T
The420Guy
Guest
SANTA FE -- A draft copy of medical marijuana legislation to be introduced
today defines several medical conditions that could be legally treated with
pot.
Among the chronic or debilitating diseases listed in the Compassionate Use
of Medical Marijuana Act: cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe pain; severe
nausea; seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy; and severe
muscle spasms, including those associated with multiple sclerosis or
Crohn's disease.
Rep. Joe Thompson, R-Albuquerque, has said he will introduce the bill in
the House, and Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, planned to introduce the
bill in the Senate.
The bill would update New Mexico's Lynn Pierson Act, which the Legislature
passed in 1978. The act was named for a 26-year-old cancer patient who
lobbied for its passage.
Under that act, patients could receive medical marijuana as part of a
medical research program. The Thompson and McSorley bills would give the
Department of Health the authority to administer the medical marijuana
program for qualified patients. A patient's primary-care doctor would refer
him or her to the program.
Health Secretary Alex Valdez said Tuesday that his department has not
determined whether qualified patients or their primary care physicians
would be allowed to grow pot or buy it on the black market.
The proposed measure gives immunity to the qualified patient and his or her
physician from being prosecuted on drug charges if the amount of marijuana
is within limits to be set by the Health Department.
However, it does not relieve the qualified patient from liability for
damages or criminal prosecution arising out of driving while intoxicated on
marijuana. The patient also could be prosecuted for smoking pot on a school
bus, school property, public places or in public vehicles.
A person who misrepresented his or her participation in the program could
be arrested on a petty misdemeanor charge, according to the draft bill.
Newshawk: Sledhead, Beth
Pubdate: Wed, 31 Jan 2001
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2001 Albuquerque Journal
Contact: opinion@abqjournal.com
Address: P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103
Website: The Albuquerque Journal
Author: S.U. Mahesh
today defines several medical conditions that could be legally treated with
pot.
Among the chronic or debilitating diseases listed in the Compassionate Use
of Medical Marijuana Act: cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe pain; severe
nausea; seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy; and severe
muscle spasms, including those associated with multiple sclerosis or
Crohn's disease.
Rep. Joe Thompson, R-Albuquerque, has said he will introduce the bill in
the House, and Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, planned to introduce the
bill in the Senate.
The bill would update New Mexico's Lynn Pierson Act, which the Legislature
passed in 1978. The act was named for a 26-year-old cancer patient who
lobbied for its passage.
Under that act, patients could receive medical marijuana as part of a
medical research program. The Thompson and McSorley bills would give the
Department of Health the authority to administer the medical marijuana
program for qualified patients. A patient's primary-care doctor would refer
him or her to the program.
Health Secretary Alex Valdez said Tuesday that his department has not
determined whether qualified patients or their primary care physicians
would be allowed to grow pot or buy it on the black market.
The proposed measure gives immunity to the qualified patient and his or her
physician from being prosecuted on drug charges if the amount of marijuana
is within limits to be set by the Health Department.
However, it does not relieve the qualified patient from liability for
damages or criminal prosecution arising out of driving while intoxicated on
marijuana. The patient also could be prosecuted for smoking pot on a school
bus, school property, public places or in public vehicles.
A person who misrepresented his or her participation in the program could
be arrested on a petty misdemeanor charge, according to the draft bill.
Newshawk: Sledhead, Beth
Pubdate: Wed, 31 Jan 2001
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2001 Albuquerque Journal
Contact: opinion@abqjournal.com
Address: P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103
Website: The Albuquerque Journal
Author: S.U. Mahesh