cannabisnews.com: Doctors, Patients Describe How Marijuana Helps Doctors, Patients Describe How Marijuana Helps Posted by FoM on February 28, 2001 at 07:00:51 PT By Michele Kurtz, American-Statesman Capitol Staff Source: Austin American-Statesman Battling pneumonia and AIDS, Jennifer Smith couldn't hold down food or the precious medicine designed to prolong her life. She had shrunk to a mere 84 pounds. Her doctor prescribed Marinol, a pill-form derivative of marijuana, to pique her appetite. Instead, her nausea continued. So Smith, diagnosed with AIDS just before her two-year wedding anniversary eight years ago, tried smoking a marijuana cigarette and found that she could eat again. Now, she and her husband routinely risk arrest by buying pot on the street. "When you can't eat, you can't take your pills," Smith, 31, told the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence on Tuesday. "When you don't take your pills, you can't live." Smith, of San Antonio, joined a medical doctor, a nurse and other people who testified in favor of House Bill 513. The bill, by Rep. Terry Keel, R-Austin, a former Travis County prosecutor and sheriff, would allow a defendant charged with marijuana possession to claim as a defense that the drug was recommended by a physician for treatment of a medical condition. The bill, left pending in committee Tuesday night, does not allow doctors to prescribe marijuana. For some terminally ill patients, marijuana offers relief no other drug can, said Keel and a medical doctor who testified Tuesday. Yet patients cannot legally take it, even though more addictive drugs are used to treat chronic pain, he said. Some at Tuesday's hearing clearly hoped the bill would lead to more than a defense for terminally ill patients using medicinal marijuana under a doctor's supervision. Eduard Apperson, who referred to himself as "Professor Hemp," read lawmakers a lengthy tribute to hemp and marijuana. He told lawmakers -- some of whom sat rubbing their foreheads -- that marijuana should be legalized and sold in coffee shops. Some lawmakers had concerns about possibly opening the door to more marijuana use. "It appears to me that what's happening with this is a movement to legalize marijuana," said Rep. Robert Talton, R-Pasadena. But Keel called the bill a "modest step." Keel, who has prided himself on "being on the front lines of the drug war for 10 years," said his bill is narrowly drawn and would not interfere with police. You may contact Michele Kurtz at: mkurtz statesman.com Source: Austin American-Statesman (TX) Author: Michele Kurtz, American-Statesman Capitol StaffPublished: Wednesday, February 28, 2001Copyright: 2001 Austin American-Statesman Address: P. O. Box 670 Austin, Texas 78767 Fax: 512-445-3679 Contact: letters statesman.com Website: http://www.austin360.com Website: http://www.austin360.com/partners/aas/Related Articles & Web Site:Details on HB513, Texas Medical Marijuana Bill http://www.normltexas.org/HB513.htmMedical Marijuana Draws Fire http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8825.shtmlMarijuana To Be Considered By Texas Legislaturehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8381.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by zenarch on February 28, 2001 at 11:15:10 PT for those unaware Talton is a far right extremist in the mold of Tom Delay.emphasis on MOLD [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by letgetfree on February 28, 2001 at 09:08:01 PT of course! "It appears to me that what's happening with this is a movement to legalize marijuana," said Rep. Robert Talton, R-Pasadena. Yes! That's what it is! we the people are a movement to repeal these draconian drug laws that have contributed to the imprisonment of innocent people doing no one harm but arguable themselves. crime is crime, if we legalize it people who comite crime while using drugs will still be criminals. just let the rest of us toke in peacekeep fighting the good fight [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: