Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana (Some Interesting Info From NORML)

PENNSYLVANIA SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
2006 MEDICAL MARIJUANA POLL

Some information about the poll:

*Informal poll taken between May and September 2006 of all Pennsylvania Legislators

*Objective was to determine the "General Feeling" of Legislative members, not a yes or no position, regarding the passage of Medical Marijuana Legislation

*The poll was conducted by numerous phone calls to both district and/or Harrisburg offices of every legislator except those retiring, resigning, losing primary or imprisoned.

*Except for a few dozen Legislators who personally made themselves available, poll results were from staff who relayed to American Spirit pollsters Legislators responses to the scenario:

"If you were at the firehouse and the topic of medical marijuana arose, what two cents would you add to the conversation?"

The variety of responses fall within four basic categories:

"Yes" - (Y)
Strongly favors medical marijuana

"No" - (N)
Will not support medical marijuana under any circumstance

"Plus" - (+)
Needs to do more research on medical marijuana, but would most likely support

"Minus" - (-)
Has concerns but if concerns alleviated might change view

Pennsylvania Senate Poll Results

[align=center]Response - Total Votes - Democrats - Republicans

(Y) - 7 - 5 - 2
(+) - 24 - 11 - 13
(-) - 8 - 3 - 5
(N) - 7 - 3 - 5 [/align]


Given research proving the medicinal benefits of marijuana, thirty-one (31) Senators today would be ready to approve a properly constructed medical marijuana Bill. This writer has meet with one of the most Senior 'Minus' members and it is understood, if it can be proven the FDA is ignoring scientific research, and that a legal basis can be supplied with which the State can successfully argue, 'Minus' votes could become 'YES' votes.

That the FDA is ignoring science can be easily proven as not only is there a wealth of legitimate research proving the medicinal benefits of marijuana but the FDA has even chosen to ignore the Institute of Medicine report it requested because the report concludes that marijuana has medicinal benefit for a variety of ailments.

The American Spirit legal team is working on a position paper to support the State of Pennsylvania's Constitutional Right to protect not only it's citizens inherent constitutional right to treat themselves with what they find comforts and eases their pain and sufferings, but also protect the Sovereignty of the State of Pennsylvania to defend itself from strong arm Central Government overreach into Pennsylvania governance of it's citizens medicinal usage, which for 200 years has belonged exclusively to the States.


Pennsylvania House of Representatives Poll Results

[align=center]Response - Total Votes - Democrats - Republicans

(Y) - 19 - 16 - 3
(+) - 57 - 26 - 31
(-) - 20 - 5 - 15
(N) - 22 - 7 - 15 [/align]

Although unknown how eighty-five (85) members (RETIRING and NO REPLY) will respond, it looks very promising.

There is almost a 2 to 1 ratio of "YES" AND "PLUS" to "NO" AND "MINUS". Almost all the "MINUS'" are for the same concerns as the Senator "MINUS": they believe the FDA is telling the truth.

Of the forty-nine (49) who were to afraid to give a response it is safe to assume that if their response was a "NO" it would have been given. Thus they will likely fall into the "PLUS" or "MINUS" categories.

There is no reason to expect the 2 to 1 ratio will not hold after the elections ("YES" and "PLUS" to "NO" and "MINUS"). Also, there is every reason to expect that most of the concerns of the "MINUS'" can be addressed and alleviated. The hardest thing to overcome is a concern given by the "MINUS" House members. Many are actually supportive of medical marijuana but have constituent areas wherein most people are opposed.

Conclusions:
Medical marijuana legislation in Pennsylvania will not be as hard to get passed as previously thought. The hardest part in getting passage will not be in proving to legislators that the FDA is lying and ignoring science, or that there is legal grounds for the State of Pennsylvania to stand in support of State Sovereignty; but in reaching with education those areas of the State which have constituents whose views on the issue have only come from Federal propaganda. This will in turn create support on a grassroots level, showing the legislators that the issue has their blessing.

The info is from 2 years ago but I still find it interesting. Especially because, you hardly hear anything from PA's government about medical marijuana.

Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Ive seen that on Norml - Your right PA is quiet on MMJ - Sucks Right :(