Sen. Rory Respicio yesterday revised and reintroduced his bill that would allow for the medicinal use of marijuana on Guam.
Among the changes to "The Compassionate Health Care Act of 2010," which is now Bill 423, specific language was added to state that doctors cannot write prescriptions. Instead, they can only recommend the drug and certify that it has been recommended.
"This falls directly in line with decisions by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court," Respicio said. "This issue was pointed out by a legislative analyst from the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C., who reviewed the bill."
The revised measure includes the establishment of an oversight body, the Medical Cannabis Policy Commission, which would include the Legislature's health committee chairperson, two physicians, a nurse and the public health director, that would meet six times a year to evaluate doctors' recommendations for who may use cannabis.
The group also would oversee the health-care centers that will be allowed to grow, process and dispense cannabis to people with debilitating conditions. It would regularly report its findings to the Legislature, according to Bill 423.
Respicio also amended a provision that would have decriminalized the use or possession of small amounts of marijuana.According to the original measure, anyone caught in possession of less than one ounce of marijuana won't be in violation of the current law, which includes a fine of $100. The new bill nixed that provision.
"I believe the discussion should focus on the medicinal use of cannabis for patient care and on providing treatment for those in need," Respicio said yesterday. "Unfortunately, discussion has concentrated on everything related to cannabis except how it can help these seriously ill patients.
Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia permit the use of medicinal marijuana.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Pacific Daily News
Author: Dionesis Tamondong
Contact: Pacific Daily News
Copyright: 2010 Pacific Daily News
Website: Revisions made in bill to legalize marijuana
* Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article
Among the changes to "The Compassionate Health Care Act of 2010," which is now Bill 423, specific language was added to state that doctors cannot write prescriptions. Instead, they can only recommend the drug and certify that it has been recommended.
"This falls directly in line with decisions by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court," Respicio said. "This issue was pointed out by a legislative analyst from the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C., who reviewed the bill."
The revised measure includes the establishment of an oversight body, the Medical Cannabis Policy Commission, which would include the Legislature's health committee chairperson, two physicians, a nurse and the public health director, that would meet six times a year to evaluate doctors' recommendations for who may use cannabis.
The group also would oversee the health-care centers that will be allowed to grow, process and dispense cannabis to people with debilitating conditions. It would regularly report its findings to the Legislature, according to Bill 423.
Respicio also amended a provision that would have decriminalized the use or possession of small amounts of marijuana.According to the original measure, anyone caught in possession of less than one ounce of marijuana won't be in violation of the current law, which includes a fine of $100. The new bill nixed that provision.
"I believe the discussion should focus on the medicinal use of cannabis for patient care and on providing treatment for those in need," Respicio said yesterday. "Unfortunately, discussion has concentrated on everything related to cannabis except how it can help these seriously ill patients.
Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia permit the use of medicinal marijuana.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Pacific Daily News
Author: Dionesis Tamondong
Contact: Pacific Daily News
Copyright: 2010 Pacific Daily News
Website: Revisions made in bill to legalize marijuana
* Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article
