HOUSE BILL PUSHES PENNSYLVANIA TO GO GREEN, LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

Stephany Bowen suffers from fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy and
chronic pain from four back surgeries, a metal plate in the back of
her neck and hypertension in her right leg.

Her daily ritual includes insulin, Vicodin and up to two bowls of
marijuana, which she claims eases nausea caused by her medication and
takes her mind off her pain.

She said she is unable to work and rarely leaves home. Her marijuana
use is a crime under state law, but she is hopeful that one day that
will change.

"I believe it does have medicinal qualities to it," said Bowen, 46, of
Penn Hills. "Since marijuana is grown naturally, it should be legal."

Momentum supporting that position is growing. Since 1996, 13 states
have legalized medical marijuana.

State Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Philadelphia, introduced House Bill 1393 in
April that would legalize marijuana for medical purposes. A public
hearing is scheduled tomorrow in Harrisburg before the House Health
and Human Services committee.

The bill aims to ease the lives of suffering patients, take money away
from the drug trade and create about $25 million a year in tax revenue
from the sale of marijuana, Cohen said.

"The bill has a 1-in-4 chance of becoming law, but I think that health
care groups will lean toward it," he said.

Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, chairman of the subcommittee on
drugs and alcohol, said the decision to legalize marijuana should rest
with the medical community.

"Doctors should determine whether there's a place for the drug in the
treatment of their patients," he said.

The American Medical Association last month changed its position on
medical marijuana, urging the federal government to reconsider pot's
classification as a Schedule 1 drug. The goal is to clear the way to
conduct clinical research and develop marijuana-based medicines,
according to the association.

The AMA's statement was a topic of conversation recently at the first
meeting of Pittsburgh NORML, the local chapter of the National
Organization for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws.

A group of about 20 members, who ranged widely in age and profession,
discussed methods of spreading information about medical marijuana.

"We will be organized and professional," said Patrick Nightingale, a
Downtown defense attorney and founder of Pittsburgh NORML. "We're not
a bunch of freaks getting together to get stoned."

Nightingale, a former Allegheny County assistant district attorney,
said he supports complete legalization.

"It concerns me as an attorney that I've had to prosecute and defend
folks for conduct no different than buying a six-pack or bottle of
wine," he said.

Tomorrow's public hearing is a small step forward for supporters of
the bill, but with just six co-sponsors there's a chance it will never
reach a vote, said Rep. Randy Vulakovich, R-Shaler.

"Marijuana is still considered a gateway drug, and a lot of the people
who are fighting for this bill want to use the legislation as a
step-off point for legalizing all marijuana," said Vulakovich, a
former police officer.

Gov. Ed Rendell maintains his position on medical marijuana, said
spokesman Gary Tuma.

"If a reasonable, well-crafted bill reached his desk," Tuma said, "he
would sign it."

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About state House Bill 1393

Although federal law prohibits the use of marijuana, Alaska,
California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New
Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington permit the use of
marijuana for medical purposes. In Arizona, doctors are permitted to
prescribe marijuana. (The Obama administration recently directed
federal prosecutors to back away from pursuing cases against medical
marijuana patients.)

State House Bill 1393 would legalize marijuana for use by patients
with cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS or any other health issues that a
licensed doctor deems treatable by marijuana in a manner that is
superior to treatment without marijuana.

Patients who qualify would be required to have a registry
identification card and possess no more than six marijuana plants and
one ounce of pot.

To read the bill, go online, select "Bill #" at the top under "Find
Legislation By," type in "H 1393" and click "Go"

Source: State House Bill 1393

All those in favor

A Gallup poll in October found that 44 percent of Americans were in
favor of making marijuana legal -- not just for medicinal purposes --
and 54 percent opposed it. U.S. public support for legalizing
marijuana was fixed in the 25 percent range from the late 1970s to the
mid-1990s, but acceptance jumped to 31 percent in 2000 and has
continued to grow throughout this decade, according to Gallup.

Source: www.gallup.com