Pubdate: Thu, 04 Apr 2002
Source: Frederick News Post (MD)
Website: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/
Feedback: www.fredericknewspost.com/contact/contactfinalnew.cfm?contact=letters
Address: 200 East Patrick Street, PO Box 578, Frederick, MD 21705-0578
Copyright: 2002 Great Southern Printing and Manufacturing Company
Fax: 301-662-8299
Author: Douglas Tallman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

MARIJUANA BILL NEARING CRUCIAL VOTE

Medical marijuana legislation faced a crucial test Wednesday when 
supporters stood before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, the 
conservative panel that killed a similar measure last year.

Two Republican delegates - David Brinkley of Frederick County and Donald 
Murphy of Baltimore County - asked the committee to make a distinction 
between the war on drugs and the benefit terminally ill people would get 
from smoking marijuana.

"There's no reason, in our zeal to cleanse our streets ... a patient should 
be subjected to the harsh penalties our courts give," said Mr. Brinkley, a 
cancer survivor.

Originally, the bill would have legalized marijuana use for cancer and AIDS 
patients who have a recommendation from their doctor.

Although House Judiciary Committee members seemed poised to pass that bill, 
Chairman Joseph Vallario insisted the bill be amended to keep marijuana 
possession a crime. At trial, a defendant could try to prove medical 
necessity and if so, face a maximum penalty of a $100 fine.

"It eliminates fear of jail. It eliminates one more thing for people to 
worry about at a very critical time that could be the balance of their 
life," Mr. Murphy told the senators.

For three years, Mr. Murphy has championed the legislation in an effort to 
honor Darrell Putman, a friend who reluctantly turned to marijuana to 
counteract the nausea and loss of appetite that comes from chemotherapy.

Mr. Putman used the drug fearing that he would get caught and lose his 
business, so he asked Mr. Murphy to sponsor legislation decriminalizing 
marijuana use for the terminally ill.

Mr. Murphy thinks he almost has enough votes to get the bill out of 
Judicial Proceedings and onto the Senate floor. A committee vote could come 
tomorrow.

Among the swing votes is undecided Sen. Richard Colburn, R-Dorchester, 
another cancer survivor. "Being a cancer survivor gives you a different 
outlook on issues like this," he said.

The committee received two letters from opponents of the bill. Carolyn 
Burns of Silver Spring questioned the message it sends to youth who are 
confronted by drug use in schools. And Joyce Nalepka, president of 
Drug-Free Kids: America's Challenge, compiled comments from a number of 
sources critical of the Murphy bill and others like it.
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MAP posted-by: Beth