MEDICAL MARIJUANA LEGISLATION DOES NOT PROTECT DRUG DEALERS

Contrary to Sen. Tim Ferguson's Jan. 30 letter ("Ferguson against medical
marijuana operated by state"), the medical marijuana bill I am sponsoring
in Annapolis does not provide legal shelter for drug dealers.

The only individual who can legally provide medical marijuana to a patient
under my bill is that patient's primary caregiver, and a primary caregiver
is not authorized to do anything related to marijuana that is not necessary
for the patient's specific, authorized medical need.

The bill requires that patients and their caregivers obtain ID cards issued
by the state health department. It is not reasonable to think that drug
dealers will be voluntarily providing their names and addresses to the
state government. It just won't happen.

If drug dealers claim to be protected by this bill, they will be subject to
even greater criminal penalties. And I have full faith and confidence in
the ability of our courts and police to distinguish between legitimate
patients and drug dealers. I would not be advocating for this legislation
if it contained loopholes that protected drug dealers.

Let's do the right thing and pass this conservatively drawn, narrow piece
of legislation that only protects patients, their doctors and their
registered caregivers.

DONALD E. MURPHY, Maryland state delegate, Catonsville