|
|
|
White
House Report Acknowledges Few
Scientists Permitted To Assess
Cannabis Use In Humans |
|||
|
Only
14 researchers approved to study 'smoked marijuana on human subjects' Washington, DC, USA: Only
fourteen researchers in the United States are legally permitted to conduct
research assessing the effect of inhaled cannabis in human subjects,
according to data included in the White House's 2011 National Drug Control
Strategy, released last week. In a <continued
on page 3 > |
DEA Responds To Nine-Year-Old Marijuana Rescheduling Petition: Maintains That
Cannabis Lacks Medical Utility
Washington, DC, USA: The United States
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Friday formally denied a nine-year-old petition calling on the agency to
initiate hearings to reassess the present classification of marijuana as a schedule I controlled substance without any 'accepted
medical use in treatment.' <continued on page 3 > ____________________________________________ ASA Appeals Cannabis Rescheduling Denial Federal Action Creates Opportunity to Air
Scientific Research Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and the Coalition
for Rescheduling Cannabis (CRC) has appealed the federal government's denial
of the latest petition to reclassify cannabis as a drug with therapeutic
uses. <continued
on page 6 > |
New Jersey's Medical Cannabis Program Moves
Forward Governor Takes Action despite Federal Threats to
Officials New Jersey, USA:
Governor Chris Christie (R) held a press conference last month to announce
his plans to "begin work immediately" on a distribution plan for
his state's medical cannabis program, despite threats from federal
authorities. Governor Christie said he expects licensed Alternative Treatment
Centers that would distribute cannabis to qualified patients could be operating
by the end of the year. "We're moving forward with the program as it
was set up," said Governor Christie, a former federal prosecutor.
"The need to provide compassionate pain relief to these citizens of our
state outweighs the risk we are taking in moving forward <continued
on page 5 > |
|
|
* Volume 8, Issue 8 * August * 2011
* www.MercyCenters.org *
|
||
|
* The MERCY News * |
|
_____________________ The MERCY News Report is an
all-volunteer, not-for-profit project to record and broadcast news,
announcements and information about medical cannabis in Oregon, across
America and around the World. For more information about the MERCY News, contact us. Via
Snail Mail: The MERCY
News 1469 Capital
St. NE, Suite 100, Salem, Ore.,
97301 503.363-4588 E-mail: Mercy_Salem@hotmail.com Or
our WWW page: www.MercyCenters.org Check it
out! ___________________________ MERCY On The Tube!
in Salem, Oregon area thru Capital Community
Television, Channel 23. See
us on Wednesdays at 06:30pm, Thursdays at 07:00pm, Fridays at 10:30pm and
Saturdays at 06:00pm. Visit – http://mercycenters.org/tv/ |
About
MERCY – The Medical Cannabis Resource Center MERCY is a non-profit, grass roots organization
founded by patients, their friends and family and other compassionate and
concerned citizens in the area and is dedicated to helping and advocating for
those involved with the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP). MERCY is based in the
Salem, Oregon area and staffed on a volunteer basis. The
purpose is to get medicine to patients in the short-term while working with
them to establish their own independent sources. To
this end we provide, among other things, ongoing education to people and groups
organizing clinics and other Patient Resources, individual physicians and
other healthcare providers about the OMMP, cannabis as medicine and doctor
rights in general. The mission of the organization
is to help people and change the laws. We advocate reasonable, fair and effective
marijuana laws and policies, and strive to educate, register and empower
voters to implement such policies. Our philosophy is one of teaching
people to fish, rather than being dependent upon others. Want to get your Card? Need Medicine Now? Welcome to The Club! MERCY – the Medical Cannabis Resource Center
hosts Mercy Club Meetings every Wednesday at - 1469 Capital
Street NE, Suite #130, Salem, 97301 – from 7pm to 9pm to
help folks get their card, network patients to medicine, assist in finding a
grower or getting to grow themselves, or ways and means to medicate along
other info and resources depending on the issue. visit – www.MercyCenters.org
- or Call 503.363-4588 for more. The Doctor is In ... Salem! * MERCY is Educating Doctors on signing for their
Patients; Referring people to Medical Cannabis Consultations when their
regular care physician won't sign for them; and listing all Clinics around
the state in order to help folks Qualify for the OMMP and otherwise Get their
Cards. For our Referral Doc in Salem,
get your records to – 1469 Capital Street NE, Suite
#100, Salem, 97301 - or, in the Salem-area, fax them to 503-581-1937, NOTE: There is a $25 non-refundable
deposit required. Transportation and
Delivery Services available for those in need. For our Physician Packet to educate your Doctor, or a List of
Clinics around the state, visit – www.MercyCenters.org
- or Call 503.363-4588 for more. Other Medical Cannabis Resource NetWork
Opportunities for Patients as well as CardHolders-to-be. * whether Social meeting, Open to public
–or- Cardholders Only * visit:
http://mercycenters.org/events/Meets.html ! Also Forums - a means to
communicate and network on medical cannabis in Portland across Oregon and
around the world. A list of
Forums, Chat Rooms, Bulletin Boards and other Online Resources for the
Medical Cannabis Patient, CareGiver, Family Member, Patient-to-Be and Other
Interested Parties. * Resources > Patients (plus) > Online
> Forums * Know any? Let everybody else know!
Visit: http://mercycenters.org/orgs/Forums.html and Post It! |
2 mercycenter@hotmail.com * |
|
|
Volume 8, Issue 8 *
August * 2011 |
|
||
|
<continued from FEW SCIENTISTS PERMITTED TO ASSESS CANNABIS
USE, page 1 > However,
it later clarifies that of these 109 scientists, only fourteen "are
approved to conduct research with smoked marijuana on human subjects." Among
those scientists licensed to work with either cannabis or its constituents --
primarily in animal models -- most are involved in research to assess the
drug's "abuse potential, physical/psychological effects, [and] adverse
effects," the report stated. In
2010, a spokesperson for the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) --
the federal agency that must approve any US clinical trial involving
marijuana -- told the New York Times: "[O]ur focus is primarily on the
negative consequences of marijuana use. We generally do not fund research
focused on the potential beneficial medical effects of marijuana." Earlier
this month, DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart denied a nine-year-old
petition seeking to initiate hearings regarding the federal classification of
cannabis as a schedule I substance, stating in part, "[T]here are no
adequate and well-controlled studies proving efficacy." Commenting
on the report, NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: "Only in an
environment of absolute criminal prohibition would this or any administration
purport to the public that it is acceptable to allow no more than fourteen
researchers to clinically study a substance consumed by tens of millions of
Americans for therapeutic or recreational purposes. This acknowledgement
illustrates once again the administration's supposed commitment to
'scientific integrity' does not apply to cannabis." For more information, please
contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500 or Paul
Armentano, NORML Deputy Director at: paul@norml.org. _____________________________________________________________ <continued
from DEA MAINTAINS THAT CANNABIS
LACKS MEDICAL UTILITY, page 1
> A coalition
of public interest organizations, including NORML
and California NORML,
filed a comprehensive rescheduling petition with the DEA on October 9, 2002.
This past May, the coalition filed suit in the US
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to compel the Obama
administration to respond to their petition to reclassify marijuana under
federal law. DEA administrator Michele Leonhart posted a letter denying the petition in the July 8, 2011 edition of the Federal Register. Leonhart stated that cannabis |
has
"a high potential for abuse; ... no currently accepted medical use in
treatment in the United States; ... [and] lacks She
added: "[T]here are no adequate and well-controlled studies proving
(marijuana's) efficacy; the drug is not accepted by qualified experts. ... At
this time, the known risks of marijuana use have not been shown to be
outweighed by specific benefits in well-controlled clinical trials that scientifically
evaluate safety and efficacy." Responding
to the DEA's rejection, NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: "The
DEA is predictably maintaining its decades-old 'flat Earth' position in
regards to the otherwise well-acknowledged therapeutic properties of
cannabis. It is a shame to see an administration that pledged to be guided by 'scientific integrity' engage in
such blatant politicization."
Coalition advocates will be appealing
the decision in federal court. NORML
had previously filed a similar rescheduling petition with the DEA in 1972,
but was not granted a federal hearing on the issue until 1986. In 1988, DEA
Administrative Law Judge Francis Young ruled that marijuana did not meet the legal criteria of a
Schedule I prohibited drug and should be reclassified. Then-DEA Administrator
John Lawn rejected Young's determination, a decision the D.C. Court of
Appeals eventually affirmed in 1994. A
subsequent petition was filed by former NORML Director Jon Gettman in 1995,
but was rejected by the DEA in 2001. For more information, please contact
Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, or Keith Stroup, NORML Legal
Counsel, at (202) 483-5500. _____________________________________________________________ Long-Term Marijuana Use Not Associated With Deficits In Cognitive
Performance, Study Says
Melbourne, Australia: The consumption of cannabis, even long-term, poses few adverse effects on cognitive performance,
according to clinical trial data
to be published in the <continued on next page> |
|
|
503.363-4588 * www.MercyCenters.org 3 |
||
|
* The MERCY News * |
|
||
|
<continued from previous page> scientific
journal Addiction. Investigators
at the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University, Center
for Mental Health Research assessed the impact of cannabis use on various
measures of memory and intelligence in over 2,000 self-identified marijuana
consumers and non-users over an eight-year period. Among cannabis consumers,
subjects were grouped into the following categories: 'heavy' (once a week or
more) users, 'light' users, 'former heavy' users, 'former light' users, and
'always former' – a category that consisted of respondents who had ceased
using marijuana prior to their entry Researchers
reported: "Only with respect to the immediate recall measure was there
evidence of an improved performance associated with sustained abstinence from
cannabis, with outcomes similar to those who had never used cannabis at the
end point. On the remaining cognitive measures, after controlling for
education and other characteristics, there were no significant differences
associated with cannabis consumption." They
concluded, "Therefore, the adverse impacts of cannabis use on cognitive
functions either appear to be related to pre-existing factors or are
reversible in this community cohort even after potentially extended periods
of use." Separate
studies have previously reported that long-term marijuana use is not associated with residual
deficits in neurocognitive function. Specifically, a 2001 study published in the journal Archives of General
Psychiatry found that chronic cannabis consumers who abstained from the
drug for one week "showed virtually no significant differences from
control subjects (those who had smoked marijuana less than 50 times in their
lives) on a battery of 10 neuropsychological tests. ... Former heavy users,
who had consumed little or no cannabis in the three months before testing,
[also] showed no significant differences from control subjects on any of
these tests on any of the testing days." Additionally,
studies have also implied that cannabis may be neuroprotective
against alcohol-induced cognitive deficits. A 2009 study
by investigators at the University of California at San Diego reported that
binge drinkers who also used cannabis |
experienced
significantly less white matter damage to the brain as compared to subjects
who consumed alcohol alone. For more information, please contact Paul
Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of
the study, "Cannabis use and cognitive function: eight year trajectory
in a young adult cohort," is available online from the journal Addiction. _____________________________________________________________ Stimulation Of Marijuana Receptor Reduces Cocaine Consumption, Study
Says
Baltimore,
MD, USA: The
stimulation of a specific endocannabinoid receptor by a synthetic cannabinoid
agonist significantly reduces the desire for cocaine, according to preclinical data published online in the scientific journal Nature
Neuroscience. Investigators
at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Intramural Research Program
reported that activation of the CB2 receptor via the administration of a
selective cannabinoid agonist reduced intravenous cocaine administration in
mice by up to 60 percent. Researchers
concluded, "These findings suggest that brain CB2 receptors modulate
cocaine's rewarding and locomotor-stimulating effects, likely by a
dopamine-dependent mechanism." Separate studies have
previously documented that THC is associated with reduced sensitivity to opiate dependence and that moderate
cannabis use may improve retention to naltrexone
treatment among opiate-dependent subjects. For more
information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org.
Full text of the study, "Brain cannabinoid CB2 receptors modulate
cocaine's actions in mice," appears online in the journal Nature
Neuroscience. _____________________________________________________________ Cannabis Compounds Offer 'Promising' Treatment Option For
Neurodegenerative Disorders
Madrid,
Spain: Cannabis' active components show promise in
halting the progression of certain neurodegerative disorders and should be
evaluated in clinical trials, according to a
review published online in the British Journal of Pharmacology. An
international team of researchers from Spain and Israel assessed the
potential of cannabinoids to moderate Huntington's disease <continued on next page> |
|
4 mercycenter@hotmail.com * |
|
||
|
Volume 8, Issue 8 *
August * 2011 |
|
||
|
<continued from previous page> (HD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), two degenerative
brain disorders that are mostly unresponsive to conventional treatment
therapies. "Cannabinoids
are promising medicines to slow down disease progression in neurodegenerative
disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD),
two of the most important disorders affecting the basal ganglia,"
authors reported. Researchers
noted that both THC and cannabidiol (CBD) have been demonstrated to
"protect nigral or striatal neurons in experimental models of both
disorders." Investigators added that the separate "activation of
CB(2) [cannabinoid] receptors leads to a slower progression of neurodegeneration
in both disorders." Authors
concluded, "[T]he evidence reported so far supports that those
cannabinoids having antioxidant properties and/or capability to activate
CB(2) receptors may represent promising therapeutic agents in HD and PD, thus
deserving a prompt clinical evaluation." In
June, a team of investigators from Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom
reported in the Journal of Neuroscience Research that the
administration of THC and CBD-rich botanical extracts delays the progress of
Huntington's disease in laboratory animals. Separate
studies have also indicated the potential of cannabinoids to moderate
additional neurodegenerative diseases, including Lou Gehrig's disease and Alzheimer's. For
more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org.
Full text of the study, "Prospects for cannabinoid therapies in basal
ganglia disorders," appears in the British Journal of Pharmacology. _____________________________________________________________ <continued
from NEW JERSETY, page 1 > with the program." New
Jersey is one of many states considering distribution regulations who
received formal letters from the US Attorney in their area, threatening state
officials and employees with criminal prosecution if they implement any
program to assist patients whose doctors have recommended cannabis. Officials
in Arizona, Rhode Island and Washington have all delayed implementation of
key provisions in their state laws as a result. "Governor
Christie has shown that the federal government cannot intimidate
compassionate public |
officials working on behalf of their
citizens," said Steph Sherer, ASA Executive Director. “Elected leaders
in Arizona, Rhode Island and Washington should show the same resolve and
implement the laws they’ve enacted.” Delaware
and Vermont have also implemented distribution plans, despite the federal
threats. New
Jersey's law establishes a patient registry for the thousands of its citizens
who use medical cannabis. They will be able to access their medicine from six
distribution centers scattered around the state, once the state licenses them.
Local
and state medical cannabis production and distribution laws in particular
have come under scrutiny by the federal government in the past few months,
culminating with the Cole memo. In
April, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire gutted the distribution
licensing provisions in a bill passed by the state legislature, allegedly
because of a letter she received from U.S. Attorney Michael Ormsby. Arizona
Governor Jan Brewer has filed suit against the federal government seeking
clarity on whether she can implement her state's medical cannabis initiative
passed by voters last November. "We
welcome Governor Christie's new commitment to getting the medical marijuana
program up and running," said New Jersey NORML spokesperson Chris Goldstein. "This
wait has been long and painful for patients. If he is sincere, then the next
step is for the Christie administration to finalize some workable
regulations." Medical
marijuana advocates have been arguing for the need to revise the medical
marijuana regulations previously issued by the administration. "The
physician registry is unnecessary and will disqualify numerous patients. Plus
the cap on THC level is arbitrary and home delivery is not being permitted.
These are all roadblocks to patient access that we hope the Christie
Administration will reconsider," according to Ken Wolski, a registered nurse
and executive director of <continued on next page> |
|
|
503.363-4588 * www.MercyCenters.org 5 |
||
|
* The MERCY News * |
|
||
|
<continued from previous page> the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ). For
more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director,
at (202) 483-5500 or New Jersey NORML's Chris Goldstein at: chris@norml.org For Even
More information: Video of Governor Christie's press conference - http://www.livestream.com/governorchrischristie
New York Times article on New Jersey's law Threat Letters - http://americansforsafeaccess.org/downloads/DOJ_Threat_Letters.pdf
June 29 DOJ Memo from Deputy AG Cole - http://americansforsafeaccess.org/downloads/James_Cole_memo_06_29_2011.pdf
_____________________________________________________________ <continued
from ASA, page 1 > ASA's
July appeal to the D.C. Circuit comes just two weeks after another ASA legal
action forced action from the government, which had been stalling on a
decision since the rescheduling petition was filed back in 2002 by a
coalition of atients and advocacy groups. ASA's
appeal will argue that the federal government's decision contradicts the
scientific consensus on the medical value of cannabis and harms the millions
of patients throughout the United States who might benefit from this uniquely
safe and effective medication. "By
ignoring the wealth of scientific evidence that clearly shows the therapeutic
value of cannabis, the Obama Administration is playing politics at the
expense of sick and dying Americans," said ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford,
who filed the notice of appeal. "For the first time in more than 15
years, we will be able to present evidence in court to challenge the
government's flawed position on medical cannabis." For
more than 40 years the federal government has classified cannabis as a
dangerous drug with no medical value, despite documented use in medicine
dating back thousands of years, and thousands of modern scientific articles
and studies showing its |
broad
medical applications. Although
two other rescheduling petitions have been filed since the establishment of
the Controlled Substances Act in 1970, the merits of medical efficacy was
reviewed only once by the courts in 1994. But in 1988, the DEA was told to
reschedule cannabis by its own Administrative Law Judge, Francis Young, who
concluded after extensive hearings that, "Marijuana, in its natural
form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to
man." The government ignored his ruling. "Federal
agencies have been using every trick in the book to block research and keep
this medicine from patients," said ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer.
"But the research that's been done tells us it has the potential to
treat cancer, MS, Alzheimer's and a host of other conditions conventional
medications cannot." Since
the CRC petition was filed almost a decade ago, even more scientific studies
have been published that show the medical benefits of cannabis for a wide
variety of conditions, including recent research that shows it is effective
for fighting many types of cancer tumors. Earlier this year, the National
Cancer Institute, a division of the federal Department of Health and Human
Services, added cannabis to its list of Complementary Alternative Medicines
for cancer treatment,.
"We're
holding the Obama Administration accountable for its promise to preserve and
promote scientific integrity," said Elford. "The time has come to
put the politics aside and do what doctors tell us is right for their
patients." Currently,
pharmaceutical companies are seeking permission to extract THC from cannabis
plants to make a generic form of Marinol®, a costly Schedule III drug made
synthetically. More information: ASA notice of appeal - http://americansforsafeaccess.org/downloads/CRC_Appeal_Notice.pdf
DEA answer to CRC petition - http://americansforsafeaccess.org/downloads/CRC_Petition_DEA_Answer.pdf
Lawsuit compelling government to answer CRC
petition - http://americansforsafeaccess.org/downloads/CRC_Writ.pdf
ASA backgrounder on rescheduling - http://americansforsafeaccess.org/downloads/Rescheduling_Backgrounder.pdf
CRC
rescheduling petition - http://www.drugscience.org/PDF/Petition_Final_2002.pdf
|
|
6 mercycenter@hotmail.com * |
|
||
|
Volume 8, Issue 8 *
August * 2011 |
|
||
|
Maine Adds Patient Privacy Protections State
officials in Maine have defied federal threats to their state medical
cannabis program and expanded it. As the result of the increased federal
interference, Maine lawmakers changed the provisions of their medical
cannabis law to better protect the privacy of patients who participate in the
program. At
the end of June, Maine Governor Paul LePage signed a new law that not only
makes the state patient registry voluntary, but also broadens the number of
patients it covers. A list of qualifying conditions has now been eliminated,
physicians may now recommend cannabis for any ailment that may be helped by
it, and Maine will no longer collect information on those conditions. Legal
protections for patients were also expanded. Qualifying patients are now
protected from arrest, and the new law also prevents local governments from
imposing any restrictions more stringent than those in state law. "I
am proud to a sign a bill that protects patient privacy and respects the will
of the voters," Gov. LePage said in a statement. Medical
cannabis is legal under local law in 17 states and the District of Columbia. For more
on Medical Cannabis in ME, visit - http://mercycenters.org/links/Maine.html
_____________________________________________________________ Suit, Countersuit Filed Over Arizona Law In a move that has delayed implementation of
Arizona's voter initiative, state officials in May asked a federal court to
clarify whether its medical-cannabis law conflicts with federal prohibition.
The legal process promises to be lengthy and has already spawned at least one
counter-suit last month from a group representing medical cannabis
dispensaries who are now prevented from operating. Currently, qualified patients and their
caregivers may grow up to 12 plants per patient. Arizona has so far licensed
nearly 2,700 people to cultivate. Once the distribution centers mandated by
the initiative are established, only patients who live more than 25 miles
from a dispensary will be permitted to grow their own medicine. The licensing
process |
for distribution centers under Proposition 203
was halted by an executive order from
the governor. Brewer and state Attorney General Tom Horne say they
filed suit in response to a threatening letter from the local US Attorney to
the state health director. As with the other threats sent to state officials
around the country, the letter warns that those involved with distribution or
programs that facilitate it may be criminally prosecuted in federal court. The message from federal authorities has been
mixed at best. President Obama promised during his campaign to end federal
interference in state medical cannabis programs, a promise reiterated by US
Attorney General Eric Holder. A Department of Justice memo to federal
prosecutors in 2009 suggested they not expend resources targeting medical
cannabis patients or providers, but that was contradicted by a new DOJ memo
released last month that urged prosecution even for individuals in full
compliance with state medical cannabis laws. That confusion was compounded by a statement from
the US Attorney, who said, "We have no intention of targeting or going
after people who are implementing or who are in compliance with state law.
But at the same time, they can't be under the impression that they have
immunity, amnesty or safe haven." The suit by prospective dispensary operators asks
that Governor Brewer's suit be dismissed and state law be implemented. With a
June deadline of applications looming, many potential operators, who are
required by state rules to show at least $150,000 in startup funds, had
already arranged leases, began local zoning processes, and hired employees. "We'd like to believe Governor Brewer has
the best interest of Arizonans at heart," said ASA Executive Director
Steph Sherer. "But her opposition to medical cannabis is well known, and
this is a way to stall implementation." In addition to the dispensary group, the legal
action to dismiss the governor's lawsuit was joined by the ACLU, Marijuana
Policy Project and the Rose Law Group. For more on Medical Cannabis in
AZ, visit - http://mercycenters.org/links/Arizona.html |
|
|
503.363-4588 * www.MercyCenters.org 7 |
||
|
|
||
|
San Diego DA Opposed by Patients in Mayoral Race Opposition to implementing California's medical
cannabis law may cost the San Diego District Attorney a shot at the Mayor's
office. San Diego DA Bonnie Dumanis was greeted at her first fundraiser
dinner by protestors kicking off their own campaign. A Facebook page for the opposition group
"Not Dumanis" has gained more than 400 fans, more than twice as
many as Dumanis had for her mayoral campaign, before her campaign page was
taken down. "Anyone would be better than Dumanis,'"
said Eugene Davidovich, who helped organize the "Not Dumanis"
campaign and is a local community liaison with Americans for Safe Access.
"She has ignored the will of the people and wasted taxpayer money on
overzealous prosecutions of medical cannabis providers and patients." Davidovich was acquitted by a jury last year on
several medical cannabis-related charges. The latest of a series of medical cannabis
prosecutions brought by Dumanis is targeting Dexter Padilla, who is alleged
to have used a warehouse to cultivate for a small patient collective. The
prosecution has continued despite extensive documentation and testimony by
their attorney, a former federal law clerk and law school professor who
advised them on how to ensure they complied with state law. A local news station reported that a political
consultant thinks Dumanis may be hurt by the campaign. A similar campaign
targeting LA District Attorney Steve Cooley may have swung the closest
statewide election in modern memory to now-Attorney General Kamala Harris,
who trailed in all pre-election polls but emerged the victor. For more on Medical Cannabis in CA, visit - http://mercycenters.org/links/California.html
|
Montana: Judge Halts Imposition Of New Restrictions On Medical
Marijuana Doctors And Providers
Helena,
MT, USA: A
District Judge on Thursday issued a temporary injunction barring the enforcement of
several new, restrictive provisions in the state's medical marijuana law. In
May, Democrat Gov. Brian Schweitzer allowed Senate Bill
423 to become law without his signature. The new law, which legislators
enacted with the intent of significantly reducing the existing number of
state authorized patients, took effect on July 1. However,
several of the more restrictive provisions in the law will not go into
effect. Specifically, Helena District Judge James Reynolds enjoined the requirement that advising physicians be
reported to the state Board of Examiners if they recommend cannabis to more
than 25 patients per year. Other restrictions limited marijuana providers to
distributing to a maximum of three patients, allowing for unannounced
searches of providers, and barring them from receiving anything of value for
their product were also struck down. John
Masterson of Montana
NORML said of the ruling, "This is a victory for all Montanans,
regardless of your position on marijuana policy. It means that ideologue
legislators should think twice before overturning the will of the people with
unconstitutional and capricious new legislation." State
medical marijuana advocates are also moving forward with a referendum to allow voters to
decide in 2012 whether any provisions of SB 423 should remain law.
In June, the Secretary of State's office approved the language of the
proposed petition. Advocates have until September the gather the necessary
number of signatures from registered voters. Doing so will block the entirety
of the law from taking effect pending a vote of the people in 2012. Montana NORML will be hosting a fundraising
concert, Marijuana Aid 2011, to help offset legal and campaign costs on July
23, 2011. More information about this event is available online at: http://www.marijuanaaid.org/.
For more information, please visit
Montana NORML online at: http://www.montananorml.org. |
|
|
* The MERCY News
>
mercycenter@hotmail.com > (503)
363-4588 <
www.MercyCenters.org * |
||
