cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Can Be Medicine, Senate Says





Marijuana Can Be Medicine, Senate Says
Posted by FoM on March 07, 2001 at 07:28:33 PT
By Steve Terrell, The New Mexican 
Source: Santa Fe New Mexican 
Sufferers of serious medical conditions who can ease their pain by using marijuana would be able to do so without fear of prosecution under a bill the state Senate overwhelming approved Tuesday.By a vote of 29-12, the Senate passed Senate Bill 319, sponsored by Sen. Roman Maes, D-Santa Fe. The bill mandates the state Health Department set up a program for therapeutic marijuana.
The vote for the bill was bipartisan with nine Republicans joining 20 Democrats to pass it. Four Democrats and eight Republicans voted against the bill.The bill now must be approved by the state House of Representatives before it can become law. A similar bill, HB431, introduced by Rep. Joe Thompson, R-Albuquerque, has been making its way through House committees."The message I want to send to my kids and my grandkids is that I don't approve of recreational marijuana," said Sen. Steve Komadina, R-Corrales. "I don't think voting for this says you support recreational drugs." Komadina is a physician.The bill is part of Gov. Gary Johnson's drug-reform package. Sen. Minority Leader Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, who voted for the medical-marijuana bill, said, "I hope this is as far as we go."Sen. Ramsay Gorham, R-Albuquerque - who voted against the bill - unsuccessfully attempted to pass an amendment that would allow processed forms of marijuana - pills, creams or suppositories - to be used as medicine. She said this would prevent people from smoking marijuana.This was mocked by Sen. Shannon Robinson, D-Albuquerque, who sarcastically said, "We're so worried that one person in New Mexico is going to get high by smoking a joint. Which one do you prefer Sen. Gorham? The pill, the cream or the suppository?"Gorham responded angrily, "Sen. Robinson, I don't take this as a joke. I'm very serious about this bill. I'm very concerned about the children."Komadina and Sen. Allen Hurt, R-Waterflow, also a doctor, noted that some patients are not helped by marijuana unless it is smoked. Some patients, for instance, cannot swallow pills.Under the bill, a person who thought he or she might be helped by therapeutic marijuana would consult with a doctor, who would decide whether to recommend the person for the program. The doctor would send his recommendation to the state Health Department, which would approve - or deny - the patient's participation.A panel of nine doctors nominated by the state health secretary and approved by the Senate would oversee the medical-marijuana program. The Health Department would decide policy questions such as how the marijuana is to be obtained and how it would be distributed to patients.The Senate approved an amendment by Sen. Bill Payne, R-Albuquerque, that would delay the implementation of the program until the U.S. Supreme Court decides on a case currently before the high court as to whether marijuana could be sold or distributed to medical patients.Until the court declares such programs legal under federal law, those qualifying for the New Mexico program could smoke marijuana and would be issued photo IDs to inform law enforcement that the patient could not be prosecuted under state law. However, the program would not be officially implemented.Source: Santa Fe New Mexican (NM)Author: Steve Terrell, The New Mexican Published: March 7, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Santa Fe New MexicanAddress: 202 E Marcy, Santa Fe, N.M. 87501Fax: (505) 986-3040Contact: letters sfnewmexican.comWebsite: http://www.sfnewmexican.com/Related Articles:Medical-Marijuana Bill Goes To Senate http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8848.shtmlMarijuana Bill Clears Two Committeeshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8744.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #1 posted by Kevin Hebert on March 07, 2001 at 08:29:48 PT:
THE CHILDREN!
"Gorham responded angrily, 'Sen. Robinson, I don't take this as a joke. I'm very serious about this bill. I'm very concerned about the children.'"Ah yes, the children. I'm concerned about the children too. I don't think children should use drugs. But that is totally separate from putting adults in jail for using drugs. And Senator Gorham should address that. It's not good for children to have their parents taken from them for violating the arbitrary statues of the War on Some Drugs.
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: