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xxdr_zombiexx

Medical marijuana bill clears hurdle
NEWSDAY | April 28, 2004, 6:58 PM EDT

By NOREEN GILLESPIE
Associated Press Writer

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A bill that would allow seriously ill people to grow and smoke marijuana cleared one major legislative hurdle Wednesday, but now faces another.

The House of Representatives voted 75-71 to approve an amendment that would let those with cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and other serious illnesses use the drug to relieve nausea and other symptoms, with a doctor's written permission.

It was the first time the measure passed the House.

But lawmakers sent the main bill to another committee for approval before a final vote. With the state budget and several other items still remaining on the legislative agenda, it is uncertain whether the issue will be addressed again before the legislature adjourns next Wednesday.

Lawmakers debated the proposal for about two hours Wednesday. Rep. James Abrams, D-Meriden, said he would pare the bill down to simplify it next year if it does not pass before the end of the legislative session.

"I consider today a victory," Abrams said.

Rep. Penny Bacchiochi, R-Somers, told lawmakers how she risked arrest to obtain marijuana 20 years ago for her husband, who died after a fight with bone cancer. After having surgery to remove a tumor from his spine, he endured side effects from chemotherapy and radiation that were not relieved by other medications.

She said the bill would also relieve caregivers of the fear of being prosecuted for helping their loved ones.

"It's a huge burden to have that kind of fear when you're doing the only thing you can do in that situation," she said.

[zombienote Another Republican who comes out in support of medical marijuana after a personal experience related to cancer. It is sad more Republicans can't just support this without having to undergo personal tragedies.]

Connecticut passed a law in the early 1980s to allow physicians to prescribe marijuana to help patients with pain and nausea. But state doctors never have, because its use is illegal under federal law.

Under the proposed law, patients and their primary caregivers would be allowed to keep as many as five plants and one usable ounce of marijuana. But lawmakers said that regulation would conflict with federal guidelines, because obtaining marijuana is still illegal.

"We cannot set this bad precedent by passing a law that in order to avail yourself of, you must break another one," said Rep. Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk.

Eight states _ Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington _ have laws protecting seriously ill patients who use medical marijuana with their doctor's recommendations.

The Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee could take up the bill as soon as Thursday. Committee Co-chairwoman Andrea Stillman, D-Waterford, said the panel would address the bill, but she anticipated a close vote.

"It was a victory, but it was a symbolic victory," said Neal Levine, director of state policies for the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project.

But the progress was encouraging, he said.

"Regardless of what happens at this point, there is absolutely positive momentum behind this bill," he said.

If the bill clears the House, its supporters were not sure how much support it would have in the Senate or whether the Senate would discuss it at all.


Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press

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Alien Space Signal

There's no money for your issue so long as we're squandering $50 billion a year on the DrugWar. Ben Masel

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Frankis420

Finally some headway is made for the fight to leaglize the growth adn use of marijuana. i have only been supporting the cause for about two or three years but i am still as excited as anyone else!

melanotaenia

I still can't believe some of the substances we consider in this country to be legal while people have to fight to grow something that naturally occurs on the earth as a plant. Does anyone else see something wrong with this? But that aside, score one for the patients, and hopefully this will mean forward progress for those patients who really need it.