If a proposed bill passes, people in Missouri would have the right to use marijuana if they've exhausted the use of pain relief medicine for the effects of cancer, glaucoma, AIDS and other diseases. The bill to legalize marijuana for such patients was introduced March 13 in the Missouri House of Representatives and is awaiting further discussion. It would acknowledge marijuana as acceptable for medical use in Missouri by classifying the drug as a Schedule II Substance, lowering it from its current Schedule I classification, which prohibits using it as medicine by the Drug Enforcement Administration in 42 states. [continues 425 words]
Students with minor drug violations would be allowed to continue receiving federal aid under a proposed U.S. House of Representatives bill which would repeal the 1998 Higher Education Act Drug Provision. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., introduced the repeal bill Feb. 11 to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce. A student convicted of selling or possessing drugs is not eligible for federal loans and grants under the current drug provision, which became effective in 2000. [continues 409 words]
