cannabisnews.com: Medical-Pot Law Passes First Test





Medical-Pot Law Passes First Test
Posted by FoM on March 28, 2001 at 06:36:28 PT
By Fred Brown, Denver Post Capitol Bureau Chief 
Source: Denver Post
The "troublesome" medical marijuana amendment, a dilemma for Colorado lawmakers, passed its first legislative test Tuesday in a House committee.The dilemma is this: Marijuana users and providers, even if the drug is for medicinal purposes, are violating federal law. But the legislature needs to pass a medical marijuana law by April 30 to uphold the Colorado Constitution.
"We need to do something, or we set ourselves up as a state to be sued," said Rep. Mark Cloer, R-Colorado Springs, who introduced HB 1371 to implement Amendment 20, a ballot issue approved by Colorado voters last November.Rep. Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, suggested it might be more prudent for the legislature to wait until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the legality of medical marijuana laws, which have passed in Colorado, Oregon and other states."I'm uncomfortable passing a law that subjects the people who follow it to prosecution," Romanoff said. Still, he voted for it, saying, "We have no choice but to pass this bill." Dr. Richard Hoffman, chief medical officer in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said state health officials have taken several steps to implement the law.The department has adopted rules for the confidentiality of patients applying and issued cards enabling them to get the drug. The bill would subject anyone violating the confidentiality of those records to fines and jail time.Applicants claiming debilitating medical conditions also could be subject to penalties if they're not telling the truth.The state would allow authorized users to grow a limited number of marijuana plants and issue identification cards at a cost of $150 a year. A registry and distribution system would be in place by June 1, with two full-time employees and a cost of $103,000, Hoffman said.The House Criminal Justice Committee approved HB 1371 on a vote of 10-1, sending it to the full House for consideration.It had an easier time approving one amendment - changing the "marihuana" spelling in Colorado's long-standing drug laws to "marijuana." The "h" to "j" change won unanimous approval.Source: Denver Post (CO)Author: Fred Brown, Denver Post Capitol Bureau Chief Published: March 28, 2001Fax: (303) 820-1502Copyright: 2001 The Denver PostAddress: 1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202Contact: letters denverpost.comWebsite: http://www.denverpost.com/Forum: http://www.denverpost.com/voice/voice.htmRelated Articles & Web Site:Coloradans For Medical Rights http://www.medicalmarijuana.com/Officials Hazy on Medical-Marijuana Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9049.shtmlVoters Approve Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7601.shtml
END SNIP -->
Snipped
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on March 28, 2001 at 07:16:09 PT:
Put the J back in Marijuana
Terminology is frequently problematic. "Marihuana" has sufficient associations with the Reefer Madness phase of American history that it deserves an unceremonious retirement. "Marijuana" is preferable.However, it, too, is an improper term, representing a slang Mexican term at the turn of the 20th century. Before "marijuana" the plant was known as cannabis, and was a recognized useful pharmaceutical product in American, European and indigenous medicine. It was only when "marijuana" was vilified as the crime-inducing "assassin of youth" that the venerable herb was relegated and exiled to the province of contraband.I recommend that we follow the lead of cannabisnews.com, and preferentially speak of cannabis and its virtues, allowing marijuana to fade into the background of prohibitionist history.
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment


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