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The420Guy
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Two Legislators Say The Drug's Use Should Be Opposed Or Limited
Most South Dakotans favor legalizing medical marijuana and industrial
hemp, according to a statewide poll.
The telephone survey of 505 registered voters showed
that:
- 81.6 percent favored legalizing marijuana for seriously ill people,
if a doctor prescribed it.
- 84.9 percent favored letting farmes grow and sell industrial
hemp.
- 95.2 percent were against arresting and imprisoning sick people
using marijuana with a doctor's approval.
Creative Broadcast Systems, Inc., of Spearfish, conducted the poll for
the South Dakota Industrial Hemp Council (SDIHC), an interest group,
and for the Marijuana Policy Project, a Washington, D.C., group which
favors legalizing marijuana for medical use.
Bob Newland of Hermosa, co-founder of the SDIHC, said, "This simply
demonstrates that properly informed voteres are opposed to the
obviously flawed governmental policies concerning hemp and marijuana."
Possession of marijuana in South Dakota currently is punishable by up
to a year in jail and a $1000 fine.
"This is a situation where existing law is simply and massively out of
touch with reality," Newland said.
On Friday, state Sen. Ron Volesky (D-Huron), introduced Senate Bill
73, which would legalize marijuana for medical purposes for glaucoma
and cancer chemotherapy patients who get a doctor's
prescription.
Newland favored a different measure, which he hopes a legislator will
introduce this week.
Any bill to legalize medical marijuana or industrial hemp is likely to
have powerful opposition.
House Speaker Scott Eccarius (R-Rapid City), who is alos an eye
surgeon, said drugs which were already available were more effective
than marijuana. To treat glaucoma with marijuana, he said, "You'd
literally have to be stoned all the time."
Eccarius also said he was worried that legalizing marijuana or hemp
would be a "Trojan horse" that would lead to general legalization of
marijuana. "I'm opposed to it," he said.
Rep. Tom Hennies (R-Rapid City), a retired police chief, said he
favors medical relief for the seriously or terminally ill, including
marijuana. He has two stipulations: A doctor must prescribe it and a
pharmacist must deliver it. He opposes patients growing their own or
distribution through small shops, as in San Francisco.
Hennies said if the Senate passes the bill without that requirement,
he would sponsor that amendment in the House.
If the bill passes, South Dakota would be joining other states which
want Congress to debate medical use of mArijuan, which remains illegal
under federal law, Hennies said.
Newshawk: Bob Newland Greetings from SoDakNORML
Pubdate: Tue, 16 Jan 2001
Source: Rapid City Journal (SD)
Copyright: 2001 The Rapid City Journal
Contact: randy.rasmussen@rapidcityjournal.com
Address: PO Box 450, Rapid City SD 57709
Fax: (605) 394-8463
Website: rapidcityjournal.com | First. Best. In Up-To-The Minute Local News
Author: Bill Harlan
Most South Dakotans favor legalizing medical marijuana and industrial
hemp, according to a statewide poll.
The telephone survey of 505 registered voters showed
that:
- 81.6 percent favored legalizing marijuana for seriously ill people,
if a doctor prescribed it.
- 84.9 percent favored letting farmes grow and sell industrial
hemp.
- 95.2 percent were against arresting and imprisoning sick people
using marijuana with a doctor's approval.
Creative Broadcast Systems, Inc., of Spearfish, conducted the poll for
the South Dakota Industrial Hemp Council (SDIHC), an interest group,
and for the Marijuana Policy Project, a Washington, D.C., group which
favors legalizing marijuana for medical use.
Bob Newland of Hermosa, co-founder of the SDIHC, said, "This simply
demonstrates that properly informed voteres are opposed to the
obviously flawed governmental policies concerning hemp and marijuana."
Possession of marijuana in South Dakota currently is punishable by up
to a year in jail and a $1000 fine.
"This is a situation where existing law is simply and massively out of
touch with reality," Newland said.
On Friday, state Sen. Ron Volesky (D-Huron), introduced Senate Bill
73, which would legalize marijuana for medical purposes for glaucoma
and cancer chemotherapy patients who get a doctor's
prescription.
Newland favored a different measure, which he hopes a legislator will
introduce this week.
Any bill to legalize medical marijuana or industrial hemp is likely to
have powerful opposition.
House Speaker Scott Eccarius (R-Rapid City), who is alos an eye
surgeon, said drugs which were already available were more effective
than marijuana. To treat glaucoma with marijuana, he said, "You'd
literally have to be stoned all the time."
Eccarius also said he was worried that legalizing marijuana or hemp
would be a "Trojan horse" that would lead to general legalization of
marijuana. "I'm opposed to it," he said.
Rep. Tom Hennies (R-Rapid City), a retired police chief, said he
favors medical relief for the seriously or terminally ill, including
marijuana. He has two stipulations: A doctor must prescribe it and a
pharmacist must deliver it. He opposes patients growing their own or
distribution through small shops, as in San Francisco.
Hennies said if the Senate passes the bill without that requirement,
he would sponsor that amendment in the House.
If the bill passes, South Dakota would be joining other states which
want Congress to debate medical use of mArijuan, which remains illegal
under federal law, Hennies said.
Newshawk: Bob Newland Greetings from SoDakNORML
Pubdate: Tue, 16 Jan 2001
Source: Rapid City Journal (SD)
Copyright: 2001 The Rapid City Journal
Contact: randy.rasmussen@rapidcityjournal.com
Address: PO Box 450, Rapid City SD 57709
Fax: (605) 394-8463
Website: rapidcityjournal.com | First. Best. In Up-To-The Minute Local News
Author: Bill Harlan
