost daily anymore. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by John Markes on February 09, 2001 at 19:38:40 PT Stuff that happened... 4 patients, a retired medical doctor, the director or Arkansas ACLU - Rita Sklaar, ARDPArk president Denele Campbell and Representative Jim Lendall spoke for the bill. several people spoke against it.4 reps voted for it, which is 3 more than last time... but it failed to pass in committee... :(I was priviledged to have about 8 reps come up to me and thank me for being there and speaking. Several were not on the committee.One of the reps on the committee will try to get an interim study going, This will allow the committee to keep meeting and learning about the option of medical marijuana so they can be prepared and present their findings to the full house next time the state legislature meets.I also spoke to the director of the Arkansas Health Department afterwards. He spoke to provide info only, not for or against. He thanked me for being there. I asked him about the clause in the law under manufacturing drugs. It says it's not manufacturing if it's for personal medical use. He said he would look into it. I told hig "that's great! I would call him." Everyone looked at him.'He hemmed and hawwed for a moment, then gave me the name of someone at the health department that would look into it. I will keep calling them.He then told me he and th health department still supported providing acces via studies. I inquired about people like myself, who are singular medical problems, not a group. He said we could do N-of-1 studies with single patients as well, it's done all the ime. So I will keep up with them on that as well.I also spoke to Rep. Jim Lendall. He is checking with the parlamentarian people about bills for single patients for whom marijuana is the only thing keeping them alive. If it works for me, others can do it. :)I think it was a success. We still have many people to teach, but they are statring to listen. This bill was debated in an extra-long special session, with 10 minute voted per side after for debate. It was a serious discussion, compare to a few giggles and a big NO last time. John Markes Alliance for Reform of Drug Policy in Arkansas (ARDPArk) [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by MikeEEEEE on February 09, 2001 at 16:10:04 PT Any surprise here? The Capitol has been really out of touch with reality on this issue.As usual WE THE PEOPLE will have to decide the issue for them. Most western states have already approved medical marijuana by a vote, a pencil pusher didn't decide, the PEOPLE did. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by meagain on February 09, 2001 at 10:57:24 PT got brownies? The smoking of marijuana actually will cause more harm than benefits for the ill, predicted Ken Fithen of Sherwood, the associate director of the Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council. He said the inhalation of smoke is dangerous when cigarettes are involved and even more dangerous with marijuana.Okay the only legitimate defense I have ever heard ...but what of all the synthetic man-made crap we are forced to breath in our industries everyday???Marijuana is nothing in comparison to what I have to breath at work everyday.So much for OSHA that just shot down their only legitimate defence...got brownies???Marijuana does not have to be smokedbesides ...GOT BRWNIES??That just shot down their only hoo [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: