COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATIVE HAS MEDICAL MARIJUANA ON HIS MIND

A compassionate Republican legislator plans to introduce new medical
marijuana legislation during Idaho's 2011 session. If passed, it
would make Idaho the 15th state in the nation to legalize marijuana
use for patients with chronic illnesses who are currently forced to
buy legal medical marijuana out of state and risk bringing it home.

Nearly a year ago, BW published my in-depth look at medical
marijuana's supporters. Initially, my editor and I wondered if Idaho
could save money on policing and generate revenue through taxation.
Turns out, however, that decriminalization, taxation and lowest
police priority are all off the table.

Tom Trail (R-Moscow) circulated a press release Monday promising to
dialog with stakeholders for nine months before introducing his
long-awaited bill next year. His proposal faces an uphill battle, as
elected evangelicals and many Democrats have been unwilling to stand
up to 'soft on drugs' pressure. But his approach, pushing for the
most restrictive MMJ law in the nation, could gain support beyond
states' rights Libertarians and youth with their heads in the clouds.

Modeling Idaho's plan after New Jersey's and carefully blocking
loopholes exploited in other states, Trail hopes to quell the fears
from law enforcement and state officials who puffed up their rhetoric
the last time he mentioned it. The key this round is only allowing
legal access for patients diagnosed with specific, severe illnesses
like cancer, AIDS, Lou Gehrig's disease, muscular dystrophy, glaucoma
and multiple sclerosis.

The personable Ag Committee Chairman promises growing and
distribution will be monitored by the state. Though his recent hemp
efforts went nowhere, he knows the ins and outs of regulating
agriculture. Meanwhile, patients would be limited to just two ounces
of herb per month and forbidden from growing their own, or rolling it
up in public.

While he is not looking to pass the pipe to recreational marijuana
users, or promising to line the pockets of the sober folks in charge
of Idaho's budget, he is angling for thumbs up from the Department of
Health and Welfare and the Idaho Medical Association. Ultimately,
his proposal makes clear who this is about. Trail is trying to help
his suffering constituents. From the press release:

Rep. Trail was approached over a year ago by several constituents who
suffered from chronic health conditions--brain cancer, glaucoma and
other severe health conditions. They receive prescriptions from their
doctors and have them filled in Washington State. One constituent,
who has multiple sclerosis, said his doctors have recommended
marijuana to treat neuralgia, which causes him to lose the feeling
and use of his right arm and shoulders. The M.S. Society has shown
that this drug will help slow the progression of the disease. Rep.
Trail has talked to many doctors who support this type of legislation.