T
The420Guy
Guest
ALBANY -- A campaign to legalize medical marijuana gained
steam Tuesday, as a legislative committee took the first step in sending the
issue to a vote by the Legislature.
The Assembly Health Committee voted 16 to 6 to advance a bill that would
establish guidelines to allow physicians and other health care professionals
to prescribe marijuana to alleviate pain. It was the first time any
legislative panel has voted on the measure.
The bill, which has been around since 1997, still needs to go through other
committees before reaching the full Assembly, and it needs a Senate sponsor.
But the bill picked up a Republican co-sponsor, Assemblyman Joel Miller of
Poughkeepsie, who said as a dentist he has prescribed stronger drugs.
"We should not be embarrassed about taking drugs, even if they may be street
drugs, and using them appropriately," Miller said. "If this is at all
helpful to people, I don't see why we can't move forward."
Marijuana can ease the pain of cancer, and it can help AIDS patients and
others with debilitating pain, supporters say.
One Democrat and five Republicans opposed the bill, including Jim Bacalles,
R-Corning, and Dan Burling, R-Alexander, Genesee County. Burling, a
pharmacist, said other options were available.
Under the bill, a physician would have to certify each month that a patient
has a condition meriting marijuana treatment. The patient would get
marijuana from a registered nonprofit organization, regulated by a local
health department or the state.
Pubdate: Wed, 09 Apr 2003
Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (NY)
Webpage: https://www.democratandchronicle.com/news/0409story8_news.shtml
Copyright: 2003 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Contact: dceditpage@democratandchronicle.com
Website: Democrat and Chronicle - Rochester news, sports, things to do in Rochester NY
steam Tuesday, as a legislative committee took the first step in sending the
issue to a vote by the Legislature.
The Assembly Health Committee voted 16 to 6 to advance a bill that would
establish guidelines to allow physicians and other health care professionals
to prescribe marijuana to alleviate pain. It was the first time any
legislative panel has voted on the measure.
The bill, which has been around since 1997, still needs to go through other
committees before reaching the full Assembly, and it needs a Senate sponsor.
But the bill picked up a Republican co-sponsor, Assemblyman Joel Miller of
Poughkeepsie, who said as a dentist he has prescribed stronger drugs.
"We should not be embarrassed about taking drugs, even if they may be street
drugs, and using them appropriately," Miller said. "If this is at all
helpful to people, I don't see why we can't move forward."
Marijuana can ease the pain of cancer, and it can help AIDS patients and
others with debilitating pain, supporters say.
One Democrat and five Republicans opposed the bill, including Jim Bacalles,
R-Corning, and Dan Burling, R-Alexander, Genesee County. Burling, a
pharmacist, said other options were available.
Under the bill, a physician would have to certify each month that a patient
has a condition meriting marijuana treatment. The patient would get
marijuana from a registered nonprofit organization, regulated by a local
health department or the state.
Pubdate: Wed, 09 Apr 2003
Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (NY)
Webpage: https://www.democratandchronicle.com/news/0409story8_news.shtml
Copyright: 2003 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Contact: dceditpage@democratandchronicle.com
Website: Democrat and Chronicle - Rochester news, sports, things to do in Rochester NY
