Battle brewing over state pot law in New Mexico

[Markass]

NORML.ORG US NM: Medical Marijuana: Battle Brewing Over State Pot Law

I love how bill Richardson is so much for this...we need our president to be this compassionate towards this issue..:thumbsup:


MEDICAL MARIJUANA: BATTLE BREWING OVER STATE POT LAW
New Mexico
-------
Gov. Bill Richardson lashed out at the Bush administration on Thursday over this week's arrest of a wheelchair-bound Eddy County man who was certified by the state Health Department to possess and smoke marijuana for medical reasons.

The Pecos Valley Drug Task Force, a multiagency law enforcement group in Southern New Mexico, raided the Malaga, N.M., home of Leonard French, who is one of 38 patients approved to participate in the state medical-marijuana program. The program started in July after a new state law went into effect. Officers seized several marijuana plants.

The federal Drug Enforcement Agency and the FBI are members of the task force, which also includes state, county and local police agencies. No state charges have been filed against French, though the task force has said federal charges are possible.

The task force also has said its officers did not know French had state permission to use marijuana at the time of the raid.

"I'm very concerned that the Bush administration, instead of going after drug dealers, are going after people who are suffering from cancer and paraplegics," Richardson said at a news conference when asked about the arrest.

French, according to The Associated Press, lost the use of his legs following a motorcycle crash about 20 years ago.

The governor, who is running for president, pledged to fight for the medical-marijuana program he helped get through the New Mexico Legislature, saying it's a matter of state sovereignty. "We're preparing legal options," he said, though he didn't specify what those options are.

All eight Democratic presidential candidates have pledged to stop federal raids on medical marijuana patients in the 12 states with laws allowing the use of marijuana to treat medical conditions.

Earlier this month Richardson sent Bush an open letter urging the administration to change its "misguided policy and wasted resources spent to intimidate states trying to implement medical marijuana programs."

Richardson was asked about comments this week by Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya, who said the state law "sends a mixed message to young people" and pledged to use his elected position to prevent government-sanctioned cultivation or distribution of marijuana in Santa Fe County.

Montoya also referred to $50,000 in contributions to Richardson's re-election campaign last year from a political action committee associated with the Drug Policy Alliance -- a group that for years has fought for the medical-marijuana program -- and billionaire George Soros, the DPA's founder.

Richardson praised Montoya as a "good public servant." "He represents a portion of the county that is wracked with drug problems," Richardson said. "I am not for decriminalizing marijuana or legalizing drugs."

The medical marijuana law was "tightly drafted" to prevent abuse, Richardson said.

The state Heath Department announced earlier this month that it would not implement the law's provisions for the agency to oversee the production and distribution of marijuana to eligible patients. This was due to concerns over the potential for federal prosecution of state employees.

Richardson subsequently ordered the department to resume planning for a medical-marijuana program, and a public hearing on the matter is planned this fall.

Markass Reviewed by Markass on 09-03-2007. Battle brewing over state pot law in New Mexico NORML.ORG US NM: Medical Marijuana: Battle Brewing Over State Pot Law I love how bill Richardson is so much for this...we need our president to be this compassionate towards this issue..:thumbsup: MEDICAL MARIJUANA: BATTLE BREWING OVER STATE POT LAW New Mexico ------- Gov. Bill Richardson lashed out at the Bush administration on Thursday over this week's arrest of a wheelchair-bound Eddy County man who was certified by the state Health Department to possess and smoke marijuana for Rating: 5

[thecreator]

Big up yourself!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks mate

[duffydawn]

Markass, like I said..Oklahomie Stonie award goes to you
props

[MaryLane]

I really, really hope Richardson wins the democratic nomination.

[SmokenGuitar]

I live in this state . They do not allow us to have access to cannabis for the treatment of pain . Instead they feed me with Oxycontin . I go through may days depressed and listliss . Instead of having access to a fairly safe plant , I am given a deadly drug that makes me Feel horrible every morning until i have my meds . Its real pleasant waking up in the morning feeling horrible .

Isnt it time to have some compassion and relieve the suffering of those that are in our midst ? Cant we find it in our hearts to help those in painful need to end that chronic severe agony ?

I was a republican my whole life , now the very party that I have fully supported is strongly against me in my time of need . They call themselves christians , yet they allow there own people suffer . Even my hard core right wing father wants me to have cannabis instead of the opiates that I now have . I imagine that if one of Bushes young little daughters would be in pain , he would do every damn thing he could to put an end to it . Yet they are incapable of opening up there minds and see that I am somebodies son.... no different than there very own loved one

I am a legit upstanding citzen , in return for living life with integrity and doing the right thing , I squashed by a system that doesnt allow people in pain to relieve themselves

Thanks USA , for caring about the needs of the Massive corporations instead of your own damn people .

[qdavid]

I feel for ya'll, I'd like it here in Florida too. I'd be eligible. But NM law only is for a certain specific really sick few. And Richardson said. "I am not for decriminalizing marijuana or legalizing drugs." I understand medical is needed but Richardson is standing up for states rights, not marijuana. Until opinions are changed as to the harm being done and the needed decriminalization of marijuana , nothing much really changes. A civil war was already fought over states rights. Hey, let's do that again. But I guess that NM thing is a step in the right direction. Baby steps first, right?

[MaryLane]

Thanks USA , for caring about the needs of the Massive corporations instead of your own damn people .

Unfortunately that is the political reality of the US right now.

[MadSativa]

Unfortunately that is the political reality of the US right now.

Been like that for a very long time.

They perscribe me Oxy too and I have the option of going into any hospital and giving em my perscription and they will shoot me up with as much morphine as I want.... Frikin morphine..........but they wont let me smoke herb for pain.........Stupid it has no good logic only deceptive tricks and lies. If it smells like shit and it walks like shit and it has horns then its bullshit. In october dont forget to write your letter and go before the board of health if asked and stand up for your pain, sickness and tell em herb helps to live in a much more normal level than being hurt or sick all the time.

[SmokenGuitar]

I dont think that we are going to have to stand up .... IF we can that is .... I talked to the lady that runs the program and she said that they were planning on adding an amendment that allows them to approve cases on an individual basis . She said this would allow them to approve cases for people in pain . She gave me the example that One person with arthritis might need the meds (cannabis type ) because of severe pain but ALL people with arthritis would not be allowed or a whole lot of people would show up with arthritis .

As for only allowing this for a small number of specific problems . Chronic severe pain like we are suffering from is a severe and specific condition . People with aids can live for indefinate amounts of time cant they ? Are they suffering in pain during those years ? What makes aids any worse than the extreme pain that I feel in my lower torso / groin area ? I would submit that pain is the Number one qualifier for this type of medicine . IF a person is suffering in a life of pain , give that person what they need to at least have a life that is not filled with suffering and potentially worth living . I realise that this isnt the case in this one specific state ( oddly enough )


As for recieving morphine , My doctor is pretty anal about giving me these pain meds . There is no chance that he would give me morphine and he makes me feel like I am " lucky " to even be getting these drugs . I am surprised that you have found a doctor that will give you as much pain medicine as you could possibly want .

[MadSativa]

I didnt even go to my doctor the one that gave me the perscription for liquid morphin was an er doctor, they shot me up with enough morphine for 3 people and I was still in pain so he gave me a perscription to go into the hospital or er of my choice and give em my perscription and they just start shooting that shit into me untill I say im good, however that was more than 5 years ago and I never did take the option for morphine other than the initial first time I went to the ER in fact I have had instances where I just go out side and grab a stick and put it in my mouth and tough out the pain for hours, instead of getting loaded up with that shit. I have a very high tollerance for pain I walked around for three days with a shatered hand and wrist before going to get it looked at, I have been shot and cleaned my own wounds, took out the bullet my self as well. All this with no pain meds, I refuse to take opiates they dull the senses and the mind, I fight for medical canny in my state not just for me but those who are not like me. I have seen old people starve them selves because they can not eat, the doctors drugs no longer work for them any more and cannabis would. To be sick is a great burden on the body and the soul I have seen great warriors heros to their country and their community wither away form sickness, when cannabis would have helped. I no longer care about my personal pain or problems, cause I have seen the front line of this drug war cause here in NM were in it 24/7 365. The real threat is not Cannabis but other things, including cartels, gangs , and politittians. As of now we fight the legal way and soon in OCt. we can go before the board or write for our other sickness. We will get a propper chance or will fight. I am not the only one preparring for october.