APPROVAL OF MARIJUANA BILL BRINGS LITTLE SENSE OF RELIEF

For Michael, who buys his wife marijuana to treat her severe colitis, the
medical marijuana bill signed into law last week by Gov. Robert Ehrlich
does little to ease his mind about breaking the law.

"I'm happy that there is some movement to make this available to people who
need it," said the Baltimore County resident, who asked not to be directly
identified because of his fear of being arrested, "but it doesn't give me a
sense of security."

Ehrlich, standing up to pressure from the White House, signed the bill May
22, reducing the criminal penalty for marijuana smokers who can prove they
are using the drug to treat serious medical conditions.

The law, which takes effect Oct. 1, cuts the fine to $100 with no jail time
for those convicted of possession - if a judge can be convinced the
marijuana is being used for medicinal reasons.

Previously, the penalty included a maximum $1,000 fine and one year in jail.

In Michael's case, his wife of more than a decade has been smoking
marijuana, which he buys for her, about three times a week to alleviate the
effects of severe colitis.

"The extreme pain causes her to double over," Michael said. "If she smokes
marijuana, the pain is almost relieved immediately. Within two or three
minutes, she feels better and can do housework or go grocery shopping."

By contrast, he said, the four "heavy-duty medications" she has been
prescribed by a physician can take up to three hours to fully relieve her
symptoms. They also leave her lethargic and physically incapable of normal
daily activity, he said.

"I can tell you, marijuana improves the quality of my wife's life," Michael
said.

Del. Dan Morhaim, who sponsored the bill in the House, called the law "a
reasonable and prudent step that will help ease the suffering of some of
our fellow citizens."

Morhaim, who is a physician, said the bill was not an attempt to
decriminalize marijuana but rather to provide options for patients with a
debilitating or terminal illness.

"The bill does not go very far," Morhaim said. "But in the context of
federal law, it goes as far as you can go."

Sen. Paula Hollinger, who sponsored a similar measure in the Senate, said
the bill was a good start.

During the session, Hollinger had proposed another program in which
physicians would have had the option to prescribe marijuana to patients. A
state board would have to approve the use and then would track the results.

"A doctor can prescribe morphine ... to ease the end of life, but you can't
go out on the street and buy morphine (legally)," said Hollinger, who is
also a nurse. "I think medical marijuana should be treated the same way."

Other bills signed last week by Ehrlich include:

* Senate Bill 204, sponsored by Baltimore County senators Jim Brochin and
Paula Hollinger, authorizes the transfer of three liquor licenses from the
eastern side of the county to Towson. The licenses would be used to attract
destination restaurants to downtown Towson.

* Senate Bill 75, known as the Public School Charter Act of 2003,
establishes the first statewide charter school program. It grants each
local school board the authority to establish the schools and set up an
appeal process through the state Board of Education.

* Senate Bill 383, known as "John's Law," prohibits a person who is
arrested for specified alcohol and drug-related offenses from operating a
motor vehicle for 12 hours after the arrest.