Posted on 04/03/2007 2:21:05 PM PDT by Lexington Green
Richardson signs medical marijuana bill
SANTA FE (AP) — Nearly three decades after medical marijuana first was approved in New Mexico, Gov. Bill Richardson on Monday signed a law authorizing the state Department of Health to give the drug to some seriously ill patients.
New Mexico became the 12th state to legalize the use of marijuana for medical reasons.
Richardson said the new law provides ‘‘a humane option for New Mexicans living with cancer, HIV and other serious medical conditions.’’
The second-term governor is seeking the 2008 Democratic nomination, and Drug Policy Alliance New Mexico said he is the first presidential candidate to sign medical marijuana into law.
‘‘I hope that other elected officials take note: Americans will stand behind those that believe in compassion and mercy for our most vulnerable, our sick and dying patients struggling for relief,’’ said Reena Szczepanski, a lobbyist for the organization.
The law is named in part after Lynn Pierson, a Vietnam veteran who was dying of lung cancer when he lobbied lawmakers for a medical marijuana bill, linked to a research program, that was passed in 1978.
Pierson didn’t live long enough to use the progam, which provided marijuana to cancer patients to relieve the nausea of chemotherapy. It lost its funding in 1986 and became defunct.
Richardson’s signing of the bill, which takes effect July 1, drew immediate criticism from White House drug czar John Walters, who had asked the governor not to sign it.
Walters in an interview called it ‘‘disappointing’’ and ‘‘irresponsible.’’
He said it would worsen New Mexico’s problem of illegal drug use, undermine the anti-drug message to youngsters and result in the control problems like those California has experienced.
‘‘This is a triumph of politics over science,’’ he said, suggesting Richardson sought ‘‘to curry the favor of wealthy donors who are marijuana legalization advocates.’’
Newt Gingrich's Letter Supporting Medical Marijuana
The following letter by Rep. Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, in support of medical access to marijuana originally appeared in the March 19, 1982 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
To the Editor,
The American Medical Association's Council on Scientific Affairs should be commended for its report, "Marijuana: Its Health Hazards and Therapeutic Potential" (1981;246:1823). Not only does the report outline evidence of marijuana's potential harms, but it distinguishes this concern from the legitimate issue of marijuana's important medical benefits. All too often the hysteria that attends public debate over marijuana's social abuse compromises a clear appreciation for this critical distinction.
Since 1978, 32 states have abandoned the federal prohibition to recognize legislatively marijuana's important medical properties. Federal law, however, continues to define marijuana as a drug "with no accepted medical use," and federal agencies continue to prohibit physician-patient access to marijuana. This outdated federal prohibition is corrupting the intent of the state laws and depriving thousands of glaucoma and cancer patients of the medical care promised them by their state legislatures.
On September 16, 1981, Representatives Stewart McKinney and I introduced legislation designed to end bureaucratic interference in the use of marijuana as a medicant.
We believe licensed physicians are competent to employ marijuana, and patients have a right to obtain marijuana legally, under medical supervision, from a regulated source. The medical prohibition does not prevent seriously ill patients from employing marijuana; it simply deprives them of medical supervision and denies them access to a regulated medical substance. Physicians are often forced to choose between their ethical responsibilities to the patient and their legal liabilities to federal bureaucrats.
Representative McKinney and I hope the Council will take a close and careful look at this issue. Federal policies do not reflect a factual or balanced assessment of marijuana's use as a medicant. The Council, by thoroughly investigating the available materials, might well discover that its own assessment of marijuana's therapeutic value has, in the past, been more than slightly shaded by federal policies that are less than neutral.
Newt Gingrich House of Representatives Washington, DC
At the risk of being slammed, I think this a good thing.
Now, how about that medical “father’s ashes mixed with cocaine” bill????
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1811447/posts
Half our prison population of non-violent criminals (whose only crime was marijuana smoking or selling small amounts) would be emptied out so we could deal with the really violent ones!
It would cut gang warfare and border smuggling also.
but then, that would be way too rational....After all look how well prohibition worked!
I bet Richards just made that whole story up way back when and now believes he really did that.
It’s not just humane - it is politically astute. Give the people what they want.
Public opinion is in favor of ending the prohibition of medical marijuana. According to a 1999 Gallup poll, 73% of Americans are in favor of “making marijuana legally available for doctors to prescribe in order to reduce pain and suffering.” In a 2004 poll commissioned by AARP, 72% of Americans ages 45 and older thought marijuana should be legal for medicinal purposes if recommended by a doctor. Also, since 1996, voters in eight states plus the District of Columbia have passed favorable medical marijuana ballot initiatives.
... make that 12 states.
The trouble starts when you have fake doctors offices on every other corner like they supposedly do in California.
As long as the program is monitored correctly it shouldn't be such a big deal. If the Government is capable of doing that is another question.
Former Congressman Bob Barr Works With MPP
Earlier this month, [Bob] Barr signed on as a lobbyist for the Marijuana Policy Project, where his duties ironically will include pushing for repeal of his own “Barr amendment,” … “We’re working together pretty closely right now,” [MPP’s Aaron] Houston said. “He brings a great deal of credibility and a lot of gravitas to the cause … We hope he serves as an example to some of his former colleagues, particularly on the GOP side of the aisle.” (March 30, 2007)
First, only 20% of those in prison are there for drug related crimes. Second, almost all of those 20% are there for drug dealing or drug trafficking. I don't know of any case where a person was thrown in prison for smoking a joint.
Where are you getting your (mis)information?
Mob rule.
and the home invasions for “quality seeds”
lmao.........
“Medical marijuana was supposed to be for the truly ill cancer victims and AIDS patients who could use the drug to relieve pain or restore their appetites. Yet the number of dispensaries has skyrocketed from five in 2005 to 143 by the end of 2006. In North Hollywood alone, there are more pot clinics than Starbucks.”
-- Pasadena Star-News, January 21, 2007
shuuuush, you'll scare people and piss off the others..*LOL*
lmao..........
with california revenues annually of 2.5 billion
I wish I could see some of the double-takes when people read this! Newt's getting even wiser!
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