VERMONT BILL APPROVES MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE

The Vermont senate on Tuesday voted 20-7 to approve legislation that
protects medical marijuana users from arrest. The bill, previously
approved by the state house, now goes to Gov. James Douglas, a
Republican, for his consideration. The legislation would allow adults
suffering from AIDS, cancer, or multiple sclerosis to grow, possess,
and use a limited amount of marijuana to treat the debilitating
symptoms of their diseases. Patients would be allowed to grow up to
three marijuana plants under the bill's provisions. Douglas reportedly
has misgivings about the legislation, according to the Marijuana
Policy Project, and will likely face pressure from the White House to
veto the bill.

If Douglas signs the bill or allows it to pass into law without his
signature, Vermont would become only the second state after Hawaii to
have enacted medical marijuana laws through the state legislature,
according to MPP. Seven other states--Alaska, California, Colorado,
Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington--also allow medical marijuana
use, but those laws were approved by state voters as ballot
initiatives. A Maryland law that took effect in 2003 reduces penalties
for users of medicinal marijuana but doesn't wholly eliminate the
statewide ban on the drug.