Pubdate: Tue, 19 Feb 2002
Source: Prince George's Journal (MD)
Copyright: 2002 The Journal Newspapers
Contact:  http://cold.jrnl.com/cfdocs/new/pg/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/707
Author: Krissy Oechslin

MARIJUANA IS A MEDICINE THAT PEOPLE NEED

Support for medical marijuana may have finally reached critical mass in 
Maryland. On Feb. 8, Del. Don Murphy, R-Baltimore County, formally 
introduced a medical marijuana bill in the Maryland House of Delegates.

The Darrell Putnam Compassionate Use Act would provide effective protection 
to the many Maryland residents who are already using marijuana to relieve 
the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and a host of other 
medical conditions.

With 52 other delegates signed on to the bill, Del. Murphy has set a 
national record for the number of co-sponsors on any medical marijuana 
bill. The legislation has support from both sides of the aisle, including 
the majority and minority leaders as well as the speaker pro tem and the 
minority whip.

Named after a former Green Beret who died of cancer, the Darrell Putnam 
Compassionate Use Act would allow a patient suffering from a serious 
illness to use marijuana with a recommendation from his or her doctor.

The state's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene would issue 
identification cards to medical marijuana patients to ensure that law 
enforcement agents could easily identify legitimate patients from non-patients.

Maryland's medical marijuana program would be the strictest in the country. 
The bill prohibits cultivation of more than seven marijuana plants.

Certified caregivers would be permitted to provide marijuana to only one 
patient at any given time, and a patient could receive marijuana from only 
one primary caregiver. All marijuana plants would have to be grown in 
secure indoor facilities, and patients would be prohibited from using 
marijuana in such a way that endangers public safety (such as driving while 
under the influence). These safeguards will assure the safety of patients 
and the public.

Thousands of doctors in eight states - Alaska, California, Colorado, 
Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington - are legally recommending 
marijuana to tens of thousands of patients to ease the nausea of 
chemotherapy and AIDS medications, the muscle spasticity of multiple 
sclerosis and the seizures of epilepsy.

And in those eight states, not a single patient or doctor has ever faced 
federal arrest, prosecution or imprisonment for possessing or recommending 
small amounts of marijuana for medical use.

Patients not fortunate enough to reside in states with medical marijuana 
laws currently risk arrest simply for using a medicine that brings them relief.

These people are not threats to society, yet they face criminal sanctions. 
An arrest for medical marijuana possession can result not only in a 
criminal record and possible imprisonment, but in termination of 
employment, denial of student financial aid, driver's license suspension 
and expulsion from school or public housing, regardless of whether the 
marijuana was for medical use. Is society served by punishing the ill and 
disabled?

Maryland residents support medical marijuana. In early January, a statewide 
poll found that twice as many Maryland voters are more likely to vote for a 
candidate who supports medical marijuana than are less likely to support 
such a candidate. And in 1999, the University of Maryland's Center for 
Substance Abuse Research conducted a poll, asking if residents believed 
"physicians should be allowed to prescribe marijuana for medical use." 
Fully 73 percent of respondents were in favor of medical marijuana. These 
results mirror national polls conducted from 1995 through 1999, which 
showed support for medical marijuana ranging from 60 percent to 79 percent 
of those surveyed.

The Maryland General Assembly faces a choice: Protect patients from arrest, 
or treat them as common criminals. If you believe that patients shouldn't 
go to jail for the simple act of taking their medicine, please make your 
voice heard. Ask your elected officials this simple question: Which is 
worse for seriously ill people - marijuana or prison?

Krissy Oechslin is assistant communications director of the Marijuana 
Policy Project:  http://www.mpp.org.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom