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State Attorney General Kelly Ayotte and county prosecutors have aggressively pushed back against a bill that would legalize marijuana for some seriously ill patients, sending lawmakers a letter calling marijuana an addictive drug and claiming that reclassifying marijuana as medicine could undermine efforts to keep youths from trying drugs. The bill’s supporters decry the letter as “misleading” and have circulated a seven-page rebuttal of the two-page letter.
You should click over to the story and read the whole thing; it’s one of the fairest pieces of reporting on a medical marijuana story I’ve seen. Matt’s rebuttal is wonderful, with footnotes to published references to back up his assertions! It’s a great template for anyone looking to rebut specific Reefer Madness claims for your next letter to the editor.
I just wanted to clip this portion at the end of the article:
Only one of the 10 county attorneys didn’t sign the letter: Coos County’s Bob Mekeel. He cited two reasons.
“The first is, really just as a general principle. It’s my job to enforce the laws. It’s not my job to make them,” he said. “I just don’t think it’s appropriate to tell the Legislature what the law ought to be.”
How refreshing! How many times have you heard, when you point out the cruelty of marijuana laws to police supporter, “Well, it’s just their job to enforce the laws; they don’t make ‘em!”, and then the very next week there are police at the state capitol testifying against a medical marijuana bill? You can’t have it both ways!
His second: As a personal-injury lawyer for 25 years, he represented people who were in “terrible plights” and had lost limbs.
“In those instances, really if anyone in that situation can get relief from anything, I just don’t think I should stand in the way of that,” Mekeel said.
I’ve always maintained that the quickest way to get a medical marijuana law passed in your state would be to mandate one week of volunteer time for every state legislator to help out at a cancer hospital, an AIDS hospice, or a pain clinic once per session.
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Tanya Burgess, aspiring attorney and winner of the Colorado NORML 2009 Hunter S. Thompson Scolarship to atten NORML Aspen Legal Seminar in June 5-6, 2009.
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Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 at 2:17 pm | By: Radical Russ
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE — The New Hampshire House passed a bill today, 234-138, that would allow seriously ill patients to use medical marijuana if their doctor recommends it – a first for either chamber of the state’s legislature.
Now that the bill – HB 648, sponsored by Evalyn Merrick (D-Lancaster) – has cleared the House, patients and advocates are calling on the Senate to pass it and send it to Gov. John Lynch to make it law without delay.
“This vote proves that House members have taken this debate seriously, listened carefully to the testimony of patients who rely on medical marijuana for relief from terrible, debilitating conditions, and understand their duty as elected officials to provide for their needs with responsible, compassionate legislation,” said Sen. Martha Fuller Clark (D-Portsmouth), co-sponsor of the bill that the House passed today. “Now it’s up to my colleagues to do the same, and end the ongoing harassment of patients who have committed no crimes, and who only wish to be protected from arrest for using the proven, safe medicine their doctors recommend.”
In 2007, a bill similar to the one currently under consideration was defeated by only nine votes – an incredibly slim margin considering it had been negatively recommended by the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee that year. The same committee gave HB 648 an “ought to pass” recommendation March 18. Also, a 2008 Mason-Dixon poll showed that 71 percent of New Hampshire voters support such a law, and medical marijuana advocates say legislators have learned a lot in two years about both medical marijuana and medical marijuana policy.
“This vote shows New Hampshire is ready to protect patients by enacting a responsible medical marijuana law,” said Matt Simon, NH Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy executive director. “Public opinion may soon become public policy.”
Thirteen states already have medical marijuana laws which effectively protect qualifying patients from arrest and help them safely access marijuana. Michigan became the most recent last year when 63 percent of voters passed its medical marijuana law by ballot initiative. Of the 11 states that have collected such data, not one has seen youth marijuana use rates increase after establishing a medical marijuana law. In fact, each of those states, including California, has actually seen youth marijuana rates decline, in some cases dramatically.
It’s like New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Minnesota are all racing to see which will become the 14th medical marijuana state in America. Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut are following close behind. Wouldn’t it blow your mind to see six new medical marijuana states in one legislative cycle? Imagine 19 medical marijuana states covering 38% of the US population, including four of the top ten most populous states!
Monday, March 23rd, 2009 at 11:56 am | By: Radical Russ
We’re following up on last week’s e-mail to inform you that the full House has tentatively scheduled to vote on House Bill 648, New Hampshire’s proposed medical marijuana legalization bill, on Wednesday, March 25. This ought to be a historic day for medical marijuana patients in New Hampshire!
If you have not already done so, now is the time to write or call your House member and urge them to vote ‘yes’ on HB 648. You can write them by going here. Phone numbers are available here.
Two years ago the House narrowly rejected a similar bill by a margin of 186 to 177. This year we are confident that with your help we can make New Hampshire the fourteenth state to legalize the medical use of cannabis.
Thank you for supporting NORML’s marijuana law reform efforts in New Hampshire.
Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 at 4:17 pm | By: Radical Russ
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE — The New Hampshire House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee voted 13-7 to recommend passage of a bill today that would allow seriously ill patients to use medical marijuana if their doctor recommends it. The vote by the full committee came after a three-member subcommittee voted 2-1 in favor of the bill.
Today’s vote means the bill, HB 648, will now go to the House floor for a full vote by the chamber with the committee’s “ought to pass” recommendation. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Evalyn Merrick (D-Lancaster).
The committee’s strong statement of support provided medical marijuana patients with a boost of confidence. Clayton Holton, a muscular dystrophy patient from Somersworth, said the vote made him feel hopeful that he’d be able to live the rest of his life in New Hampshire. “I’m happy that my family may not have to move to a state that allows medical marijuana,” he said.
Thirteen states already have medical marijuana laws which effectively protect qualifying patients from arrest and help them safely access marijuana. Michigan became the most recent last year when 63 percent of voters passed its medical marijuana law by ballot initiative. Of the 11 states that have collected such data, not one has seen youth marijuana use rates increase after establishing a medical marijuana law. In fact, each of those states, including California, has actually seen youth marijuana rates decline, in some cases dramatically.
In 2007, a bill similar to the one currently under consideration was defeated by only nine votes – an incredibly slim margin considering it had been negatively recommended by the committee that today voted to approve HB 648. However, a 2008 Mason-Dixon poll showed that 71 percent of New Hampshire voters support such a law, and medical marijuana advocates say legislators have learned a lot in two years about both medical marijuana and medical marijuana policy.
“The committee studied the bill very diligently, and now it has placed its stamp of approval on a well-written, responsible bill,” said Matt Simon, executive director of NH Common Sense Marijuana Policy, which supports the bill. “It was a good day for democracy.”
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Interview with David Cappiello, Michael Collins, and Dominic Vita on starting NORML Connecticut, similarities of gay rights and cannabis rights struggles, and being an Gulf War vet and medical marijuana patient, respectively
Despite an unexpected snowstorm that created some travel problems, medical marijuana advocates packed into the committee room in a strong showing of support for HB 648. 7 patients testified very courageously and effectively in support of the bill, along with a neurologist from Vermont (where medical marijuana is already legal) and others. A brief Associated Press article has already been published, also, WMUR television cameras were present at the hearing, so we expect to be on the evening news. So, what happens next? The committee will discuss the details of the bill, and a vote by the committee is scheduled to take place March 18. Stay tuned!
This bill would allow seriously ill and disabled people to possess two ounces of marijuana for medical use.
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Today’s Stash guest, Cathy Jordan, gives us a fantastic interview, but her amytrophic lateral sclerosis can make understanding her speech difficult. I have edited from two interviews with Cathy and her husband Bob and given you the best my audio processing and editing capabilities can manage. You may remember Cathy from this video, and see more on cannabis and amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”) on YouTube at the Surviving ALS Channel:
RevRayGreen: I'll post a pic of me and my son....gimme a minute
Missippi Hippy: Guess what... I'm gonna be a new... ummmmm well, my pet piggie Ganja is in labor and they ain't mine in the same sense. See what your wife [...]
RevRayGreen: days they didn't talk back..or act disrespectful..
RevRayGreen: feel so lucky my son is 18 going 19 and my daughter 16 going on 17..relish the days that can't talk back
Urb Age: Congrats Spof thats awesome. My little Clara is about to hit 20 months. Im not the activist I used to be, but its made me a better man.
Urb Age: Heck I was gonna go up there, but just not feeling well this weekend..Dang it, I hate it when that happens..
RevRayGreen: wishing I was hanging at NORML cafe...
JohnH: Just a quick comment about tokin' and sperm motility....been tokin since age 14 and have 8 kids ranging in age from 30 to 9...(what can I say, I found 2 [...]
slash5city: really ..oprah 35 yr or more in the closet toker ...outed ....o my god !!
SneakerPimp: that would be huge news just imagen the headline
RevRayGreen: maybe Oprah smokes and keeps it on the DL...
SneakerPimp: and good afternoon
mr reuben: I could do without seeing Rob K. on tv. But Bruce and Eithan get a big thumbs up from me.
Marijuana-Related Health Costs Minimal Compared To Those Of Alcohol, Tobacco; California Medical Association Says Pot Prohibition Is A "Failed Public Health Policy"; Oregon: State NORML Affiliate Opens First 'Cannabis Café'. […]
American Medical Association Calls For Scientific Review Of Marijuana's Prohibitive Status; Dutch Marijuana Use Lower Than European Average, Study Says […]
"Truth In Trials Act" Reintroduced In Congress; Maine: Voters Approve Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Measure; Colorado: Breckenridge Voters Overwhelmingly Decide To End Pot Penalties. […]
Some of the nation’s top athletes discuss why today's pros are turning to cannabis — and away from alcohol and painkillers — off the field, and question why pro sports leagues are continuing to sanction those who do. Moderator: Steve Bloom, Author, Pot Culture; editor, celebstoner.com * Toby Grear, MMA fighter * Sean Neumann, Documentary Filmm […]
Cannabis Law Reform's Missing Link: Law Enforcement Former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper; LEAP and NORML Advisory Board; Author of Breaking Rank Putting the Mexican Cartels Out of Business Mexican drug cartels now employ over 100,000 soldiers and are responsible for nearly ten thousand deaths per year. Their largest source of income is marijuana. […]
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