DELAWARE STATE SENATOR SAYS MEDICAL POT BILL WAS PASSED WITHOUT
ADVICE FROM MEDICAL SOCIETY OR ATTORNEY GENERAL

One downstate Delaware senator is unhappy with the passage of the
medical marijuana bill, saying that the legislative body did not seek
advice from other sources.

Sen. Joe Booth (R-Georgetown) , wrote in a release that the Senate's
process was severely lacking. "There was no input or testimony before
the Senate from the Attorney General, nor from the Medical Society of
Delaware."

"The legislation also appears to be contrary to written federal law
about controlled substances, and that conflict was not resolved to my
satisfaction." "There were numerous questions about enforcement of
various aspects of the law that were left unanswered, or were brushed
off with 'Oh, that will be taken care of when they write the
regulations'.

"I am not convinced that a thorough enough job was done to adapt this
'national model' legislation to work in Delaware."

Senator Booth is one of three downstate Republican senators to vote
against the bill, which passed with 18 votes.

Senate Majority Whip Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington East, said she
thinks the lop-sided vote that is a good omen or her legislation as it
moves to the House of Representatives.

"I think everyone was looking at what would happen in the Senate and
I'm extremely gratified that 17 of my colleagues from both sides of
the aisle stood with me and saw the need to offer this medicine to
help alleviate the suffering of our fellow citizens," said Henry. "I
hope the cries of help from those patients touch my friends in the
House as deeply as they touched us. I'm sure this will generate the
same kind of debate in the House as we saw but, if we do not lose
sight of the patients and their needs, I'm confident we'll get this
law passed."

Among those patients was Daniel Palomino of Claymont, a retired Air
Force officer, who told senators that marijuana was the most effective
drug he found to offset the pain of surgery and chemotherapy.

"I thought it was a triumph of the politics of hope over the politics
of fear," he said after the vote. "It was humbling to be a part of
this. I'm proud to be a part of it and it just shows that there's room
for the rule of law and for compassion in this chamber. I'm very proud
of our Legislature today."

If the House passes the bill in its current form and is signed by Gov.
Jack Markell, people 18 years of age and older who are diagnosed with
chronic or debilitating conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, or who
are suffering ill effects of chemotherapy would be eligible for
medical marijuana - if their doctor thinks it would ease their
suffering and has decided other medications are ineffective. Henry's
bill aims at limiting what is known as "doctor shopping" by requiring
a doctor who recommends medical marijuana to have a long relationship
with their patient.

Patients, or their designated caregivers, would obtain the drug at one
of three compassion centers authorized in the bill. Those centers
would be operated as non-profits and would be tightly regulated by the
state. The bill also requires the state to run lab tests on marijuana
to certify it has not been tainted by dangerous chemicals. Patients
would be able to receive up to 6 ounces of marijuana monthly.

The bill carries more restrictions than laws in states such as
California, where critics claim those without major medical problems
can obtain medical marijuana.