cannabisnews.com: Bill Could Allow Voters To Decide Marijuana Issue Bill Could Allow Voters To Decide Marijuana Issue Posted by FoM on March 07, 2001 at 14:44:59 PT By Megan Scott, Capital News Service Source: Prince George's Journal With the failure of a bill to permit the medical use of marijuana likely this year, supportive lawmakers are trying to send the issue to voters. Del. David Valderrama, D-26th-Fort Washington, submitted a referendum bill Monday to let voters decide the question. Because the bill was introduced after normal deadlines, the House must vote whether to allow it. That vote is scheduled today. ``We're taking this bill directly to the people and telling the people to decide whether they want it or not,'' Valderrama said. ``I want to revive it and fight for it.'' If the voters get the issue, it likely will pass. A University of Maryland, College Park survey last year showed 73 percent of Marylanders believe terminally ill patients should be allowed to use marijuana without fear of arrest. ``That's what encourages me,'' Valderrama said of the survey results. ``The poll is very clear. They want it.'' No medical marijuana ballot initiative has ever failed. In the eight states with similar legislation, most passed with nearly 60 percent support. ``If the people actually have the chance to decide, we should be ensured a victory,'' said Chuck Thomas of the Marijuana Policy Project. ``This is probably why the more heartless will oppose allowing the people to decide. Some people are just determined to have a relentless war on sick people.'' The original bill, sponsored by Del. Don Murphy, R-Baltimore County, would allow medical marijuana users or their caregivers to possess seven plants and three ounces of usable marijuana. An identical bill was killed Friday in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. The House version is still pending in the Judiciary Committee, which is scheduled to vote tomorrow. At last week's Senate hearing, committee members said the bill did not protect the people who sell marijuana to the patients. ``There's no virtue on the supply side unless the government is the supplier, and that's a whole new ballgame,'' said Sen. Timothy Ferguson, R-Carroll. Meanwhile, under a bill Murphy submitted Monday, doctors who recommend marijuana to patients who are arrested would face the same penalties as their patients. This latest act is in response to the Maryland State Medical Society, which opposes Murphy's medical marijuana bill because it places doctors in the position of recommending illegal activity. ``Doctors can't have it both ways,'' Murphy said. ``If they want to oppose a bill to protect their patients and privately endorse marijuana use, they should suffer the same consequences as the patient.'' Doctors sometimes recommend marijuana to their patients for the treatment of nausea and loss of appetite, and for pain relief and reduction of muscle spasms. However, even with a doctor's approval, a person caught using the drug can be sent to prison and fined $1,000. Medical necessity cannot be used as a defense in court, Thomas said. But Murphy plans to change his original bill to include a provision allowing the medical necessity argument in court. He also said he intends to cut some definitions of possession included in the original. ``I think it's a shame that it [the bill] has to be that watered down,'' Thomas said. ``It's a shame that we need to cater to [opponents'] general intolerance of medical marijuana. I guess we have to do what we can to appease them.'' ``When you're desperate,'' Murphy said, ``you grasp at any ray of hope you can find.'' Source: Prince George's Journal (MD) Author: Megan Scott, Capital News ServicePublished: March 7, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Journal Newspapers Contact: pgedit jrnl.com Website: http://cold.jrnl.com/cfdocs/new/pg/Related Articles:Panel Kills Bill for Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8885.shtmlCommittee Votes Down Marijuana Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8869.shtmlMaryland Debates Medicinal-Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8845.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on March 08, 2001 at 05:20:24 PT: Bring It On! "Meanwhile, under a bill Murphy submitted Monday, doctors who recommend marijuana to patients who are arrested would face the same penalties as their patients."I hope that this passes. Then we'll see how many juries want to convict the cannabis-supporting physicians before this rightly is struck down as a violation of free speech rights under the Constitution. Lawmakers that suggest such repression are severely skewing their chances for salvation in the cosmic balance sheet. Good luck, you'll need it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by observer on March 07, 2001 at 19:58:54 PT Government Knows best: Don't Let Voters Vote! If the voters get the issue, it likely will pass.And this is why the good state representatives must see to it that the voters do not get to have their say on the matter! No. It is the job of the representatives to represent the, er, best interests of the people! And, of course, after all that arrestin' (to send a message) and all the anti-drug propagan, er, campaigns, that is: after all the information campaigns from government, schools, police, prosecutors, former prosecutors (now 'representatives' of the people), the treatment industry, and prison guard unions (not to mention the testing industry also), after ALL of that 'information' telling people what's in their best interest (with regard to dangerous narcotics), after all of that message sendin', the good state congressmen would best be protecting the bewildered herd, if the representatives do not allow the herd to be carried off with Soros' legalizer conspiracy plots! Oh no. So that's why the representatives of the people mustn't allow the people to vote. Can't you see? It's all for the children. To save the children. To send out the 'right message', to the children.Speaking of "to save the children" (sounds so much nicer, softer, warmer and cuddlier than, "to imprison their parents"), where's Joyce? Why didn't Carrie Nation http://store.corbis.com/prodconfig/image_details.asp?pg=1&search=Carry+Nation&refid=search&fp=1&imageid=11113474 get to comment on this in the Journal? I hope they let her drivel on (unedited, preferably: for the full impact) next time. I do miss Mrs Nation's little prohibitionist jewels! Carrie Nation's New Site [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: