>Sender: >To: >X-Original-Message-ID: <0ca001bf261b$9a9dd270$9acf69cf@pacbell.net> >From: "Peter McWilliams" >Subject: Victory in Maine! >Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1999 08:50:58 -0800 >X-Mozilla-Status: 8001 >X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 > > >Now medical marijuana is truly a coast-to-coast phenomenon, stretching from >Alaska to Maine. Despite the usual dishonest opposition (starting at the 4th >article down), the voters saw through the smokescreen and voted for truth, >facts, and compassion. It passed by a whopping 62 percent. > >Having spent the summer in Maine once, I know it is one of the most >conservative states in the union. If medical marijuana can pass in Maine, it >can pass anywhere. > >As Winston Churchill said at the end of World War II: "We may now permit >ourselves a brief moment of rejoicing." > >Hooray! > >Enjoy, > >Peter > >--------- > >Pubdate: Wed, 03 Nov 1999 >Source: USA Today (US) >Copyright: 1999 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. >Contact: editor@usatoday.com >Address: 1000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington VA 22229 >Fax: (703) 247-3108 >Website: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nfront.htm >Cited: Mainers for Medical Rights: http://www.mainers.org/ > >MAINE APPROVES USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA > >PORTLAND, Maine - Voters in Maine have approved the use of marijuana in >treating certain medical ailments. > >The citizen initiative asked voters: "Do you want to allow patients with >specific illnesses to grow and use small amounts of marijuana for treatment, >as long as such use is approved by a doctor?" > >Question 2, similar to legislation enacted in several other states, was >designed to authorize possession of marijuana for specific medical >conditions when patients are advised by a doctor they might benefit from the >drug. > >The list of qualifying ailments includes persistent nausea, vomiting, loss >of appetite from AIDS or cancer treatments, glaucoma, and seizures or muscle >spasms from chronic diseases, such as epilepsy or multiple sclerosis. > >The proposed law defines a usable amount as up to 1.25 ounces of harvested >marijuana and up to six marijuana plants, no more than three of which may be >mature, flowering plants. > >Mainers for Medical Rights, virtually unchallenged by organized opposition >as it promoted passage of the marijuana proposal, reported receipts of about >$650,000 through Oct. 21 to finance its drive. > >Critics of the initiative challenged the medicinal value and reliability of >privately obtained marijuana. > >Also at issue were at least some of the claims by proponents that it would >be beneficial in the cases outlined in the proposal. > >The ballot initiative drew opposition from the Maine Medical Association and >some law enforcement officials. > >----------- > >Portland Press Herald > >Mainers Strongly Support Allowing Marijuana To Be Used For Medical Reasons > >By MERDITH GOAD, Staff Writer >© Copyright 1999 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. > >PORTLAND - Rejecting the concerns of doctors, police and prosecutors, >Mainers went to the polls Tuesday and just said yes to medical marijuana. >Question 2, which legalizes the use of small amounts of marijuana for >medicinal purposes, passed by a large margin. With 88 percent precincts >reporting, 61 percent of voters agreed that Mainers suffering from certain >medical conditions should be allowed to buy, grow and use the drug to >alleviate their symptoms without fear of prosecution. > >Thirty-nine percent of Mainers voted against the law. > >Mainers for Medical Rights, the group behind the referendum, said the vote >sends a strong message favoring "compassionate and common sense" use of >medical marijuana. > >"I think it sends a message that the people of Maine expect some leadership >from Augusta on this issue," said Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion, who >supported Question 2, "and that the law should stand for more than >enforcement, that it has to have a compassionate component as well." > >With the approval of Question 2, Maine became the eighth state to pass a law >legalizing medical marijuana. Under the new law, patients will not be >prosecuted as long as they have their doctor's written approval to use the >drug to fight their nausea, loss of appetite and other symptoms. Patients >will be allowed to possess only 1.25 ounces of the drug at any time, or no >more than six marijuana plants. > >Many voters interviewed at the polls Tuesday seemed to be casting a very >personal vote, saying that they know someone with AIDS or cancer who could >benefit from the drug. > >Rupert Neily, 53, of Hallowell, said his father has prostate cancer and uses >marijuana to relieve the pain. "It has been helpful to him," Neily said, >adding that the law is long overdue. > >Question 2 had no organized opposition, but Gov. Angus King, the Maine >Medical Association, U.S. Attorney Jay McCloskey and various law enforcement >officials spoke out against it. > >Law enforcement officials said they fear a medical marijuana law will >complicate the enforcement of federal drug laws, and doctors worry about >running afoul of those laws. > >Some Mainers shared those concerns and decided to vote against Question 2. > >Richard Esten, 49, of South Portland said he would have felt more >comfortable with the law if everything was under a doctor's control. But the >idea of people growing their own marijuana, even for use as medicine, made >him uneasy. > >"To use it's one thing, under a doctor's prescription, but to grow it is >something else," he said. "I think that puts it out of control." > >Other voters said they believe those details can be dealt with later. > >"I agree that there should be a better way of limiting the dosages and >controlling it," said Rhianna Meadows, 19, of Portland, "but I think that >voting yes is a good way to get the ball rolling." > >Although many law enforcement officials opposed Question 2, Dion, the >Cumberland County sheriff, voiced his support. That had some influence on >Gail Huston, 38, of South Portland. > >"I figured if there are some people who are in the legal system who are >recommending it, then it's probably a good thing," she said. > >Passage of the law in Maine adds significant fuel to the national debate >over medical marijuana, observers say. > >Although voters in several states and the District of Columbia have voted on >medical marijuana laws, currently there are only four states where medical >marijuana programs have actually been put into place. California passed its >law in 1996, followed by Alaska, Oregon and Washington in 1998. > >Voters in Colorado, Nevada, Arizona and the District of Columbia have also >passed medical marijuana laws, but for different reasons programs were never >developed there. Colorado and Nevada will be voting on the issue again in >2000. > >Gina Pesulima of California-based Americans for Medical Rights said that >because almost all of these elections were in the West, there has always >been a perception that they reflected "a West Coast attitude" about medical >marijuana. > >But with Maine passing a similar measure, "I think there may be more of a >perception that this is an issue that has national support among the >population of voters," she said. > >Proponents of medical marijuana also hope passage of the law will put more >pressure on the federal government to address the issue. > >"For us the significance is that it's forcing Congress to confront the way >it regulates drugs," said Rob Stewart of the Drug Policy Foundation in >Washington, D.C. > >Calvina Fay of the Florida-based Drug Free America Foundation, which opposes >the medical use of marijuana, said passage of the law in Maine "sets an >extremely bad precedent." She said it will send the wrong message to young >people and lead to more recreational use of the drug. > >"It's just going to help spread misinformation to the public all over the >country," she said. > >Maine voters, however, disagreed. > >John Buckley, 77, of South Portland, voted for Question 2. He said while he >recognizes there are some concerns about the law, he's confident the "actual >nuts and bolts" will be worked out later. > >"From what I've seen, this is the only viable alternative that is available >to many people that need this to keep them from pain," he said. > >---------- > >Bangor Daily News > >Maine voters endorse medical marijuana > >By Wyatt Olson, Of the NEWS Staff > >BANGOR - Maine voters said yes to the use of marijuana for medical purposes >by a wide margin Tuesday. With most of the votes counted, 62 percent of >voters were in favor of legalizing pot for certain medical conditions, while >39 percent were opposed. > > >Only in Aroostook and Washington counties was passage of the issue close at >1 a.m. York County approved the question by 2-to-1. > >Voters in Bangor approved the initiative 5,225 to 3,736. > >"We think it's clear Maine people have taken a stronger stand for a >compassionate drug policy than has the federal government,'' said Craig >Brown, coordinator for Mainers for Medical Rights, which spearheaded the >pro-pot campaign. > >He said his group looks forward to working with doctors and law enforcement >officials in the state to make the law work. It will go into effect 30 days >after the vote has been officially tallied. > >Gordon Smith, executive vice president of Maine Medical Association, said >Tuesday night that he was not surprised that voters were coming out so >heavily in favor of medical marijuana because polling this fall had >consistently shown support. > >The association, which opposed the question, will contact the medical >associations in other states that have approved medical marijuana to get an >idea how doctors work with patients expressing intent to use the drug. > >Because the drug remains illegal under federal law, doctors could find >themselves in an awkward situation with the Drug Enforcement Agency, which >issues prescription licenses to doctors, Smith said. > >Many voters had mixed feelings about the question. > >"I'm not opposed to medical marijuana,'' said David Kliewer late Tuesday >afternoon while leaving Bangor High School where he voted against the >initiative. "I'm sure there is valid clinical use for it, but this is not >the right way to do it - having laypeople vote on medical issues. It needs >to go through Food and Drug Administration testing and clinical trials, just >like morphine.'' > >With approval of the referendum, the state will join Alaska, Arizona, >California, Oregon and Washington - all of which legalized medical marijuana >in referendums. Nevada voters approved a constitutional amendment for >medical marijuana in 1998, but must approve it again in 2000 for it to go >into effect. > >Patients and doctors will be able to freely discuss the risks and benefits >of medical marijuana. Legally designated caregivers for patients using >marijuana medicinally will not be committing a crime in assisting patients >in using the drug. > >In order to use marijuana legally, a patient will have to be diagnosed by a >physician as suffering from one of the following conditions: > >. Persistent nausea, vomiting, wasting syndrome or loss of appetite as a >result of AIDS or chemotherapy for cancer; > >. Glaucoma; > >. Seizures associated with a chronic, debilitating disease, such as >epilepsy; or > >. Persistent muscle spasms associated with a chronic disease, such as >multiple sclerosis. > >The patient also must be under the continuing care of a doctor. Doctors will >not actually prescribe marijuana - patients must buy or grow the drug. > >The law limits the amount a medical patient can legally possess to no more >than 1ó ounces of harvested marijuana and six marijuana plants, of which no >more than three can be mature, flowering plants. > >People under age 18 will need written consent from a parent or legal >guardian to use medical marijuana. > >While passage of the referendum means state law enforcement agencies will >not prosecute medicinal use of marijuana, federal officials could. After >similar referenda were passed last year in other states, the President's >Office of National Drug Control Policy issued a statement that read in part, >"The results of these referenda in no way alter the status of marijuana >under federal law.'' > >------ > >The best news is that it passed dispite such articles and editorials: > > >Pubdate: Thu, 28 Oct 1999 >Source: Maine Sunday Telegram (ME) >Copyright: 1999 Guy Gannett Communications >Contact: letters@portland.com >Website: http://www.portland.com/ >Forum: http://www.portland.com/cgi-bin/COMMUNITY/netforum/community/a/1 > >QUESTION 2 > >BETTER IDEA IS NEEDED FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA > >This Referendum Seeks To Do Good, But Its Method Is Flawed > >Question 2 on the Nov. 2 referendum ballot asks Maine voters if they >would like to authorize people to grow "limited" amounts of marijuana, >with a doctor's permission, in order to medicate themselves to relieve >the symptoms of some ailments. > >While the idea of providing the relief marijuana offers to patients >suffering the effects of cancer, AIDS and other afflictions is a good >one, the method chosen by the backers of this proposed law is not. > >If Question 2 passes, Mainers could possess up to 1.25 ounces of dried >marijuana or grow up to six marijuana plants for personal use. Where >would those supplies come from? The only possible source is illegal >dealers, and Mainers ought to think hard before passing a law that >benefits criminals. > >Second, allowing some persons to grow marijuana plants will lead to >confusion and inequality in law enforcement. Now, seeing marijuana >plants growing on a porch or windowsill instantly provides police with >probable cause to investigate its illegal use; if this law passes, law >enforcers will face a tougher investigative task even when the person >growing the pot has no legal right to do so. > >Instead, until an effective medical version of marijuana's active >ingredient becomes available, doctors should be able to provide >marijuana by prescription. This will put it in the same class as other >drugs that also provide similar types of relief for those who are suffering. > >It's true that federal law now prohibits distribution of marijuana >through prescription. That law can be changed, however, and it may >also be possible for Maine to persuade federal courts to permit local >police departments to pass on confiscated pot to patients through >medical channels without giving permission to grow it. > >Either way would be better than this flawed proposal, which should be >rejected by voters. > >Then people of good will in the Legislature, law enforcement and the >medical community should find a way to help people in need without >either benefiting illegal dealers or hindering the police. > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >Pubdate: Thu, 28 Oct 1999 >Source: Times Record (ME) >Copyright: 1999 Times Record Inc., ASC Inc >Contact: news@TimesRecord.com >Address: 6 Industry Road, Brunswick, Maine 04011 >Website: http://www.timesrecord.com/ > >QUESTION 2: NO > >(Citizen initiative allowing use of marijuana if approved by a >physician) Two years ago, the New England Journal of Medicine >editorialized in favor of the medicinal value of marijuana. > >And while the Maine Medical Association opposes passage of Question 2, >there is evidence that marijuana can reduce nausea and vomiting among >people undergoing chemotherapy, stimulate the appetites of people with >AIDS, and help those with muscle spasms from chronic diseases such as >epilepsy. Consequently, the suggestion that physicians should not be >allowed to prescribe marijuana to alleviate suffering among patients >who might benefit from its use seems misguided. But there are problems >with Question 2. Enactment of such a law would have Maine run afoul of >the federal government, which promises to crack down on physicians >prescribing marijuana. > >Another concern is the issue of potency and purity. > >If marijuana is to be treated like a medicine, it should be dispensed >like a medicine o in known doses by registered pharmacists. Question 2 >would not allow doctors to prescribe marijuana; it would only allow >them to suggest that patients raise it and use it. Thatis a bit like >advising someone who needs morphine to grow his own opium poppies. If >marijuana has a role to play in the alleviation of pain and suffering, >it ought to be available by prescription to patients who need it. But >thatis a far cry from giving certain people a get-out-of-jail-free >card for violating laws against marijuana possession. If marijuana is >to be regarded as a medicine, it ought to be treated like a medicine. > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >Pubdate: Sat, 30 Oct 1999 >Source: Associated Press >Copyright: 1999 Associated Press >Author: Francis X. Quinn >Cited: Mainers for Medical Rights http://www.mainers.org/ > >HOTLY CONTESTED OR ONE-SIDED, SPENDING HEAVY ON BOTH INITIATIVES > >The campaign over the Maine citizen initiative on abortion has featured >high-spending efforts on both sides. The one on medical marijuana, in >contrast, has been a one-sided affair organizationally. > >But that doesn't mean there is no money involved in the second campaign. In >fact, Mainers for Medical Rights, virtually unchallenged by organized >opposition as it promotes passage of the marijuana proposal, has come up >with about $650,000 to finance its drive. > >This month alone, according to campaign finance statements, Mainers for >Medical Rights received $170,670 in cash and $41,724.65 in in-kind >contributions from Americans for Medical Rights of Santa Monica, Calif. > >The same California-based group, says the leader of the Maine campaign, has >supplied ''90 percent plus'' of the funding for Mainers for Medical Rights >over a two-year period. > >''We're really the only proposal of the year, Maine being the only >referendum of 1999'' on medical marijuana, says Craig Brown, the chief >Mainers for Medical Rights organizer. > >As such, Maine has become the focus of a continuing effort by ''three >wealthy philanthropists'' to win popular support for the use of marijuana >by seriously ill people who might benefit medically from it, Brown says. > >The trio of contributors, who have been active nationally in the same >cause, includes George Soros, the internationally known investor. Brown >identified the other two donors as insurance man Peter Lewis and John >Sperling, founder of the University of Phoenix. > >The effort to authorize marijuana use for medicinal purposes is on a >winning streak. > >Since 1996, five states California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Arizona >have passed medical marijuana initiatives. Voters in the District of >Columbia also registered approval. > >To date, says Brown, the referendum record on the issue is unbeaten. > >In the contest over the ballot-topping abortion measure, both sides have >raised and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars. > >Seeking enactment of a prohibition on what proponents describe as ''partial >birth abortion,'' the United for Life Coalition one of several >organizations promoting passage reported expenditures of about $597,000 >through Oct. 21. > >The Respect Life Educational Foundation listed spending at about $250,000, >virtually the same amount the United for Life Coalition reported receiving >from it earlier this month. > >The United for Life Coalition also reported outstanding loans of $200,000 >with about $29,000 in cash on hand. > >Both groups are sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and >spokesman Marc Mutty said Saturday that by the end of the campaign the >proponents of the abortion proposal will have spent about $1 million. > >On the other side, the No on 1 Coalition the largest organization opposing >the abortion ballot proposal reported expenditures of more than $961,000 >through Oct. 21. > >Through that date, the No on 1 Coalition reported having more than $97,000 >in cash on hand and loans owed of $80,000. > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >Pubdate: Sat, 30 Oct 1999 >Source: Portland Press Herald (ME) >Copyright: 1999 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. >Contact: letters@pressherald.com >Website: http://www.portland.com/ >Forum: http://www.portland.com/cgi-bin/COMMUNITY/netforum/community/a/1 > >AUTHOR: MICHAEL J. CHITWOOD > >NOTE: MICHAEL J. CHITWOOD IS PORTLAND'S CHIEF OF POLICE. > >REAL GOAL IS LEGAL MARIJUANA FOR ALL > >Medical Use Of Cannibis Fails To Win Support From Doctors' Groups. > >On Nov. 2, Maine voters will be asked to answer the ballot question: "Do >you want to allow patients with specific illnesses to grow and use small >amounts of marijuana for treatment, as long as such use is approved by a >doctor?" > >My answer is a resounding "no." My decision to vote "no" is based on 35 >years in law enforcement, my experience as a narcotics investigator and my >firm belief that any legalization of drugs is a threat to our children, >families and communities. This initiative is a thinly disguised first step >toward the legalization of marijuana and other drugs. It is intentionally >vague and requires little in the way of medical oversight or regulation. No >physician's prescription is required to possess the drug and the bill >places no restrictions on the types of illnesses or treatment that qualify >for marijuana use. > >Pro-legalization groups have stated publicly that their effort to legalize >drugs begins with the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. >Medical access to marijuana is regarded as the "chink in the armor" that >will eventually lead to complete legalization. > >Proponents of drug legalization cloak themselves in the appearance of >compassion by relying on anec-dotal evidence from cancer patients, HIV >sufferers and anguished family members of the terminally ill regarding the >relief patients have received from the use of marijuana. > >In fact, not one major medical or health organization has accepted >marijuana as a safe or effective medicine. Organizations such as the >American Medical Association, American Cancer Society, National Cancer >Institute, American Glaucoma Association and the American Academy of >Ophthalmology have not endorsed the use of marijuana. > >A report released in March 1999 by the Institute of Medicine concluded >"there is little future in smoked marijuana as a medically approved >medication." Cannabis in plant form contains a mixture of chemical >compounds and, therefore, is ill suited to provide a precisely defined >medical effect. > >In addition, the harmful effects of smoking marijuana far outweigh the >moderate beneficial effects on pain and nausea. The risks associated with >marijuana use include premature cancer, addiction, impairment of perception >and coordination, memory loss, harm to the immune system, airway injuries >and depression. > >The push to legalize the use of medical marijuana has contributed to a >changing attitude in America that marijuana is safe and harmless. The >passage of medical use initiatives in Arizona and California has sent our >teens the message that marijuana is, in fact, a cure. This message is >confusing and dangerous. > >Recent drug use statistics indicate that teen drug use has risen in the >past five years, after 13 years of steady decline. At present, 36 percent >of high school seniors report using marijuana in the last year. > >Maine has a higher rate of marijuana use among the 18- to 24-year-old age >group than the rest of New England or the nation as a whole. Marijuana use >among Maine high school students exceeds the national rate by 13 percent. > >As we struggle to address the use and abuse of drugs by our children, we >must avoid sending the message that drug use is OK. Experience has shown >that drug use increases dramatically when we as a society reinforce its >acceptability. We should not allow the advocates of drug legalization to >treat marijuana as "medicine" as a means of gaining its widespread >acceptance. > >Imagine going to your family doctor for migraine headaches or persistent >nausea. He tells you to use a "medicine" that is not FDA-approved, is not >subject to any product liability or quality control standards, is of >unknown strength, is made up of hundreds of different chemicals, has no >controlled daily dose and is ingested by smoking. > >There is little scientific proof that the drug will work and its known >harmful effects include apathy, memory loss, mental disorders, reproductive >disabilities and immune system deficiencies. Would you take it? Would you >allow your child to take it? > > > > > > > >================================================================ > >This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to > the mailing list . >To unsubscribe, E-mail to: