Advocates of medicinal marijuana are touting a bill that would protect seriously ill patients from arrest for possessing the drug in New Hampshire. House Bill 648, sponsored by Rep. Evalyn Merrick (D-Lancaster), would permit the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes if prescribed by a physician.
The N.H. Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy supports the bill.
“HB 648 simply acknowledges the obvious fact that some seriously ill New Hampshire patients benefit from their medicinal use of marijuana,” said Matt Simon, the organization’s executive director, in a press release. “There is no moral justification for continuing a policy that criminalizes patients for trying to relieve their suffering.”
According to the text of the bill, modern medical research has discovered that marijuana is beneficial for alleviating pain, nausea and other symptoms associated with a variety of debilitating medical conditions. If passed, the bill would apply to patients suffering from cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, hepatitis C, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and other illnesses.
A similar bill was narrowly defeated 186-177 in the N.H. House in 2007. HB 648 is co-sponsored by six state legislators, including state Sen. Martha Fuller Clark (D-Portsmouth) and Rep. Trinka Russell (D-Stratham). Medicinal marijuana is currently legal in 13 states, including Maine and Vermont.
In a survey conducted by Mason-Dixon Research last April, 71 percent of those polled said they support the legalization of medicinal marijuana, while 21 percent said they oppose it. The remaining 8 percent were undecided. The results of the poll are available on the Web site.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs. A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: The Wire
Author: Matt Kanner
Contact: The Wire - Contact
Copyright: 2009 The Wire
Website: Pot Bill Hits the House
The N.H. Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy supports the bill.
“HB 648 simply acknowledges the obvious fact that some seriously ill New Hampshire patients benefit from their medicinal use of marijuana,” said Matt Simon, the organization’s executive director, in a press release. “There is no moral justification for continuing a policy that criminalizes patients for trying to relieve their suffering.”
According to the text of the bill, modern medical research has discovered that marijuana is beneficial for alleviating pain, nausea and other symptoms associated with a variety of debilitating medical conditions. If passed, the bill would apply to patients suffering from cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, hepatitis C, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and other illnesses.
A similar bill was narrowly defeated 186-177 in the N.H. House in 2007. HB 648 is co-sponsored by six state legislators, including state Sen. Martha Fuller Clark (D-Portsmouth) and Rep. Trinka Russell (D-Stratham). Medicinal marijuana is currently legal in 13 states, including Maine and Vermont.
In a survey conducted by Mason-Dixon Research last April, 71 percent of those polled said they support the legalization of medicinal marijuana, while 21 percent said they oppose it. The remaining 8 percent were undecided. The results of the poll are available on the Web site.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs. A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: The Wire
Author: Matt Kanner
Contact: The Wire - Contact
Copyright: 2009 The Wire
Website: Pot Bill Hits the House
