Tuesday, April 13, 2010
legislature Compassionate Conservative has Medical Marijuana on His Mind
Posted by gavin dahl on Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 11:25 AM
- Tom Trail
Nearly a year ago, BW published my in-depth look at medical marijuana's supporters. Initially, my editor and I wondered if Idaho could save money on policing and generate revenue through taxation. Turns out, however, that decriminalization, taxation and lowest police priority are all off the table.
Tom Trail (R-Moscow) circulated a press release Monday promising to dialog with stakeholders for nine months before introducing his long-awaited bill next year. His proposal faces an uphill battle, as elected evangelicals and many Democrats have been unwilling to stand up to 'soft on drugs' pressure. But his approach, pushing for the most restrictive MMJ law in the nation, could gain support beyond states' rights Libertarians and youth with their heads in the clouds.
Modeling Idaho's plan after New Jersey's and carefully blocking loopholes exploited in other states, Trail hopes to quell the fears from law enforcement and state officials who puffed up their rhetoric the last time he mentioned it. The key this round is only allowing legal access for patients diagnosed with specific, severe illnesses like cancer, AIDS, Lou Gehrig's disease, muscular dystrophy, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis.
The personable Ag Committee Chairman promises growing and distribution will be monitored by the state. Though his recent hemp efforts went nowhere, he knows the ins and outs of regulating agriculture. Meanwhile, patients would be limited to just two ounces of herb per month and forbidden from growing their own, or rolling it up in public.
While he is not looking to pass the pipe to recreational marijuana users, or promising to line the pockets of the sober folks in charge of Idaho's budget, he is angling for thumbs up from the Department of Health and Welfare and the Idaho Medical Association. Ultimately, his proposal makes clear who this is about. Trail is trying to help his suffering constituents. From the press release:
Rep. Trail was approached over a year ago by several constituents who suffered from chronic health conditions—brain cancer, glaucoma and other severe health conditions. They receive prescriptions from their doctors and have them filled in Washington State. One constituent, who has multiple sclerosis, said his doctors have recommended marijuana to treat neuralgia, which causes him to lose the feeling and use of his right arm and shoulders. The M.S. Society has shown that this drug will help slow the progression of the disease. Rep. Trail has talked to many doctors who support this type of legislation.
Comments (7)
Showing 1-7 of 7
I worked in several drug addiction clinics of Philadelphia, PA as a Program Physician and I have seen plenty of dependence on alcohol as well as all kinds of narcotics, tranquilizers and "anti-depressants". No wonder CNN reported recently that thousands of our veterans are "hooked" on controlled prescription drugs. However, the only questionable cases of pure "marijuana addiction" were those referred by the State parole and probation departments after failing a drug test. There is no such thing as lethal marijuana overdose, and neither is there a physical withdrawal syndrome with medical marijuana use. Also, the so-called "gateway drug" theory has been proven to be a fiction and a fantasy by the science of addiction medicine. It is also a fact that cannabis use suppresses violent behavior. All this together with the the medicinal properties of the plant that are really beyond dispute.
The following quote from a true expert summarizes the situation:: "Cannabis will one day be seen as a wonder drug, as was penicillin in the 1940s. Like penicillin, herbal marijuana is remarkably nontoxic, has a wide range of therapeutic applications and would be quite inexpensive if it were legal". Dr. Lester Grinspoon, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Los Angeles Times, May 5, 2006
The opponents of medical marijuana know that they can never prevail denying medical marijuana's remarkable medicinal qualities, so they are engaged in fear-tactics that we must see and reject!
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God knows I have TRIED to over-dose on weed, just couldn't do it! If Big Pharma could patent it, and Big Oil and Big Cotton could control it as well, it would be legal. Oh yeah, and I forgot about the fake justice department. They make a ton off of it through their private prisons and drug profiteering from the proceeds of their entrapments. Democrat or Republican, all presidents refuse to legalize it because their owners say no.
One of our friends here in California has MS, and he went to his doctor for a prescription for Marijuana. I asked him why, and he expained it like this: You know that feeling when you've sat on your foot, "pins and needles", I have that feeling all the time in my feet. When I smoke marijuana, that "pins and needles" feeling goes away for a while.
I couldn't argue with that.
It's always nice when a Republican sees the light and does what is right with marijuana.
But there's nothing more pathetic than a Democrat who fights marijuana legalization. What evil, pointless men these guys are, who do that.
My name is John Coulthard I am Tom Trail's Media contact in Boise. I was just seen on channel 2 and 6 news as well a appearing on radio. I am forming a nonprofit right now. The website is under construction so nothing yet. It will be called Idahoans for Medical marijuana. I can be contacted at the johncoulthard@idahoansformedicalmarijuana.com ( I know long) Right now I'm looking for physicians and patients who are willing to speak publicly about the need for medical marijuana in the State of Idaho. Dr K. if you would be interested please send me an e-mail. It’s an uphill battle but I believe it will happen.
My name is John Coulthard I am Tom Trail's Media contact in Boise. I was just seen on channel 2 and 6 news as well a appearing on radio. I am forming a nonprofit right now. The website is under construction so nothing yet. It will be called Idahoans for Medical marijuana. I can be contacted at the johncoulthard@idahoansformedicalmarijuana.com Right now I'm looking for physicians and patients who are willing to speak publicly about the need for medical marijuana in the State of Idaho. Dr K. if you would be interested please send me an e-mail. It’s an uphill battle but I believe it will happen.
Historic statewide initiative in California to legalize, tax, and regulate cannabis. Help build national support for the movement. Sign up on the website, join the campaign! taxcannabis.org
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