cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Study Called Off by Lawmakers
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Medical Marijuana Study Called Off by Lawmakers
Posted by CN Staff on June 15, 2010 at 06:19:23 PT
By Tony Leys
Source: Des Moines Register
Iowa -- State legislative leaders have dropped plans to have a committee study legalization of medical marijuana. The decision could lessen the chances of a full debate on the controversial issue next year.House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said in February that legislators would appoint a committee to study the idea over the summer and fall. If that committee could agree on a recommendation, he said, legislators would consider the idea after they returned to the Statehouse in January.
However, the Des Moines Democrat said Monday that those plans changed after he realized an old piece of Iowa Code says the Iowa Board of Pharmacy may set rules allowing medical uses of marijuana."There's no need for an interim committee, because it's already law," he said.McCarthy said the ball is in the board's court now.The pharmacy board voted unanimously in February to recommend that legislators change the classification of marijuana in a way that would make it easier to use for legitimate medical purposes. Board members noted at the time that a decades-old piece of Iowa law already appeared to allow that, but they said the intent of that law was unclear.Lloyd Jessen, the pharmacy board's executive director, said Monday that board members don't want the responsibility McCarthy is suggesting they have."Even though that code section is still in the code, it's not the Board of Pharmacy's role to implement a medical marijuana program," he said.Board members, who are appointed by the governor, want direction from elected leaders on the issue, he said.But McCarthy said legislative leaders decided it wasn't worth spending thousands of taxpayer dollars to set up an interim committee on the matter. Money is tight, he said, and economic issues are more pressing.He also noted that numerous lawmakers are retiring, so it didn't make sense to have the current Legislature push the issue forward.Carl Olsen, a Des Moines activist who has helped lead the medical-marijuana efforts, said he now will formally ask the pharmacy board to write rules allowing use of the drug. If the board refuses, he said, he might go to court and quote McCarthy as saying the board has the power to let Iowans use marijuana as medicine.Fourteen states have legalized medical marijuana, though some of them have reported problems with loosely regulated sales.Supporters of medical marijuana say it can provide relief for pain, nausea and other symptoms of diseases such as cancer and AIDS.Detractors see the campaign as a back-door way to make marijuana easier to obtain for recreational use.An Iowa Poll published in The Des Moines Register in February showed that 64 percent of Iowans supported allowing patients to use marijuana if their doctors approved.Source: Des Moines Register (IA)Author: Tony LeysPublished: June 15, 2010Copyright: 2010 The Des Moines RegisterContact: tleys dmreg.com Website: http://desmoinesregister.comURL: http://drugsense.org/url/CjVAZNj1CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on June 16, 2010 at 04:54:55 PT
Just a Note
This is such a slow time for news that is worth posting. We've made so much progress under this administration it is nice to be able to take a deep breath and relax a little. I hope everyone is enjoying the summer.
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Comment #9 posted by The GCW on June 15, 2010 at 21:28:48 PT
Dankhank,
yeah, thanks for that story. Look forward to readong The Cannabis Papers."Canabinoid prohibition.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #8 posted by FoM on June 15, 2010 at 19:59:01 PT
Dankhank
That's really ok. I really get sidetracked too these days.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #7 posted by FoM on June 15, 2010 at 19:40:14 PT
News Article From High Times
http://hightimes.com/legal/rick/6516
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #6 posted by Dankhank on June 15, 2010 at 14:15:16 PT
welcome
for the article, sorry for the drive-by ...
get so busy on these 'puters, sometimes ...peace to all who post here ....and mayhap to all who just read ... :-)
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #5 posted by ekim on June 15, 2010 at 13:26:43 PT
Stossel on Thur nite
http://www.foxbusiness.com/on-air/stossel/Dir TV 359
This Week's Show - June 17
Drug War DisasterDrug abuse does terrible harm. But that’s true for alcohol too, and look what a disaster prohibition was. It created Al Capone and built up organized crime. Now drug prohibition funds Mexican drug cartels and the Taliban. It is prohibition that creates violence. So is the drug war worth it? Johns Stossel will argue with Sean Hannity, and two police officers on both sides of the issue duke it out. Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron and Wall Street Journal columnist Mary Anastasia O'Grady will also join the program.
Watch Thursdays at 8 p.m. and 12 midnight, Saturdays at 9 p.m. and 12 midnight, and Sundays at 10 p.m. (all times eastern).
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #4 posted by FoM on June 15, 2010 at 09:53:14 PT
Dankhank
Thank you for the article.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #3 posted by dankhank on June 15, 2010 at 09:41:05 PT
damn skippy!!!
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/147200/why_marijuana_is_central_to_life%2C_liberty_and_the_pursuit_of_happiness/?page=entiredamn skippy!!!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #2 posted by FoM on June 15, 2010 at 07:25:50 PT
RevRayGreen
You're very welcome!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #1 posted by RevRayGreen on June 15, 2010 at 06:53:03 PT
Thanks FOM
statements like this, Iowa Medical Marijuana Patients demand amnesty.
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