Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
D.C. - When the D.C. Council gathers this afternoon to hear testimony on legislation legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes, they'll likely hear different opinions from people on the same side of the argument.
As we wrote last week, some medical marijuana advocates believe that legislation introduced in late January on the issue is too restrictive and limits access to marijuana for qualifying patients in the District. The bill, sponsored by Council member David Catania (I-At Large), would set up five dispensaries where patients with specific ailments and a prescription from their primary care physician could go to pick up a 30-day supply of marijuana. The dispensaries would have to be 1,000 feet from any school or youth center and would require patients to pay registration fees. Some advocates believe that the proposal does not live up to the spirit of the 1998 voter initiative that originally green-lighted the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes in the District.
But Wayne Turner, one of the driving forces behind the 1998 initiative, seems to disagree. In an op-ed published by the Post on Sunday, Turner argues that a tightly-regulated system is more likely to pass congressional muster and avoid abuses that have been seen elsewhere in the country. "It's a sound proposal that tracks the design and intent of the original initiative by creating a tightly regulated system whereby patients with serious, chronic or debilitating medical conditions can have safe and affordable access to medical marijuana. That's good, because in recent years we've seen what a vague law and lack of regulation can do," wrote Turner, specifically calling out California's medical marijuana regulations as being overly broad.
"Yes, the proposal may be too restrictive for some, but Initiative 59 was never about promoting casual or recreational use of marijuana. And the council's cautious approach is appropriate for another reason: Under the Constitution, Congress retains the authority to overturn D.C. legislation at any time. It would be a grave mistake to unnecessarily provoke further congressional interference by creating a system vulnerable to abuses. The council's plan represents the best chance to implement medical marijuana and to protect those patients whose quality of life may depend upon this medication of last resort," he added.
Catania has publicly indicated that he purposely wrote the legislation to be restrictive so that it would stand a better chance of making it through the congressional review period. With Turner on his side, that's how the legislation may remain.
The hearing starts at 2 p.m. today at the John A. Wilson Building. More than 50 people have signed up to testify.
NewsHawk: User: 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: dcist.com
Author: Martin Austermuhle
Copyright: 2010 Gothamist LLC.
Contact: DCist: Washington DC News, Food, Arts & Events
Website: Medical Marijuana Proponents Split on Bill - DCist
As we wrote last week, some medical marijuana advocates believe that legislation introduced in late January on the issue is too restrictive and limits access to marijuana for qualifying patients in the District. The bill, sponsored by Council member David Catania (I-At Large), would set up five dispensaries where patients with specific ailments and a prescription from their primary care physician could go to pick up a 30-day supply of marijuana. The dispensaries would have to be 1,000 feet from any school or youth center and would require patients to pay registration fees. Some advocates believe that the proposal does not live up to the spirit of the 1998 voter initiative that originally green-lighted the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes in the District.
But Wayne Turner, one of the driving forces behind the 1998 initiative, seems to disagree. In an op-ed published by the Post on Sunday, Turner argues that a tightly-regulated system is more likely to pass congressional muster and avoid abuses that have been seen elsewhere in the country. "It's a sound proposal that tracks the design and intent of the original initiative by creating a tightly regulated system whereby patients with serious, chronic or debilitating medical conditions can have safe and affordable access to medical marijuana. That's good, because in recent years we've seen what a vague law and lack of regulation can do," wrote Turner, specifically calling out California's medical marijuana regulations as being overly broad.
"Yes, the proposal may be too restrictive for some, but Initiative 59 was never about promoting casual or recreational use of marijuana. And the council's cautious approach is appropriate for another reason: Under the Constitution, Congress retains the authority to overturn D.C. legislation at any time. It would be a grave mistake to unnecessarily provoke further congressional interference by creating a system vulnerable to abuses. The council's plan represents the best chance to implement medical marijuana and to protect those patients whose quality of life may depend upon this medication of last resort," he added.
Catania has publicly indicated that he purposely wrote the legislation to be restrictive so that it would stand a better chance of making it through the congressional review period. With Turner on his side, that's how the legislation may remain.
The hearing starts at 2 p.m. today at the John A. Wilson Building. More than 50 people have signed up to testify.
NewsHawk: User: 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: dcist.com
Author: Martin Austermuhle
Copyright: 2010 Gothamist LLC.
Contact: DCist: Washington DC News, Food, Arts & Events
Website: Medical Marijuana Proponents Split on Bill - DCist
