Maryland Lawmakers to Introduce Medical Marijuana Legislation

Tuesday press conference will unveil proposal to allow qualified patients to obtain and use medical marijuana with doctor’s recommendation.

Maryland's flag

(ANNAPOLIS) - Tomorrow, Maryland lawmakers, patients and advocates will hold a press conference to announce the introduction of medical marijuana legislation in the Maryland state legislature.

“This bill will provide Maryland’s doctors and patients with another tool in the toolbox, to be used safely and responsibly like any other therapy,” said Del. Dan Morhaim (D-Baltimore County), the bill’s co-sponsor and a physician board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine.

“I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for patients to have access to the medicines that work best for them, especially for those suffering from serious ailments like cancer and multiple sclerosis. Marijuana may provide the greatest possible relief, one that can help when other therapies are not effective.”

Fourteen other states, including New Jersey, and the District of Columbia have passed laws that give seriously ill patients safe access to medical marijuana and protection from criminal prosecution. Maryland’s current law provides medical marijuana patients with a limited affirmative defense in court, but no protection from arrest. Patients can still be given a $100 fine that results in a criminal conviction.

“As a cancer survivor, I feel that it shouldn’t be the policy of this or any other state to arrest, prosecute or imprison a person who uses marijuana under a doctor’s advice to alleviate pain and suffering,” said Sen. David Brinkley (R-Frederick County), the bill’s co-sponsor in the Senate.

“We don’t want the government to interfere with the doctor/patient relationship in that way. I just watched my mother pass away from cancer as she chose to forego the only options that doctors could prescribe her to relieve her pain, because the treatments were so excruciating. If you disagree with me, I ask: would you call the police on a family member who confided in you that they were using marijuana under a doctor’s order to ease their suffering from cancer or MS?”

The press conference to announce the introduction of a medical marijuana bill in Maryland with state lawmakers, patients and advocates, happens Tuesday, January 26, at 3:00 p.m. in Room 318 in the House Office Building in Annapolis.

Source: The Marijuana Policy Project

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SICK-OF-MEDIA-RUNA-ROUND March 16, 2010 4:35 pm (Pacific time)

SO WHAT WAS THE VERDICT????

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Haruko February 23, 2010 4:12 am (Pacific time)

Thank God;it's still going to be a problem w/the issue of possible arrest and of course state vs fed govt., but it's still a huge step and I'm sure the first of many to come!

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Bill February 12, 2010 5:34 am (Pacific time)

About time

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Jeff Kaye~ January 26, 2010 9:03 am (Pacific time)

This is great news. I'm always thrilled by societal shifts of the sort we are seeing of late...Medical marijuana will (re-)take its rightful place in the medical community's arsenal of neuro-protectants, anti-inflammatories, anti-emetics, and potent painkillers (and on and on). The differences are remarkable; the safety and efficacy of various forms of cannabis consumption as treatment modalities for a huge spectrum of ailments are unmatched. Hypocrisy, racism, and greed have all played a part in keeping this superb medicinal "weapon" out of the hands of the warriors...Brave physicians like above-mentioned Del. Dan Morhaim with the moral conviction and fortitude to speak out against the ignorance we've allowed to reign supreme in our ovine, narcotic-induced stupor. But every small triumph is met with renewed vigorous lies and long-ago-repudiated claims that "marijuana is dangerous", as was quoted of our drug czar recently. These corrupt politicians need to be let go. They're entitled, of course, to their opinions. They're not entitled, on the other hand, to spew lies, half-truths or any other form of indecent, corrupt mis- or dis-information at the expense of the suffering, wounded and/or dying people of the world. Hurray for Maryland, who's next? Step right up to the fact that marijuana in its various forms and methods of administration works where hepatoxic narcotics fail. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what's best for the patient is what WORKS best for the patient. That should be between the patient and his or here physician, not the government or politicians or policemen or officers of the courts. We are on the verge of showing the world that we do have empathy, and something very uncommon--common sense. By the end of this year, more than half of these United States should have some sort of cannabis patient/physician protection in place or in the works. Progress. What a concept.

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