MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL WOULD CREATE ACCESS FOR SICK

AUGUSTA -- Law enforcement officials said Monday they oppose a bill
that would allow nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries, fearing
easier access to the drug would increase crime.

"If this bill becomes law, it will dramatically increase access to
this intoxicant," said Geoffrey Rushlau, district attorney for Waldo,
Knox, Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties.

Rushlau and others testified before the Legislature's Health and
Human Services Committee as it considered a bill brought forward by
citizen initiative.

The bill, L.D. 975, adds conditions that a physician can prescribe
marijuana; creates a voluntary identification card for qualified
patients; and allows nonprofit dispensaries, which would make access
to marijuana easier for patients who have a doctor's permission.

Jonathan Leavitt, who spoke on behalf of Maine Citizens for Patients'
Rights, said the bill addresses the biggest flaw in current state
statute: access.

Current law allows those who are qualified to grow up to six plants,
but he said many patients don't have the equipment or the permission
of a landlord to cultivate the marijuana.

"People access it via the black market," he said.

Leavitt said more than 80,000 people signed the petition to put the
new bill before the Legislature. He said he chose not to pack the
hearing room with supporters and, instead, spoke on behalf of "the
thousands of Maine residents" whom he said would benefit from medical
marijuana.

"There is not a lot that could be added to the stories you have
probably heard of: people with cancer using cannabis to lessen the
pain of radiation treatments, or someone who was living HIV-positive
using cannabis to simply allow them to eat," he said.

Yet law enforcement officials fear creating storefronts for medical
marijuana would increase crime, traffic and noise, said Roy McKinney,
director of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. "This legislation
raises concerns for public health, safety and welfare of Maine
citizens," he said.

In all likelihood, it will be up to voters in November to approve or
reject the bill. Although it is now before a legislative committee,
lawmakers typically reject citizen initiatives, putting them to a
public vote. The Health and Human Services Committee is scheduled to
vote on the bill Wednesday.

Dave Wilkinson, of Harpswell, who has stage two prostate cancer and
leukemia, has been authorized to use marijuana by two doctors.

However, he testified in opposition to the bill, saying he's worried
about the names of patients ending up on a list if people sign up for a card.

"L.D. 975 treats a nontoxic herbal plant as if it were plutonium," he
said. "Far more deadly are police harassment, employment problems and
social stigma."

The Maine Medical Association did not take a formal position on the
bill, but said it is not aware of complaints from physicians about
misuse of the current law, said Andrew MacLean, deputy executive vice
president of the association.

He said "most physicians" believe there are other prescription drugs
that help address the conditions described by medical marijuana advocates.

While some physicians acknowledge that marijuana provides some relief
sooner than some prescription medications, "most believe that the
health risks of smoking outweigh the potential benefit," he said.

Yet Charles Wynott, who said medical marijuana helps control nausea
caused by the pills he takes for HIV/AIDS, said people need safe
access to medical marijuana.

"Please understand there are patients out there who need your help," he said.