HOUSE TO TAKE UP MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) Preliminary approval was given Thursday in the Vermont
House to a bill that would permit people with debilitating diseases to
relieve their pain by smoking marijuana.

Approval came on an 81-53 vote after about four hours of sometimes emotional
debate highlighted by lawmakers' personal stories about how friends and
relatives had used marijuana to ease their discomfort.

Proponents said the proposal would give comfort to people who were suffering
near the end of their lives. Opponents countered that there was too little
evidence proving the case. And they argued that the proposal was a step
toward legalizing recreational use of marijuana.

"These are people who are in terrible pain. Many are dying," said Rep.
Warren Kitzmiller, D-Montpelier, who recounted how his wife was offered
marijuana as she was dying from cancer almost a year ago, which she did not
accept. "This is an issue of compassion for their pain."

Several lawmakers said it wouldn't be long before the bill would lead to a
push for legalizing marijuana for any purpose.

"The real issue here is to get a foot in the door on legalizing marijuana,"
said Rep. Thomas DePoy, R-Rutland.

"This is a smoke screen to allow the camel's nose under the tent," added
Rep. Nancy Sheltra, R-Derby.

The bill would not legalize the use of marijuana for any purpose. It still
would remain technically illegal even for those with chronic or terminal
illnesses.

But people suffering from cancer, glaucoma, AIDS or diseases that cause
wasting syndrome, severe pain or nausea, seizures, or persistent muscle
spasms could get a medical certificate from a physician declaring that
marijuana would relieve the symptoms.

Those people then would be exempt from criminal and civil penalties for
using marijuana.

There would be restrictions on how much marijuana someone could possess no
more than three mature plants, four immature plants or three ounces of
usable marijuana and people would not be allowed to drive or operate heavy
machinery when using the drug.

"This is not about recreational use," said Rep. David Zuckerman,
P-Burlington, a prime sponsor of the bill. "There are no holes."

Vermont would become the ninth state in the nation to ignore federal laws
banning marijuana and authorizing its medical use. Several supporters said
they would prefer the U.S. Food and Drug Administration submitted marijuana
to trials that would lead to its authorization as a medical therapy. But
that is not in the offing and the supporters said it was time to add Vermont
to the trend.

"I think this comes down to a matter of compassion and understanding," said
Rep. Jack Anderson, D-Woodstock, one of at least a half dozen lawmakers who
told compelling stories about friends or family members who had used
marijuana to relieve pain near the ends of their lives.

Gov. Howard Dean said at his weekly news conference that he remained opposed
to Vermont authorizing marijuana use without FDA authorization. "I think the
right thing to do if you think this is a good drug you should let it go
through the FDA," Dean said.

He did not say outright that he would veto the bill if it reached him. His
administration appeared to be counting on persuading the Senate either to
kill the bill or simply not to take it up in the remaining weeks of the
legislative session.

The House still must take a final vote on the bill and that's expected as
early as Friday.