News (Media Awareness Project) - US NM: Edu: NM Could Legalize Marijuana |
| Title: | US NM: Edu: NM Could Legalize Marijuana |
| Published On: | 2003-03-05 |
| Source: | Daily Lobo (NM) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-20 23:02:57 |
N.M. COULD LEGALIZE MARIJUANA
Bill May Authorize Medicinal Use For Debilitating Illnesses
SANTA FE (AP) -- A proposal to allow the medical use of marijuana by New
Mexicans with debilitating illnesses is heading to the House for debate.
The measure cleared the House Judiciary Committee on a 9-1 vote Monday.
The legislation would make marijuana possession and use legal under state
law for patients seriously ill with cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy, multiple
sclerosis, HIV or AIDS and certain spinal cord injuries.
Those patients, or their caregivers, would be protected from prosecution
under state law. However, opponents warned that they could be subject to
federal drug charges.
"If smoking raw marijuana is a medicine, Dr. Kevorkian wrote the
prescription," said Rep. Ron Godbey, R-Cedar Crest, who opposed the bill.
He was referring to American euthanasia advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian.
District attorneys and law enforcement groups testified against the
legislation.
Among those supporting the bill was a Las Cruces man, Fred MacDonald, who
suffers from MS and a spinal cord injury. He lives half the year in
Seattle, Wash., and participates in that state's medical marijuana program.
He said his prescription medication makes him lethargic or causes him to sleep.
If he uses marijuana, MacDonald said, "I am functioning as a person." Under
the legislation, a doctor would have to certify that someone suffers from a
qualifying illness. The patient must register with the state Health
Department, which would issue an identification card.
It would be up to the patients to get the marijuana. The state would not be
a producer or distributor. The proposal would permit a qualifying patient
or their caregiver to possess a supply of marijuana to provide an
"uninterrupted availability" for three months.
MacDonald told the committee he uses up to 1.5 ounces per month when he is
in Seattle.
Eight states allow the use of marijuana as medicine: Alaska, California,
Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon, Nevada and Washington.
Medical marijuana legislation was part of former Gov. Gary Johnson's
proposals for overhauling New Mexico's drug laws. In 2001, the House and
Senate approved separate bills to permit the medical use of marijuana but
never agreed on the same version of the proposal.
Bill May Authorize Medicinal Use For Debilitating Illnesses
SANTA FE (AP) -- A proposal to allow the medical use of marijuana by New
Mexicans with debilitating illnesses is heading to the House for debate.
The measure cleared the House Judiciary Committee on a 9-1 vote Monday.
The legislation would make marijuana possession and use legal under state
law for patients seriously ill with cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy, multiple
sclerosis, HIV or AIDS and certain spinal cord injuries.
Those patients, or their caregivers, would be protected from prosecution
under state law. However, opponents warned that they could be subject to
federal drug charges.
"If smoking raw marijuana is a medicine, Dr. Kevorkian wrote the
prescription," said Rep. Ron Godbey, R-Cedar Crest, who opposed the bill.
He was referring to American euthanasia advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian.
District attorneys and law enforcement groups testified against the
legislation.
Among those supporting the bill was a Las Cruces man, Fred MacDonald, who
suffers from MS and a spinal cord injury. He lives half the year in
Seattle, Wash., and participates in that state's medical marijuana program.
He said his prescription medication makes him lethargic or causes him to sleep.
If he uses marijuana, MacDonald said, "I am functioning as a person." Under
the legislation, a doctor would have to certify that someone suffers from a
qualifying illness. The patient must register with the state Health
Department, which would issue an identification card.
It would be up to the patients to get the marijuana. The state would not be
a producer or distributor. The proposal would permit a qualifying patient
or their caregiver to possess a supply of marijuana to provide an
"uninterrupted availability" for three months.
MacDonald told the committee he uses up to 1.5 ounces per month when he is
in Seattle.
Eight states allow the use of marijuana as medicine: Alaska, California,
Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon, Nevada and Washington.
Medical marijuana legislation was part of former Gov. Gary Johnson's
proposals for overhauling New Mexico's drug laws. In 2001, the House and
Senate approved separate bills to permit the medical use of marijuana but
never agreed on the same version of the proposal.
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