NEW BILL AIMS TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA

TV Host Helps Promote Legislation

Talk show host Montel Williams told Delaware legislators Jan. 25, he
uses medical marijuana to ease his multiple sclerosis. He urged them
to decriminalize its use to alleviate pain.

Senate Bill 17 has already been proposed by Senate Majority Whip
Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington East to allow medical use of marijuana.

For Williams, medical marijuana - smoked or eaten - provides more
relief than traditional painkillers, including Vicodin and Percocet.

Williams told members of the General Assembly how important medical
marijuana is in helping him cope with the effects of multiple
sclerosis, as well as other diseases and cancer.

"Scientific research has shown marijuana to be effective, and 15
states and the District of Columbia already have legalized its medical
use," Williams said. "It is time to follow the latest scientific
evidence, the personal experience by patients like me and the
compassion I believe most people in Delaware feel for some sick people
who could use the relief from pain that marijuana can provide."

Locally, Dr. Gabe Somori of Coastal Pain Care in Lewes said a minority
of patients with HIV and some cancers would benefit from the pill form
of medical marijuana called marinol.

"For some, nausea isn't controlled by traditional prescriptions or
they have no appetite ... for them the medical marijuana would be
appropriate," said Somori.

"Generally the prescription would be provided by a general physician
or an oncologist, so we wouldn't use it much as a pain manager."

Marinol has already been made available to some Delaware patients in
certain circumstances, said Somori.

The proposed Senate Bill 17 would do the following:

Require doctors prove a patient could benefit from medical
marijuana

Require patients or designated caregivers have police verifiable
identification cards to access medical marijuana

Create a database of medical marijuana patients and registered
caregivers

Limit amount allowed to be held by patients to 6 ounces of medical
marijuana

Provide medical marijuana through state-regulated, non-profit
distribution centers, which would be required to meet strict security
and record-keeping standards.

Also lending support to the bill are Delawareans for Medical
Marijuana, led by Don Brill, a cancer survivor.

Brill said a new website with information for patients is available at
delawareansformedicalmarijuana.org.