cannabisnews.com: Mass. Law for Medicinal Use Still in Limbo Mass. Law for Medicinal Use Still in Limbo Posted by FoM on February 25, 2001 at 07:09:02 PT By Tom Mashberg Source: Boston Herald Ten years ago, Massachusetts became one of the first states to endorse marijuana as medicine. Thwarted by federal law, that wispy effort wafts in limbo.In 1991, the Legislature passed, and Gov. William F. Weld signed, an act creating a therapeutic research program inside the Department of Public Health to evaluate the effectiveness of medicinal pot. Patients seeking the drug for legitimate health reasons should in theory have been able to apply to the program and, if qualified, receive a controlled amount of pot.The catch was that under federal law, the DPH may obtain marijuana solely from a U.S. government agency, the National Institute on Drug Abuse. That bureau has refused to make medicinal pot available to any state since 1986, except for eight people nationally, none of them from New England.Between 1991 and 1996, Massachusetts applied to NIDA both for marijuana for its research effort and for permission to cultivate the herbal remedy at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. But because both requests were denied, the Bay State's pilot pot program was never activated.In 1996, another medicinal marijuana bill was passed by the Legislature seeking to codify a ``medical necessity defense'' for Bay State residents using marijuana.Such defenses are lawful in nine states, including Maine. In theory, they immunize medicinal pot users from prosecution at the state level, though such people remain subject to federal prosecution.The 1996 Massachusetts bill, however, limits the necessity defense to patients registered by the DPH as ``medical marijuana users'' under the 1991 law. With that 1991 state program dormant, the 1996 law has no practical effect.This year, about a dozen state legislators have gotten behind four medicinal marijuana bills.Two bills would extend the medical necessity defense to persons who possess or grow marijuana even if they are not registered with the DPH. Two others would add AIDS, multiple sclerosis and chronic migraines to the roster of ailments qualifying patients to register with the DPH as medicinal pot users. No debate on the bills has been scheduled.Source: Boston Herald (MA) Author: Tom Mashberg Published: Sunday, February 25, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Boston Herald, Inc. Address: One Herald Square, Boston, MA 02106-2096 Website: http://www.bostonherald.com/ Contact: letterstoeditor bostonherald.com CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by J.R. Bob Dobbs on February 25, 2001 at 13:12:07 PT Yeah right >>The catch was that under federal law, the DPH may obtain marijuana solely from a U.S. government agency, the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Uh-huh. And when the narcos have given you some kind bud, perhaps you'd like to get into Elliot Ness' collection of fine bourbons next? [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Nate H. on February 25, 2001 at 10:07:16 PT comment Dude, "hoosiers" are from Indiana, not Massachusetts. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by sm247 on February 25, 2001 at 08:31:45 PT Why not? Between 1991 and 1996, Massachusetts applied to NIDA both for marijuana for its research effort and for permission to cultivate the herbal remedy at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. But because both requests were denied, the Bay State's pilot pot program was never activated.Why was their request denied?? What did they do about it when it was denied ??? All h... should have broke loose sounds like you are all a bunch of lousy hoosier's.We know what the people of Cali would have done. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: