MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL GOES UP IN SMOKE

Legislators just said no this morning to cultivating marijuana for medical
uses while leaving the door open to growing its sister plant for industrial
uses.

Sen. Ron Volesky, D-Huron, introduced both SB73, medical marijuana, and
SB86, industrial hemp, to the Senate State Affairs Commitee. The former
bill was weeded out of the committee's list of legislation to consider
while the latter will linger at least until Friday.

Although some committee members said the idea of medicinal marijuana holds
merit, they also said there are too many unresolved issues within the bill
to pass it to the Senate floor. SB73 was deferred to the 41st day of the
legislative session, nullifying the bill.

SB86, which would authorize the production of industrial hemp, garnered
much discussion and was deferred to Friday for action.

Two residents of the state testified as to the medicinal benefits of
marijuana. Both said they have had to break the law in order to ease suffering.

Ken Bowman, Rapid City, said he procured marijuana for his late wife when
she was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments aimed at
neutralizing her breast cancer.

Bowman said marijuana was a last resort, but it was more effective in
reducing his wife's nausea and restoring her appetite while costing less
than legal drugs that were prescribed by doctors.

Gina Engebretson, Mitchell, said marijuana helped ease her chronic back
pain, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. She said she cannot
understand why a drug that can ease suffering is not legalized or
controlled for medical use.

Sen. Fred Whiting, R-Rapid City, said marijuana as a medicine is worth
investigating. However, due to federal laws, he said he cannot see how the
drug could be distributed or controlled in the state.

"I think it deserves consideration ... but I just don't feel I have the
information I need to do it," he said.

Sen. Barbara Everist, R-Sioux Falls, said federal laws and problems for
state law enforcement make passage of such a bill difficult. Sen. Don
Brosz, R-Watertown, said nobody explained how the nine states in the
country which have legalized medical marijuana circumvent federal law.

Sen. Jim Hutmacher, D-Oacoma, suggested the issue be studied more
thoroughly in an interim committee this summer. Sen. Paul Symens,
D-Amherst, said he would vote against SB73 but he said the concept has
potential.

"This is an issue that is important to a lot of people," Symens said. "It
does alleviate suffering, there's no question."

While introducing the hemp bill, Volesky said, "We're talking about flying
in the face of the federal government. I guess we're going to do it again."

Federal law also prohibits the growth of hemp for industrial uses.
Testimony this morning, however, indicated that the kind of hemp grown for
manufacturing has no intoxicating effect.

"We have people who are ready, willing and eager to get into industrial
hemp," Volesky said. "I think it's an important value-added agricultural
initiative."

Volesky said 16 other states have authorized hemp production through
legislative procedure or through popular referendum.

Reps. Sam Nachtigal, D-Platte, Frank Kloucek, D-Scotland and former
legislator Bob Weber testified as farmers in support of SB86.

"Virtually every farmer has the equipment to grow this product," Nachtigal
said.

According to Nachtigal, hemp would give farmers another option in terms of
diversifying crops. He said it has many uses and would likely be marketable.

Kloucek said hemp would cost as much to plant as most other crops and
suggested that the free market be allowed to decide the profitability of
its production.

Weber said more than $100 million worth of hemp products were imported into
the United States last year while Canadian growers reported profits of $600
an acre. He said South Dakota should join other states that have authorized
production and "get Washington's attention."

Bill Mickelson, South Dakota Highway Patrol, argued that marijuana could be
grown in the middle of a hemp field making it difficult for law enforcement
officers to find. George Williams, Department of Agriculture, said he
opposes the bill and questions the long-term marketability of hemp.

The committee will discuss SB86 this Friday before taking action on the bill.