MURPHY RESURRECTS MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Marijuana Bill Draws New Interest, Support

ANNAPOLIS - State Del. Donald Murphy of Catonsville (R-Dist. 12A) and the
more than 50 co-sponsors to his medical marijuana bill are hoping it will
pass this session after failing on two previous attempts.

The measure has strong support in the House of Delegates, but may be up for
a tougher battle if it reaches the Senate.

Murphy and several other delegates from both parties pledged their support
for the bill during a news conference last Thursday.

"We're here today to declare victory already," said Murphy, while
acknowledging, "We're going to need some momentum."

Murphy heralded the fact that fellow Baltimore County delegates Dan Morhaim
(D-Dist. 11), and Shirley Nathan-Pulliam (D-Dist. 10) are both sponsors.

Morhaim is a doctor, and Nathan-Pulliam a nurse.

"I'm on this bill to help relieve (terminally-ill patients') pain and
suffering during their last few months," Morhaim said.

Under the legislation, patients would have to apply for a registry
identification card from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene that
would give them immunity from prosecution for possessing or growing small
amounts of marijuana for medical use.

Eight states have similar laws: Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine,
Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. Seven others are considering
legislation: Vermont, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Iowa, Minnesota
and New York.

Maryland's previous efforts were killed by lawmakers fearful that the bills
contained too many loopholes.

Trying to address those concerns, the new bill mandates identification
cards, instead of making them optional. The new version prohibits a patient
from growing marijuana, the better to stop thieves.

Also, the bill restricts caregivers from simultaneously serving multiple
patients, in an effort to prevent a caregiver from harvesting large
quantities of the drug.

Maryland voters have supported medical marijuana use in recent opinion
surveys, according to Del. Dana Dembrow of Montgomery County, sponsor of a
companion bill.

Murphy's bill is actually one of three in the General Assembly aimed at
allowing patients' use of the drug. Dembrow's measure would allow a person
arrested for marijuana possession to use medicinal purposes as a legal defense.

The third bill in the series, which is being introduced by Del. Thomas
Hutchins of Charles County would allow a judge to consider medical use when
sentencing someone on a possession conviction.

Introducing three bills, Dembrow said, gives one a better chance of passage.

Even if the measure fails, Murphy said he's adopted a little-engine-
that-could approach. If it's struck down, he plans to try, try again.

"If we can't convince them now, maybe we can in November," he said.

But Murphy said the problem is certainty. Alluding to the state's new
redistricting map, which takes him out of his familiar District 12, he
added, "I may not be here in a year."