Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
The New Hampshire House of Representatives is taking another look at permitting the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
The House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee recently endorsed HB 442 by a 14-3 vote.
In 2009 Gov. John Lynch vetoed a medical marijuana bill because he felt the distribution and monitoring provisions were not strong enough.
Foster's believes that was the right decision then and should be the measure of the current bill.
Efforts to properly provide medical marijuana have been made a joke by legalization in California. State lawmakers there may as well have just outright legalized pot, given the lack of controls placed on growing and dispensing it.
That cannot be allowed in New Hampshire.
While there is still controversy concerning the medicinal use of marijuana, there are enough encouraging signs that New Hampshire should join the growing number of states.
Washington, D.C., and 15 other states have enacted laws protecting patients whose doctors prescribe medical marijuana. These include Maine, which is in the process of setting up clinics and dispensaries.
While Foster's Daily Democrat stands against the legalization of pot across the board, this newspaper does agree with proponents of medical use like Kirk McNeil, executive director for the New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy.
"Today's vote once again shows that when legislators learn the facts about medical marijuana, they are motivated to allow its use by seriously ill patients."
As for HB 442, Foster's believes that although the bill has passed committee muster, much discussion still needs to take place.
Unlike the debate in 2009, commentary this time around has been muted and perhaps not all the questions asked.
But if, as the discussion on the floor of the House and then in the Senate shows the concerns about safe and secure distribution have been met, HB 442 should become law in New Hampshire.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover, NH)
Copyright: 2011 Geo. J. Foster Co.
Contact: Fosters.com
Website: Fosters.com
Details: MapInc
The House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee recently endorsed HB 442 by a 14-3 vote.
In 2009 Gov. John Lynch vetoed a medical marijuana bill because he felt the distribution and monitoring provisions were not strong enough.
Foster's believes that was the right decision then and should be the measure of the current bill.
Efforts to properly provide medical marijuana have been made a joke by legalization in California. State lawmakers there may as well have just outright legalized pot, given the lack of controls placed on growing and dispensing it.
That cannot be allowed in New Hampshire.
While there is still controversy concerning the medicinal use of marijuana, there are enough encouraging signs that New Hampshire should join the growing number of states.
Washington, D.C., and 15 other states have enacted laws protecting patients whose doctors prescribe medical marijuana. These include Maine, which is in the process of setting up clinics and dispensaries.
While Foster's Daily Democrat stands against the legalization of pot across the board, this newspaper does agree with proponents of medical use like Kirk McNeil, executive director for the New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy.
"Today's vote once again shows that when legislators learn the facts about medical marijuana, they are motivated to allow its use by seriously ill patients."
As for HB 442, Foster's believes that although the bill has passed committee muster, much discussion still needs to take place.
Unlike the debate in 2009, commentary this time around has been muted and perhaps not all the questions asked.
But if, as the discussion on the floor of the House and then in the Senate shows the concerns about safe and secure distribution have been met, HB 442 should become law in New Hampshire.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover, NH)
Copyright: 2011 Geo. J. Foster Co.
Contact: Fosters.com
Website: Fosters.com
Details: MapInc
