MUNDY BACKS MEDICAL MARIJUANA

More Addictive Drugs Now In Use, State Rep Says About
Complaints

State Rep. Phyllis Mundy is a co-sponsor of a bill that would allow
the use of marijuana to ease patients' pain.

Mundy, D-Kingston, admits the bill is controversial and says it's not
a "legislative priority." But, she said, it's time to start thinking
about the use of such drugs in treatment.

"House Bill 1393 seeks to ease human suffering by allowing those who
are gravely or terminally ill to use marijuana to relieve their
pain," Mundy said. "It does not, as some may suggest, seek to promote
the recreational use of marijuana or in any way legalize it for such
use.

"While I realize this topic is controversial, I believe it is time to
begin the discussion as to why we allow much more addictive drugs
such as OxyContin and morphine to be prescribed for pain relief, but
not marijuana, which is much less harmful and less expensive."

The state House Committee on Health and Human Services heard
testimony this week from patients, doctors and members of advocacy
groups who say medical marijuana should be legal because it is
effective in treating chronic pain, nausea and other ailments.

The bill is sponsored by state Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Philadelphia. It is
not given much of a chance to pass. State Attorney General Tom
Corbett opposes the bill and the Senate's Republican majority is not
expected to give it serious consideration.

In an Associated Press story on the hearings, an aide to Committee
Chairman Frank Oliver, D-Philadelphia, said more hearings on the bill
are planned before a vote is taken.

Brad Walter of Larksville testified before the committee. In the AP
story, Walter said he smokes marijuana four or five times a day to
relieve gastrointestinal pain and distress from the 14 pills he
takes to counteract the effects of HIV.

Walter told the committee he takes the risk of getting pot illegally
because nothing else - including Marinol, a government-approved
prescription drug that contains the active ingredient in marijuana -
helps nearly as much.

There are 13 other states that have approved similar laws, but
opponents of the legislation have said those states have had
instances in which marijuana was dispensed fraudulently.