Ehrlich Signs Medical Marijuana Bill Into Law

WBAL ^ | 5-23-03 | unknown

[jmc813]

BALTIMORE -- Gov. Robert Ehrlich's decision to sign a medical marijuana bill strongly opposed by the Bush administration will help many patients end their suffering, supporters said Thursday.

"These are people who are suffering. They're dying. It will help those people," said Delegate Dan Morhaim, D-Baltimore County, a sponsor of the bill and an emergency room doctor at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore.

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Despite opposition from some Republicans, Ehrlich had indicated support for the bill early on because of his belief that people can differentiate between legalizing the drug and allowing those dying of chronic illnesses to alleviate their pain.

"This is a position I've had for many, many years," Ehrlich said at Thursday's signing ceremony. "It is not without controversy. It's not without controversy across parties, across chambers, across states, across the country."

Ehrlich, however, said he didn't think signing the bill would damage his relationship with the White House.

"Certainly we received a lot of pressure from the administration," the first-term governor said. "This is an issue I have dealt with for a decade. My views are well-known."

Ehrlich's former GOP colleagues in the House of Representatives are acting to take drug enforcement money from state and local police officers in states where marijuana for medical use has been legalized.

The new law does not legalize marijuana, but reduces the penalty to a maximum $100 fine with no jail time. Defendants, however, must convince a judge they need marijuana for medical reasons. Previously, possession or use of marijuana brought penalties of up to a year in prison or a $1,000 fine.

Eight other states -- Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Nevada and Maine -- have medical marijuana laws.

Backers of the legislation say smoking marijuana can ease the symptoms of serious illnesses such as cancer, HIV or AIDS, multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease, and help patients suffering from nausea hold down food and medications.

Opponents, including White House drug czar John P. Walters, have been pressuring Ehrlich to veto the measure, which they say offers a false and illegal remedy to the sick.

"I suspect that Gov. Ehrlich acted with the best of intentions, with an honest desire to help people, but it looks like he may have been misled on the actual science and public health issues here," Walters said Thursday in response to the signing. "It would be truly unfortunate if today's actions led, however unintentionally, to greater use or availability of dangerous drugs in Maryland."

Joe McGeeney, Elks State Drug Awareness chairman for Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia, said he was disappointed in the governor's decision to sign the bill and vowed to help repeal it.

"It's sending the wrong message to our kids that it's OK to use because there is medicinal powers," he said. "Other states that have approved [similar bills] have seen a sharp increase in the youth smoking marijuana."

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[jmc813]

I think we had a friendly wager on this. Do you remember the terms?

[Sparta]

"I suspect that Gov. Ehrlich acted with the best of intentions, with an honest desire to help people, but it looks like he may have been misled on the actual science and public health issues here," Walters said Thursday in response to the signing.

Surely Mr. Drug Czar, everything you say is the honest to God truth. You certainly don't mislead people when you say weed causes terrorism.

[Wolfie]

"Other states that have approved [similar bills] have seen a sharp increase in the youth smoking marijuana."

Do reporters ever ask questions anymore, or do they just automatically swallow the bullsh*t?

[Desecrated]

Not only that, it causes people to speed out of a drive-thrus and run over little girls riding their bikes.

[jmc813]

Joe McGeeney, Elks State Drug Awareness chairman for Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia, said he was disappointed in the governor's decision to sign the bill and vowed to help repeal it. "It's sending the wrong message to our kids that it's OK to use because there is medicinal powers," he said. "Other states that have approved [similar bills] have seen a sharp increase in the youth smoking marijuana."

His e-mail address is mcgeeney@comcast.net if anyone is interested in asking him how he came up with his stats.

[Dan from Michigan]

Uh no. Look out Bob. Ashcroft's gonna blow a gasket.

[Sparta]

Not only that, it causes people to speed out of a drive-thrus and run over little girls riding their bikes.

It also leads to black jazz musicians raping white women. I went through DARE too.

[society-by-contract]

JMC-

Fight the good fight. I emailed McClown and requested his studies. I also informed him that as far as I know we do not have any children together as his Leftist-marxist-statist-(and in this case authoritian-rightist-statist) statement "our kids" suggests.


Brady

[headsonpikes]

"It's sending the wrong message to our kids..."

Here's an idea:

Instead of deciphering messages, why don't the authorities simply stop preventing the facts being laid on the table for all to see.

I think they don't believe that the people(nor kids) can handle the truth.

That's why they'd prefer to 'send a message'.

Thugs.

[headsonpikes]

'Thugs', I posted....I guess 'Czar' is the right title for Walters.

Chief Thug and Czar of all the Russias, and Americas.

;^)

[jmc813]

I emailed McClown and requested his studies.

Thanks. I'm currently at work and do not have access to my home e-mail, otherwise I'd do the same. Please let us know if you receive a response.

[Desecrated]

"I think they don't believe that the people(nor kids) can handle the truth."

I think it is beyond that. Their positions of power and authority (money!) are predicated on the deliberate WITHHOLDING of the truth. Does anyone believe that weed presents the same danger to the user as crack or heroin? Only the gubmint!

[carenot]

Thanks for posting on this thread jmc, you are outing yourself as a one issue lefty(anarchistic) Libertarian(albeit a weasly word one) with every post, IMO.-Dane

I don't know what you are, but your pro-dope and pro-sodomy sentiments suggest you're not much older than high school age. You are certainly not conservative--nor are you very bright.-Kevin Curry

I checked out your profile.
You must be doing a lot right! :)

[carenot]

Do reporters ever ask questions anymore, or do they just automatically swallow the bullsh*t?

No
Yes

[Clemenza]

Good news. At least SOME in the Republican Party are bucking soccer mom/Alphabet agency correctness and taking a stand against the more moronic arguments in support of the war on freedom, er, drugs.

[Lexington Green]

I won't persecute the sick, dying and lame for using medical pot... I won't vote for those who do.

[Redwood71]

I am in favor of legalizing "medical" pot, but only for those that have a prescription, and purchase in a legal way. They cannot purchase it from a street vendor that supports the vendor in selling other drugs, and they cannot give away any or sell it to others. Then it is not being utilized as an illegal substance. Otherwise, lowering the penalty for illegal use, is not a real bright move, and doesn't identify it for what it is being used for, medical assistance.

[Britton J Wingfield]

When I purchased pot for my dad (goign through chemo), I had no choice but to buy from a dealer. It worked well and I'd do it again in a hearbeat.