DELAWARE GENERAL ASSEMBLY EXAMINES MARIJUANA USE

DOVER - The Delaware General Assembly is not likely to legalize
marijuana in the near future, according to legislators who have
studied the issue.

"We began to look at the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes
several years ago," said retiring Rep. Jane P. Maroney, R-Talleyville.
"I was on the study committee with the late Sen. Herman R. Holloway, a
Wilmington Democrat, who felt there was room for this change in law."

Rep. Maroney who, although a Republican, calls herself a "bleeding
heart liberal" said she read a great deal about the subject as the
measure was discussed, but that no decision was ever reached by
legislative action.

"With all of the new drugs on the market and experimentation going on,
I don't know as I'd support it today," she said. "On the other hand,
watching people with things like full blown aids and cancer die a
slow, painful death makes me wonder if something couldn't be done."

Rep. Maroney said the entire idea of using marijuana for strict
medicinal purposes is popularly viewed as a possible gateway to its
legalization. Even noted conservatives like William F. Buckley are
today open to the issue, she said.

Other drugs are commonly used for medicinal purposes while remaining
illegal for use outside that purpose.

"Morphine is illegal for non-medicinal purposes," said Rep. Richard A.
DiLiberto, Jr., D-Newark. " But there are several people who are able
to use it to relieve pain, through prescription.

''Before we can begin again to look at the medicinal use of marijuana,
I would need to get a full update from the Delaware Medical Society
and consider all of the evidence," he said. "Obviously we don't want
people using this as an excuse to use marijuana or any other illegal
substance.

''Throughout history, new science comes along to alter the way
substances are looked at, but I would never rely on the testimony of
just one patient to make a decision of this magnitude."

"I would think you would have to look at the issue very closely," said
Rep. Charles W. Welch, R-Dover, majority whip of the House of
Representatives. "The immediate question is whether there is a
legitimate medical use for the substance and if so, what alternatives
are available. We obviously don't want someone using a medical
loophole to purchase an illegal substance then selling it to others.
There would have to be some very stringent controls."

According to Rep. Maroney, the issue died several years ago and has
not been revisited on any significant basis since.

D.L. Bonar can be reached at 302-741-8228 or at daverpa@newszap.com

Checked-by: Patrick Henry