cannabisnews.com: Lawmakers Consider Legalizing Medicinal Marijuana Lawmakers Consider Legalizing Medicinal Marijuana Posted by FoM on March 26, 2001 at 15:46:41 PT By Associated Press Source: Associated Press Marcy Duda, a 40-year-old grandmother, wants to smoke pot, the drug that she says best eases the debilitating headaches she gets after she suffered aneurysms several years ago. But the Ware mother of four is afraid of getting arrested and afraid of losing her kids. Duda and other patients with asthma and multiple sclerosis on Monday urged a legislative committee to approve a bill that would legalize marijuana for patients who have a doctor's permission to use the drug. They could also grow as much weed as they need should the bill become law. ''Demerol, Percocet, they made me useless,'' Duda told the committee. But after smoking a little pot, ''I can get up 10 minutes later and function,'' she said. Though federal law makes marijuana possession a crime, eight states and the District of Columbia allow patients to use marijuana for medical purposes, and many others have similar bills pending, according to Richard Evans, a Northampton lawyer who wants to legalize the drug in Massachusetts. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case Wednesday to decide whether the drug can be provided to patients out of ''medical necessity,'' despite federal law. Should the high court rule in favor of allowing marijuana for medicinal purposes, Massachusetts should have a law in place giving patients the right to use the drug, Evans said. The bill was sponsored by Reps. Shirley Gomes and Eric Turkington, Cape Cod Democrats, after voters in Harwich, Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Truro, Provincetown and Dennisport approved a nonbinding referendum to approve the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. The committee will take a few weeks before voting on the bill, said Richard Moore, Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care. ''The Supreme Court may make a difference,'' said Moore, an Uxbridge Democrat. ''We'll see what they have to say.'' Source: Associated PressPublished: March 26, 2001Copyright: 2001 Associated PressCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by Bunz on March 27, 2001 at 19:24:09 PT: damn the man!!!!! The government should not be allowed to ban Marijuana use by its citizens. I think that they are scared, for people that smoke the plant tend to be more outspoken about ideas that our government would like to ignore. If they would legalize it and tax it, they would would make billions, if not trillions in extra revenue. The National Deficite could be reduced to zero in 3-7 years. The total revenue generated from sale of marijuana would tripple the amount brought in by beer, cigarettes, and other tabacco profits. Not to mention the tax revenue brought in from taxing import and export of the drug. Also selling patents on Marijuana growing and curing products. In conclusion, the fight for legalizing Marijuana should take place on the revenue front as well as the medicinal point of veiw. If we hit them with both subjects, it may turn some lawmakers. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by motomom on March 27, 2001 at 10:22:28 PT: Medical marijuana I have migraines and chronic asthma. A few years ago I met a man that grew many varieties of the plant. He convinced me to try one and I couldn't believe how much better I could breath and how it helped my headaches. We must continue to fight for the legalization of this wonder drug ! We as tax payers are paying dearly for the governments drug war. We must get people to realize this and that it is not working. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by SuperStoner on March 27, 2001 at 07:20:47 PT: Med's for the ole In this country elected officals a few years back where fighting to make medican affordable for elderly who struggled to get their expensive medican. Well maybe its time to reach out to the largest voting community out there. As the ageing baby boomers begin expireing maybe insted of makein them pay for expensive doctors and medican they can all smoke pot? Im sure that it be a much more effictive method for elderly to have a hobbie (most able ones are into gardening) let them grow their own medican and smoke it considering the fact that alot suffer from a broad range of debilating health problems. My mother who is around 58 (she dont seem old) but she suffers from migranes due to chemical imbalances/menapause. She takes alsorts of test drugs and it seems that none of them work. Some days she will lay in bed all day and no go to work. I know from personal experince that when i have migranes pot releaves the pain and pressure and i am able to continue to go to school and work with out all the pain. And the best part is that since any one is able to grow marijuana, the cost to them is greatly reduced.I think its time for activist to get our elderly involved and open their eyes. Show them that Refeer Madness was a load of shit.Peace outSuperStoner [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by MDG on March 26, 2001 at 16:58:49 PT When every state... ...has voted for MMJ, and the Feds "over-rule" it, everyone will see what a strangle-hold the federal government has on the citizens of these United States. (Also, in matters unrelated to the WoSD).MDG... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: