Pubdate: Mon, 03 Mar 2003
Source: Carlsbad Current-Argus (NM)
Copyright: 2003 Carlsbad Current-Argus
Contact: http://www.currentargus.com/Stories/0,1008,161~9306~,00.html
Website: http://www.currentargus.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2549
Author: Barry Massey , Associated Press Writer

MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL GOES TO FULL HOUSE

SANTA FE - A proposal to allow the medical use of marijuana by New Mexicans 
with debilitating illnesses is heading to the House for debate.

The measure cleared the House Judiciary Committee on a 9-1 vote Monday.

The legislation would make marijuana possession and use legal under state 
law for patients seriously ill with cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy, multiple 
sclerosis, HIV or AIDS and certain spinal cord injuries.

Those patients, or their caregivers, would be protected from prosecution 
under state law.

However, opponents warned that they could be subject to federal drug charges.

"If smoking raw marijuana is a medicine, Dr. Kevorkian wrote the 
prescription," said Rep. Ron Godbey, R-Cedar Crest, who opposed the bill. 
He was referring to American euthanasia advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian.

District attorneys and law enforcement groups testified against the 
legislation.

Among those supporting the bill was a Las Cruces man, Fred MacDonald, who 
suffers from MS and a spinal cord injury.

He lives half the year in Seattle, Wash., and participates in that state's 
medical marijuana program.
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