|
Grogan
Shroomieologist



Registered: 05/20/03
Posts: 1,146
Last seen: 8 years, 8 months
|
Tennessee debates medical marijuana legalization
#7641804 - 11/15/07 08:56 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
http://www.mapinc.org/norml/v07/n1316/a08.htm?134
MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROPOSAL DEBATED IN LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE by Kristin M. Hall, (Source:Jackson Sun News)
13 Nov 2007
Tennessee ------- NASHVILLE - Tennessee lawmakers heard testimony today on legalizing the medicinal use of marijuana, although the idea has failed in the General Assembly before and its future is uncertain. A bill sponsored by former state Sen. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, was rejected by a Senate committee last year before being pushed off to a summer study committee.
Members of the House Health and Human Resources Committee heard testimony on a similar bill sponsored by Rep. Sherry Jones, a Nashville Democrat.
Opponents of the bill, including law enforcement and family advocates, say current research does not show that marijuana is an effective and safe drug for treating symptoms of chronic illnesses.
According to the Marijuana Policy Project, which supports decriminalizing the drug, 26 legislatures are considering similar bills.
But William Benson, assistant director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, said the bill could present complications for law enforcement because Tennessee is a leading producer of marijuana.
Dr. Kent Shih with the Tennessee Oncology Association said marijuana is an impractical drug that does not have sustained effects and cancer patients have other legal medications that are as effective.
"I believe there are safer drugs," he said.
Opponents such as David Fowler, a former state senator who is president of the Family Action Council of Tennessee, said organizations that support the use of medical marijuana could use the legislation to open the door to overall legalization.
But Jones, the bill's sponsor, denied that argument.
"This is not about making marijuana legal across the state. This is strictly for medical reasons, only to help people feel better," Jones said. "Any suggestion that there might be something hidden in the legislation is absurd."
Jones said that the bill would restrict medical use to terminal patients and the production and distribution of marijuana to those patients would be regulated.
Dr. David Murray, chief scientist with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said lawmakers shouldn't sidestep the Food and Drug Administration, which has safeguards in place to ensure safe and effective medications.
"My concern is we're doing more harm than good with these measures," he said.
Nathan Miller, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project, said 12 states now have medical marijuana laws and said there is no evidence that it sends the wrong message to young people.
Miller said studies of 11 states with medical marijuana laws showed that all but one had a decrease in marijuana use by teenagers. Federal reports indicate marijuana use by teenagers has decreased nationwide in recent years.
The committee also heard testimony from Bernie Ellis, who is currently serving federal probation for growing marijuana after his Maury County farm was raided in 2002.
Ellis, who has a public health background, said marijuana was once a major component of medicine before its prohibition and shared testimonials from cancer and AIDS/HIV patients who said marijuana helped them control nausea, increase appetite and ease pain.
"We would not be here urging you to make medical marijuana legal again in the state if it were not safe and effective," Ellis said.
Jones said she was not sure where the bill would go after the study committee but was open to input on changes that would make the bill more likely to advance for consideration in next year's session.
Source: Norml
-------------------- "Maybe a cow occasionally ate a shroom, but it certainly wouldn't be such a potent shroom that the cow would be trippin balls. " LOL
|
ltd



Registered: 05/31/05
Posts: 2,894
|
Re: Tennessee debates medical marijuana legalization [Re: Grogan]
#7641925 - 11/15/07 09:18 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
One can only hope.
|
shroom_ninja
Stranger



Registered: 11/03/07
Posts: 150
Last seen: 8 years, 10 months
|
Re: Tennessee debates medical marijuana legalization [Re: Grogan]
#7641944 - 11/15/07 09:22 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
It humors me to hear politicians justify prohibition with righteous arguments about whether or not marijuana is "safe" or "worth it" as if that had any bearing on its legality.
As if the federal government has the right to decide how people live their lives, and make their decisions for them.
The only thing that should be able to be made legal are things that effect others negatively, and the only thing that's doing that in this argument -is- illegalization.
That well-understood fact is having a really hard time against the christian and generally 100% drug-ignorant legislators and law-enforcement, however, and I don't see any branch of -federal- government (the only one that really matters concerning drugs) doing anything to change their minds.
|
monstermitch
Growing in Bags Doesn't Work


Registered: 02/10/06
Posts: 3,911
Loc: Arizona Bay
|
Re: Tennessee debates medical marijuana legalization [Re: ltd]
#7642045 - 11/15/07 09:47 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Lieutenant_Dan said: One can only hope.
--------------------
|
wireless
Thizziswhatis


Registered: 11/06/06
Posts: 3,948
Last seen: 14 years, 6 months
|
Re: Tennessee debates medical marijuana legalization [Re: monstermitch]
#7642242 - 11/15/07 10:35 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
"There are safer and better alternatives"
I always get a good laugh at this one.
|
ltd



Registered: 05/31/05
Posts: 2,894
|
Re: Tennessee debates medical marijuana legalization [Re: wireless]
#7642311 - 11/15/07 10:58 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
wireless said: "There are safer and better alternatives"
I always get a good laugh at this one.
Me too.
I wonder if OxyContin is one of those safer/better alternatives, seeing as it's one if not the most prescribed medicine around.
|
Brainiac
Rogue Scientist



Registered: 04/29/06
Posts: 13,259
Loc: 與您的女朋
|
Re: Tennessee debates medical marijuana legalization [Re: ltd]
#7642433 - 11/15/07 11:46 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
Wheres the "Thank about the kids" card
--------------------
Fair is Fair
|
johnm214



Registered: 05/31/07
Posts: 17,582
Loc: Americas
|
Re: Tennessee debates medical marijuana legalization [Re: Brainiac]
#7642475 - 11/16/07 12:01 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Brainiac said: Wheres the "Thank about the kids" card
Quote:
Nathan Miller, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project, said 12 states now have medical marijuana laws and said there is no evidence that it sends the wrong message to young people.
Miller said studies of 11 states with medical marijuana laws showed that all but one had a decrease in marijuana use by teenagers. Federal reports indicate marijuana use by teenagers has decreased nationwide in recent years.
I swear if all the kids died life would be simpler. Since when is it the government's job to send the right messages to children? That's what parents are for
|
Eraserhead
Lost Soul



Registered: 05/26/06
Posts: 1,363
Loc: Earth
Last seen: 14 years, 3 months
|
Re: Tennessee debates medical marijuana legalization [Re: johnm214]
#7643016 - 11/16/07 05:25 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Dr. David Murray, chief scientist with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said lawmakers shouldn't sidestep the Food and Drug Administration, which has safeguards in place to ensure safe and effective medications.
That's why they give us things like FenFen, and that other blood pressure medication that lowers your blood pressure..... by stopping your heart.
--------------------
|
Seuss
Error: divide byzero



Registered: 04/27/01
Posts: 23,480
Loc: Caribbean
Last seen: 2 months, 20 days
|
Re: Tennessee debates medical marijuana legalization [Re: johnm214]
#7643031 - 11/16/07 05:36 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
> Since when is it the government's job to send the right messages to children?
Since the population decided that socialism is a good thing. The government just wants to ensure that their property isn't being damaged.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
|
demiu5
humans, lol


Registered: 08/18/05
Posts: 43,948
Loc: the popcorn stadium
|
Re: Tennessee debates medical marijuana legalization [Re: Grogan]
#7643092 - 11/16/07 06:31 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
this is news to me, but there's almost no way this will fly. TN is the middle of the fucking bible belt as it is, with way more conservatives than liberals
-------------------- channel your inner Larry David
|
jeetered
Stranger



Registered: 07/07/06
Posts: 3,055
Loc: no clue
|
Re: Tennessee debates medical marijuana legalization [Re: demiu5]
#7643123 - 11/16/07 07:03 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
It was legal when i lived in knoxville, after I moved they dropped it. One of my buddies that had cancer got raided for his legal grow op, then he died in federal prison because he couldn't eat. They tried marinol, but it doesn't hold the same components, every cancer/hiv/chrones patient i know says marinol is worthless, I've eaten about 40mg's of marinol before, with NO AFFECT, other then some horrid shits.
I fucking hate government in all forms.
DEATH TO THE INFIDELS!!!!
|
Skeeblix
Dave Thomas



Registered: 01/28/07
Posts: 1,745
Loc: Wendy's
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
|
Re: Tennessee debates medical marijuana legalization [Re: jeetered]
#7643857 - 11/16/07 11:57 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
The DEA is America's local government-supported terrorist organization. Think about it. Heavily armed, heavily funded, destroys innocent people's lives, beaks down doors and takes prisoners, and spreads lies, fear, and misinformation. To top it all off, they think it's justifiable.
They're no better than the "terr'ists" we're fighting in the Middle East, not even by a little bit.
-------------------- This post approved by:
Premedman1 said:
I just shat my pants.
|
jeetered
Stranger



Registered: 07/07/06
Posts: 3,055
Loc: no clue
|
Re: Tennessee debates medical marijuana legalization [Re: Skeeblix]
#7645738 - 11/16/07 08:32 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
I agree skeeblix. I couldn't sum it up any better then you did.
|
Mastamike1118


Registered: 03/29/07
Posts: 2,010
|
Re: Tennessee debates medical marijuana legalization [Re: jeetered]
#7646035 - 11/16/07 10:04 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
well fucking put
|
|