Pubdate: 05 May 2004
Source: Hamden Journal, The (CT)
Copyright: 2004 The Hamden Journal
Contact:  http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1345
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3359
Author: Jack P. Terceno and Jessica Lyon
Cited: A Better Way  ( http://www.abetterwayct.org/ )
Cited: Courage to Speak Foundation  ( http://www.couragetospeak.org/ )
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/states/ct/ (Connecticut)

LAWMAKERS DEBATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE

The war on drugs has battled its way to the state Legislature where 
lawmakers debate whether to legalize marijuana for medical use. The House 
of Representatives voted on a medical marijuana bill that would allow 
residents to grow marijuana in their homes for personal use, provided they 
receive a doctor's prescription for the drug.

The bill, which already has won approval from the Judiciary, Appropriations 
and Public Health committees 3/4 also passed the House and was sent to the 
Finance Committee for further review.

People suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis, AIDS and other terminal 
illnesses sometimes use marijuana to ease pain, control nausea and increase 
appetite.

The medical marijuana bill would make it legal for such patients to possess 
and cultivate up to five plants in their home. Purchasing or selling the 
drug would remain illegal, even for the patients.

State Rep. James Abrams (D-Meriden) co-sponsored the bill and has fought to 
legalize medical marijuana for the last five years. Last year, his bill 
failed on the House floor by 12 votes.

Opponents of the bill fear it is a first step in legalizing marijuana 
altogether. Abrams said that is not his intention.

"I'm not in favor of legalizing marijuana," he said, which is why his bill 
does not legalize purchasing the drug. "We'd be legalizing behavior we 
don't want to legalize."

Robert Rooks is executive director of the non-profit organization A Better 
Way, a group dedicated to reviewing drug policies in Connecticut. Rooks 
joined Abrams' effort two years ago.

"There are a large contingent of folks in Connecticut that are using 
marijuana for medical purposes," Rooks said. "They should no longer have to 
worry about potential repercussions from state government."

Abrams said the existing use of marijuana by terminally ill patients 
allowed him to avoid the "first seed" issue in his bill - the question of 
where patients would obtain marijuana. He and Rooks said those who need it 
already have it.

"We'll really be legalizing what is ongoing behavior," he said.

A Gateway Drug

Opponents to legalizing medical marijuana said marijuana is a "gateway" 
drug that often leads to the use of cocaine and heroin.

The federal government categorizes marijuana as a schedule 1 drug, meaning 
it cannot be sold by prescription. Cocaine, by comparison, is a schedule 2 
drug that doctors can prescribe.

Ginger Katz, a Norwalk woman whose son Ian died of a drug overdose, formed 
the Courage to Speak Foundation and travels the country warning children of 
the dangers of drug use.

She said she opposes medical marijuana legislation because it will suggest 
to children that smoking marijuana is okay.

"Marijuana isn't medicine - it's that simple," Katz said. "Medical 
marijuana is the beginning of legalizing it. The message to children is 
really loud and clear...It definitely sends a message to kids that it's 
okay to use."

Katz said there are several existing drugs already available by 
prescription that serve the same purpose as marijuana in relieving symptoms.

State Rep. Al Adinolfi (R-Cheshire) said he voted against the bill.

"It is too difficult to control and too easy to abuse," he said. "I 
sympathize with it, but there are plenty of drugs available that address 
the same issues."

Trumbull state Rep. T.R. Rowe (R-134) said the American Medical 
Association, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the American Cancer 
Society and other medical groups have said there is no medical benefit to 
smoking marijuana.

Marijuana derivatives are available in pill and liquid form to help 
patients combat nausea and increase their appetite.

According to Abrams and Rooks, however, patients who smoke marijuana told 
them that the derivative medicines do not work as well.

Abrams said the lack of scientific evidence supporting those claims is not 
enough to ignore them.

"One reason there's no scientific evidence is that the government won't 
fund any studies," he said. "There is tons of anecdotal evidence."

Rooks said he was troubled by efforts to remove any potential medicine from 
terminally ill patients.

"There are other drugs that do work," he said. "But we would like marijuana 
to be one of the options."

State Rep. Brendan Sharkey (D-Hamden) said he supports the bill, which he 
said provides protection for those suffering the effects of chemotherapy.

"People who think this is a slippery slope to legalizing drugs have it 
wrong," he said. "We should not refuse to choose the right thing now in 
order to avoid something going wrong down the road. I think that is a 
pretty negative way to pass laws."

State Rep. Jack Stone (R-123) disagrees with making marijuana an option. He 
already voted against the bill.

A ranking member of the Public Safety Committee, Stone said he supports law 
enforcement officials who worry the medical marijuana bill will lead to 
increased marijuana use among non-patients.

"The law enforcement community is strongly opposed to the bill," Stone 
said. "The big issue is how do they control it, and how do they make sure 
it's being used for what it was intended."  
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