cannabisnews.com: Senate Panel OK's Medical Marijuana Bill Senate Panel OK's Medical Marijuana Bill Posted by CN Staff on January 24, 2006 at 19:32:53 PT By Deborah Baker, The Associated Press Source: Associated Press Santa Fe, N.M. -- Medical marijuana advocates have cleared the first hurdle in an uphill effort to get a bill through both houses of the Legislature during this year's short session.The Senate Public Affairs Committee — the first of three Senate panels assigned to review it — endorsed the measure unanimously on Tuesday. It legalizes marijuana use by patients with debilitating illnesses, such as cancer or AIDS, whose doctors refer them to a program operated by the Department of Health. "Having to choose between staying alive and obeying the law is a horrible, horrible decision that no one should be forced to face,'' said Essie DeBonet, 61, a frail AIDS patient who said the drug helps combat the nausea induced by multiple medications. The bill is familiar to lawmakers; it made it through the Senate and two House committees last year only to die on the floor of the House, where it fell victim to political squabbling over another issue and was never voted on. Gov. Bill Richardson on Tuesday reiterated his backing for it and said a "substantial'' portion of the public agrees. "I think there have got to be strict standards. But for those that are suffering ... I support it,'' the governor said. New Mexico had a medical marijuana program in the late 1970s in conjunction with a research project that was used by more than 250 patients before it lost its funding in 1986. Advocates have been trying to revive it for a decade, first through the Board of Pharmacy and then as of 2001 in the Legislature. Groups representing district attorneys and police agencies opposed the bill, telling committee members it would open the state up to more criminal activity and violate federal law. "The bottom line for us is, it's still against federal law,'' said Donald Gallegos, district attorney in the Taos-based Eighth Judicial District. But Sen. Steve Komadina, R-Corrales, a physician, said patients would benefit from it and the bill contains enough safeguards. "There's more control over this than when I write (prescriptions for) Tylenol with codeine, or anything else,'' Komadina said. Source: Associated Press (Wire)Author: Deborah Baker, The Associated Press Published: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 Copyright: 2006 The Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:Drug Policy Alliancehttp://www.drugpolicy.org/Push for Medical Marijuana Raises Many Questionshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21510.shtmlLegislature Considering Legal Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21506.shtmlMedical Marijuana on Agenda http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21495.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by FoM on January 25, 2006 at 12:01:27 PT Storm Crow I am 58 and I never thought that at this point in my life that the laws would still be the same. We didn't have the Internet and that is what is speeding it up. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Storm Crow on January 25, 2006 at 11:41:42 PT Me too! FoM, I was 19 when I found that cannabis got rid of my migraines and cluster headaches that I have from an early childhood head injury. (A playmate tried to murder me with a hammer.) I'm going to be 59 this year. My fingers have been crossed for a very loooooong time! You ever hear of the domino theory? Here's hoping! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on January 25, 2006 at 08:01:37 PT Storm Crow Hi Storm Crow, I sure hope so. I have had my fingers crossed now it seems for years. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by OverwhelmSam on January 25, 2006 at 03:23:54 PT Go New Mexico! If New Mexico passes medical marijuana, Texas shouldn't be far behind and I won't have to move to Colorado or Nevada when these states legalize marijuana for adult use this year. When this happens, we'll have our first two states where marijuana is legal for adults and the ball continues to roll. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by The GCW on January 25, 2006 at 01:32:59 PT district attorneys / police agencies; out of steam Quoted: "Groups representing district attorneys and police agencies opposed the bill, telling committee members it would open the state up to more criminal activity."Not according to the examples in the states that have moved ahead.*Here is a word We haven't seen:"unanimously" It is time for politicians to stop everything else, and take care of this business; unanimously. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Taylor121 on January 25, 2006 at 01:17:51 PT People From NM Here is your chance. Don't be shy, tell your officials where you stand:http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=8408001&type=ST [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Storm Crow on January 24, 2006 at 22:20:29 PT Hi FoM, Looks like we may be getting another "patch" (pro-MMJ state) soon in this "patchwork revolution". In a weird way, I think Nancy Reagan had it right- she just had the wrong subject--"Just say NO" to bad government, NO to unjust, immoral laws, NO to profit based wars.... I think Google's saying NO to the government's demand for all that info should be counted as a "cyberpatch" in this quiet little revolution. Bit by bit, I think the American people are waking up. It's about time! And for the folks in my old home town of San Diego, I have one word: RECALL. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on January 24, 2006 at 19:33:59 PT One More Step Good news always makes me happy. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment