MADISON - Legalizing medical marijuana will ease the cancer patients' pain and help others who are suffering, supporters of legalization argued Monday. Two Democratic state lawmakers, advocates and those fighting chronic diseases said at a news conference there is momentum nationwide to decriminalize the use of marijuana for medical reasons. They pointed to Gov. Jim Doyle's comments last month in support of legalizing medical marijuana for people who have a doctor's prescription. Also, the American Medical Association called last week for a federal review of marijuana's status as a controlled substance to make it easier to do research that could lead to development of marijuana-based medicines. [continues 397 words]
Democratic candidate for governor Stormy Dean is criticizing Gov. Mike Johanns for the failure to obtain $500,000 in federal funding to combat the spread of methamphetamine. "Johanns dropped the ball," Dean said. Johanns' spokesman Chris Peterson said the money was not a grant, as Dean claimed, but was part of a federal appropriations bill. Former U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey had earmarked the funding in past years, but no earmarking for Nebraska was made last year. "Stormy Dean continues to embarrass himself as a candidate for governor," Peterson said. "Today's attack by his campaign raises further questions about his credibility as a candidate." [continues 150 words]
Democratic candidate for governor Stormy Dean is criticizing Gov. Mike Johanns for the failure to obtain $500,000 in federal funding to combat the spread of methamphetamine. "Johanns dropped the ball," Dean said. Johanns' spokesman Chris Peterson said the money was not a grant, as Dean claimed, but was part of a federal appropriations bill. Former U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey had earmarked the funding in past years, but no earmarking for Nebraska was made last year. "Stormy Dean continues to embarrass himself as a candidate for governor," Peterson said. "Today's attack by his campaign raises further questions about his credibility as a candidate." [continues 151 words]
Meeting Focuses On Alternatives To More Prisons LINCOLN, Neb. -- Calling methamphetamine a cheap poison that is destroying lives and communities across the country, Govs. Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho and Mike Johanns of Nebraska said Thursday that the fight needs to focus on abuse prevention, not punishment. About 70 people, including judges, police officers and substance-abuse counselors from Idaho, Nebraska, Wyoming, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico and American Samoa met in Lincoln to discuss ways to reduce demand for illegal drugs. Kempthorne opened the two-day conference by calling drug abuse one of the most difficult and pervasive problems facing the country today. [continues 238 words]
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Calling methamphetamine a cheap poison that is destroying lives and communities across the country, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho and Mike Johanns of Nebraska kicked off a drug policy meeting Thursday. About 70 people, including judges, police officers and substance abuse counselors from Nebraska, Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico and American Samoa met in Lincoln for the two-day conference to discuss ways to reduce the demand for illegal drugs. "The problem is getting worse," said Shawn Kellerman, a former meth addict turned drug counselor. "The clients are getting younger and younger." [continues 385 words]
