Pubdate: Fri, 23 May 2003
Source: Frederick News Post (MD)
Copyright: 2003 Great Southern Printing and Manufacturing Company
Contact: 
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/contact/contactfinalnew.cfm?contact=letters
Website: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/814
Author: Clifford G. Cumber, News-Post Staff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/people/Joyce+Nalepka (Nalepka, Joyce)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL SIGNED

ANNAPOLIS -- Gov. Robert Ehrlich signed a medical marijuana bill Thursday, 
reducing the criminal penalties for patients who use the drug to reduce 
severe pain.

After a flurry of vetoes the day before, Mr. Ehrlich also endorsed 
legislation enabling local school boards to allow charter schools.

Supporters praised the signing of the Darrell Putnam Compassionate Use Act, 
which provides a total $100 fine and no jail time for marijuana possession 
if proof of medical necessity is offered. The act is named for a former 
Green Beret who used marijuana in the waning years of his terminal cancer.

The White House had lobbied Mr. Ehrlich to veto the bill, something the 
governor acknowledged at a press conference following the signing. He said 
he hoped signing the bill had not damaged his relationship with the Bush 
administration.

"I do believe people are reasonable and can distinguish between what drugs 
are doing to our nation and specific issues" such as end-of-life decisions, 
he said.

Mr. Ehrlich's stand impressed some.

"I really thought with the pressure coming from the White House that, if 
not the governor, then senior members of the state Republican party would 
pressure him to veto the bill. So I'm thrilled that the guy is putting his 
personal principals above partisan politics," said Delegate Rick Weldon, 
R-Frederick. "I still think it is possible to say that this is about 
compassion rather than politics."

Don Murphy, a key supporter of the legislation and a former Baltimore 
County delegate, finally saw all his lobbying pay off.

"If there's such a thing as a great day for cancer patients, today is such 
a day," he said.

Even House Speaker Michael Busch, who had voted against the legislation 
over two years when it came to the House of Delegates, said the legislation 
was the best the state could do.

"I do believe that the legislature last year and this year put (the 
legislation) in absolutely the best posture, considering you don't have 
pharmaceutical controls" over distribution.

The Putnam Act still means marijuana possession is illegal and 
prosecutable, and the legislation conflicts with federal law. That was one 
of the General Assembly's greatest concerns.

"It's our hope that we can now get some changes at the federal level," said 
state Sen. David Brinkley, a New Market Republican and cancer survivor who 
fought for the legislation.

But, he said, "I don't know that the Maryland legislature is ready to 
tackle it any more aggressively. We'll keep trying, but it's taken us five 
years to tackle this threshold."

Even as the bill was signed, opponents attempted to crash the event. Joyce 
Nalepka, president of Drug-Free Kids, twice tried to enter the line into 
the signing room, and was twice removed by Maryland State Police.

After being escorted out, an emotional Ms. Nalepka, wearing a button 
showing a marijuana leaf with a line through it, said she was upset at the 
action. "All of the legalizers march into the governor's office. I came up 
and they assign three police officers to escort me out."

The governor also signed the Public Charter School Act of 2003, which 
allows the establishment of public charter schools in Maryland. It provides 
parents, teachers and charter school advocates with an appeal to the state 
Board of Education if the local board denies a charter.

Similar legislation died in the General Assembly the last three years, but 
won passage this year, although in a vastly revised form from the initial 
bill proposed by the governor. Despite that, the administration has been 
claiming victory.

"Today marks a major victory for parents, teachers and students," Mr. 
Ehrlich said. "My charter school initiative gives parents the freedom to 
move their child out of a failing school and into a creative learning 
environment where they can reach their full potential."

Maryland is the 41st state to enact a public charter school law, allowing 
children to qualify for part of $200 million in federal money to support 
charter schools.

The list also included a piece of legislation initially promoted by former 
Delegate Sue Hecht to require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 
develop guidelines allowing visual monitoring in nursing homes.

The bill is named Vera's Law, after Ms. Hecht's mother, who suffered abuse 
at a nursing facility.

Ms. Hecht was on vacation and unavailable for comment.
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