SENATE OKS MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

Controversial Legislation Passes On 29-17 Vote; House Has Approved Similar
Measure

The state Senate approved legislation today to substantially reduce
criminal penalties for seriously ill people caught smoking marijuana as a
way of easing their symptoms.

The Senate bill was approved 29-17 despite the objections of opponents who
denounced the measure as a stepping stone to legalizing marijuana
altogether. Twenty-four Democrats joined five Republicans in support of the
bill, which would set a maximum fine of $100 and no jail time for
defendants who can convince a judge they need to smoke marijuana for
medical reasons. Nine Republicans and eight Democrats voted against the
measure.

The House has already approved a similar bill, and supporters believe they
have an excellent chance of getting one or both bills to Gov. Robert
Ehrlich to sign or veto. When he served in Congress, Ehrlich supported
medical marijuana use and continues to say that he supports the concept,
although he has not taken a position on this particular bill.

Backers of the legislation say smoking marijuana can alleviate the symptoms
of serious illnesses such as cancer, HIV or AIDS, multiple sclerosis and
Crohn's disease, and can help patients suffering from nausea hold down food
and medications.

In an hour of debate on the chamber floor today, senators supporting the
measure gave emotional accounts of their own family struggles with cancer
and urged the passage of the bill as a way to show compassion to those in
their dying days.

Sen. Nathaniel Exum, D-Prince George's, related how his 25-year-old
daughter died of cancer, wasting away with nausea and dehydration, "saying,
'Daddy, can you do something?' and there was nothing I could do to help her."

Sen. Joan Carter Conway, D-Baltimore, told how she had "closed about five
family members' eyes."

Sen. David Brinkley, R-Frederick, recalled how he met a number of sick
people who could have benefited from marijuana when he underwent radiation
treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1989.

"These are not the people we want to prosecute and go after," Brinkley said.

Opponents countered that the Food and Drug Administration does not consider
marijuana an acceptable treatment for any diseases. MedChi, an organization
that represents Maryland's doctors, and U.S. drug czar John P. Walters are
against the measure.

Sen. Larry Haines, R-Carroll, argued that passing the measure would send
the wrong message to children about a "gateway drug" that leads to harder
narcotics.

Under current law, simple possession or use of marijuana can bring
penalties of up to a year in prison or a $1,000 fine. Sen. John Astle,
D-Anne Arundel, said passing the bill would set up a "bifurcated system"
where "we have something that is illegal, that isn't really illegal under
certain circumstances."

Haines said: "It's not about compassion. I think it's a step toward
legalizing a very dangerous drug."

Sen. Paula Hollinger, D-Baltimore County, a registered nurse and the chair
of the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, replied: "I'm
not one who's looking to legalize any drugs in this General Assembly, but I
will tell you I'm not willing to leave patients in pain and not willing to
eat."

Seven states with medical marijuana laws enacted them by ballot
initiatives, according to the Marijuana Policy Project, a group working to
reform marijuana laws. In 2000, Hawaii became the first state to pass a law
through the state legislature.

Last year, a Maryland bill matching the one that passed today was approved
by the House of Delegates but was killed in the Senate Judicial Proceedings
Committee under a more conservative chairman who lost his re-election bid.
This year, it passed that same committee by one vote.