cannabisnews.com: Missing Details Blunt Chances of Marijuana Bill Missing Details Blunt Chances of Marijuana Bill Posted by FoM on February 16, 2001 at 09:45:06 PT By Andy Lenderman, Tribune Reporter Source: Albuquerque Tribune Police officers and doctors made a strong case for allowing severely ill patients to use marijuana as medicine. And it seemed HB 48 was a sure winner with the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee on Thursday afternoon. But Rep. Joe Thompson's bill was snuffed out, at least temporarily, when he could not provide details surrounding a key question from skeptical legislators: Who will grow the stuff and sell it? "We haven't defined who is going to be cultivating yet," said Alex Valdez, secretary of the state Health Department. The missing details led to the committee's decision to table the bill, despite members' support of the concept. Committee members made it clear that they want issues such as cultivation and distribution written into the law. They oppose allowing those issues to be set through a regulatory process. Thompson, an Albuquerque Republican, and committee members Reps. John Sanchez, an Albuquerque Republican, and Al Park, an Albuquerque Democrat, said they plan to work out amendments before the bill is heard again on Tuesday. Thompson said he knew of the concerns over cultivation beforehand, but the amendments weren't ready on Thursday, which was also the final day to introduce bills in the 60-day session. "My entire motivation for carrying this legislation is to help people who are sick," Thompson told the committee. The bill is part of package of drug-related measure being pushed by Republican Gov. Gary Johnson. Thompson is a former member of the Johnson administration. An impressive array of citizens, lobbyists and public officials backed Thompson's bill in a standing-room- only hearing. Supporters included the American Civil Liberties Union, the New Mexico Medical Society, the state Department of Public Safety and the governor's task force "In my judgment, this is not a law enforcement issue before you today," said Nicholas Bakas, secretary of the Department of Public Safety. Dr. Steve Jenison, a physician with the Health Department, said the issue was a matter of science. Marijuana, he said, can help several sufferers:Cancer patients in severe pain. AIDS patients with no appetite, who are literally wasting away. Epileptics with severe seizures. Patients with muscle spasms caused by injury or disease. But how do patients get the drugs? "I don't want . . . the 80-year-old grandmother growing her own marijuana seeds," Park said. As the bill is written now, the whole process, from growing to harvesting to selling and finally prescribing, would be managed by a commission of doctors and the Health Department. The commission would also manage a list of what diseases would qualify under the new law. But the committee was not interested in passing a law and letting the department fill in the details. "I'd like to encourage this commission, or whoever it is, to look at the rules very closely," said Rep. William Fuller, an Albuquerque Republican. Source: Albuquerque Tribune (NM)Author: Andy Lenderman, Tribune ReporterPublished: February 16, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Albuquerque TribuneAddress: P.O. Drawer T, 7777 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109Contact: letters abqtrib.comWebsite: http://www.abqtrib.com/Related Article:Medical-Pot Bill Waits on Details http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8687.shtmlCannabisNews Articles - Governor Gary Johnsonhttp://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=gary+johnson Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by freedom fighter on February 18, 2001 at 00:58:54 PT Art of Cultivating what is wrong with asking a farmer or two about it??Or is it people have really forgotten how to grow a plant or two??Any 80 year old grandma probably would grow the best weed out there..:)"For every plant that died a thousand have taken its' place"OVERGROW THE GOVERNMENT [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Eric on February 16, 2001 at 12:34:55 PT: ........am I wrong???? It seems like one industry that is in the best position to deal with such a material, would be the tobacco companies. Wouldn't it be great if the same companies that have lobbied against legalization for so long would now support the cause. Cause it will make them $$$$.............. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: