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Medical Dope
Posted by CN Staff on May 10, 2007 at 14:17:00 PT
By Tom Neuville, Sen. Neuville State Senator
Source: Shakopee Valley News
medical Minnesota -- What do you feel about the medical marijuana bill that just passed the state Senate? How about marijuna legislation in general? Read below why a local senator opposed the bill, but not for the reasons you may think.
A bill to legalize marijuana for medical purposes has now been around the Legislature for the past three years. This year, the State Senate finally approved the bill. I voted against the bill, even though I have much sympathy and compassion for many individuals who believe that smoking marijuana helps alleviate their pain.
I want my constituents to understand why this bill is bad policy, even if it would help some people.
The bill, as finally passed by the State Senate, would be a law enforcement nightmare.
First, marijuana is still considered a Schedule 1 controlled substance (most regulated) under federal law. Legalizing marijuana under state law would not make it legal under federal law. The federal government could legally bust and prosecute anyone who grew or possessed marijuana – even if it were legal under state law.
Second, doctors cannot legally prescribe marijuana, nor can pharmacists dispense it. Therefore, the bill had to establish an informal distribution system. Doctors would "recommend" marijuana. Registered "non-profit organizations" could grow up to 12 marijuana plants per "qualifying patient." Primary "care givers" would be allowed to sell and deliver marijuana to five patients, and make money on the transaction. "Qualifying patients" could obtain a registration card if a doctor recommended marijuana for "intractable pain."
Basically, anyone could create a registered organization or become a primary care giver. There are no limits to the number of organizations that could legally grow marijuana. Therefore, literally thousands of non-profit corporations could be established throughout the state to grow marijuana.
Third, registered organizations, which grow marijuana, could be located anywhere as long as they were 500 feet away from a church or school. Main street store fronts could be established to recruit "qualified patients" to sell marijuana to. This sends a confusing and mixed message to our teenagers.
Fourth, there is no quality control required for medical marijuana. Some marijuana might contain 5% of active ingredients (THC); other marijuana could contain 15% of active ingredients. How would doctors be able to properly "recommend" marijuana for their patients when the dosage is unknown?
Fifth, organizations and patients having registration cards would be entitled to confidentiality and immunity from arrest or criminal prosecution. Police could not search the growers or users of medical marijuana without reasonable notice. Again, this makes law enforcement nearly impossible.
Sixth, senior citizens or vulnerable adults with cancer or other intractable pain would become ripe-targets, when others seek to steal their medical marijuana.
Seventh, in other states that have approved medical marijuana, the demand greatly exceeded the expectation. For example, in the State of Oregon, estimates were that 500 persons would ask for medical marijuana cards. Within a few years, over 14, 000 individuals were registered. I believe that the same number of people would register in Minnesota.
Finally, marijuana remains a gateway drug to other drugs. The ready-accessibility of medical marijuana would send a message that marijuana is also appropriate to use recreationally. The cultural impact of legalizing a drug, which is still illegal under the federal law, cannot be underestimated.
Perhaps, someday the federal government will change its laws and allow doctors to prescribe and pharmacists to dispense. Advocates for medicinal marijuana should lobby Congress to change federal law first. Until then, adopting a medical marijuana law is a prescription for confusion and greater drug use in Minnesota.
State Senator Tom Neuville is serving his sixth term in the Minnesota Senate.
He encourages and appreciates constituent input, and can be reached at (651)296-1279, by mail at 123 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155, or via email at: [email protected]
Source: Shakopee Valley News (MN)
Author: Tom Neuville, Sen. Neuville State Senator, District 25
Published: May 10, 2007
Copyright: 2007 Southwest Newspapers
Website: http://www.shakopeenews.com/
Contact: [email protected]
Related Articles:
It’s Time To Pass Medical Marijuana
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22954.shtml
State Senate Gives Marijuana Tentative OK
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22940.shtml
Senate Passes Bill To Permit Marijuana Use
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22936.shtml
Posted by CN Staff on May 10, 2007 at 14:17:00 PT
By Tom Neuville, Sen. Neuville State Senator
Source: Shakopee Valley News
medical Minnesota -- What do you feel about the medical marijuana bill that just passed the state Senate? How about marijuna legislation in general? Read below why a local senator opposed the bill, but not for the reasons you may think.
A bill to legalize marijuana for medical purposes has now been around the Legislature for the past three years. This year, the State Senate finally approved the bill. I voted against the bill, even though I have much sympathy and compassion for many individuals who believe that smoking marijuana helps alleviate their pain.
I want my constituents to understand why this bill is bad policy, even if it would help some people.
The bill, as finally passed by the State Senate, would be a law enforcement nightmare.
First, marijuana is still considered a Schedule 1 controlled substance (most regulated) under federal law. Legalizing marijuana under state law would not make it legal under federal law. The federal government could legally bust and prosecute anyone who grew or possessed marijuana – even if it were legal under state law.
Second, doctors cannot legally prescribe marijuana, nor can pharmacists dispense it. Therefore, the bill had to establish an informal distribution system. Doctors would "recommend" marijuana. Registered "non-profit organizations" could grow up to 12 marijuana plants per "qualifying patient." Primary "care givers" would be allowed to sell and deliver marijuana to five patients, and make money on the transaction. "Qualifying patients" could obtain a registration card if a doctor recommended marijuana for "intractable pain."
Basically, anyone could create a registered organization or become a primary care giver. There are no limits to the number of organizations that could legally grow marijuana. Therefore, literally thousands of non-profit corporations could be established throughout the state to grow marijuana.
Third, registered organizations, which grow marijuana, could be located anywhere as long as they were 500 feet away from a church or school. Main street store fronts could be established to recruit "qualified patients" to sell marijuana to. This sends a confusing and mixed message to our teenagers.
Fourth, there is no quality control required for medical marijuana. Some marijuana might contain 5% of active ingredients (THC); other marijuana could contain 15% of active ingredients. How would doctors be able to properly "recommend" marijuana for their patients when the dosage is unknown?
Fifth, organizations and patients having registration cards would be entitled to confidentiality and immunity from arrest or criminal prosecution. Police could not search the growers or users of medical marijuana without reasonable notice. Again, this makes law enforcement nearly impossible.
Sixth, senior citizens or vulnerable adults with cancer or other intractable pain would become ripe-targets, when others seek to steal their medical marijuana.
Seventh, in other states that have approved medical marijuana, the demand greatly exceeded the expectation. For example, in the State of Oregon, estimates were that 500 persons would ask for medical marijuana cards. Within a few years, over 14, 000 individuals were registered. I believe that the same number of people would register in Minnesota.
Finally, marijuana remains a gateway drug to other drugs. The ready-accessibility of medical marijuana would send a message that marijuana is also appropriate to use recreationally. The cultural impact of legalizing a drug, which is still illegal under the federal law, cannot be underestimated.
Perhaps, someday the federal government will change its laws and allow doctors to prescribe and pharmacists to dispense. Advocates for medicinal marijuana should lobby Congress to change federal law first. Until then, adopting a medical marijuana law is a prescription for confusion and greater drug use in Minnesota.
State Senator Tom Neuville is serving his sixth term in the Minnesota Senate.
He encourages and appreciates constituent input, and can be reached at (651)296-1279, by mail at 123 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155, or via email at: [email protected]
Source: Shakopee Valley News (MN)
Author: Tom Neuville, Sen. Neuville State Senator, District 25
Published: May 10, 2007
Copyright: 2007 Southwest Newspapers
Website: http://www.shakopeenews.com/
Contact: [email protected]
Related Articles:
It’s Time To Pass Medical Marijuana
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22954.shtml
State Senate Gives Marijuana Tentative OK
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22940.shtml
Senate Passes Bill To Permit Marijuana Use
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22936.shtml