South Carolina proposes medical marijuana bill

[Lethal G]

I'm an SC resident, and couldn't believe it when I heard the news. Check this out:

Bill would OK medical marijuana

Thursday, Jan 11, 2007 - 11:08 PM


A new bill proposed this week by a South Carolina senator would legalize the use of marijuana for medical applications.

Sen. William Mescher, R-Pinopolis, introduced the legislation Tuesday, which has since been referred to the Senateâ??s Committee on Medical Affairs.

Mescher said his reasoning behind the controversial concept stems from the death of his first wife about 24 years ago from lung cancer.

He said he recalled doctors at the time telling him some of her symptoms could have been eased with the use of medical marijuana, which has the effect of easing the nausea associated with cancer treatments such as chemotherapy.

â??There were concerns that she would become addicted,â?� he said. â??Here this woman had maybe two or three months to live â?? and in extreme pain. It didnâ??t make any difference if she became addicted.â?�

Mescher said he felt further compelled to introduce the bill upon hearing recently from a friend whoâ??s facing a similar dilemma.

â??It took me 10 years to get tattooing regulated in South Carolina,â?� Mescher said. â??Iâ??ve got a bulldog tenacity.â?�

But Dr. Rajesh Bajaj, an oncologist with Carolina Health Care in Florence, said he doubts the overall effectiveness of marijuana in treating cancer-related nausea.

â??In my opinion, itâ??s the rare patient who would be needing marijuana for nausea,â?� he said. â??I donâ??t think many physicians would prescribe it because of the variety of medications that are available to treat nausea in patients with cancer.â?�

Bajaj said that one of those medications in particular, called Marinol, contains the active ingredient found in marijuana and comes in tablet form. Using marijuana in its pure form, however, is not recommended, he said.

â??Society has to weigh whether it wants to legalize a substance for the benefit of the rare patient or control it for everybody else,â?� he said.

Mescher said he feels some patients could benefit from the alternative despite this outlook.

â??To me, itâ??s no different than morphine or any other painkiller that a doctor can prescribe,â?� he said. â??Some doctors say it doesnâ??t help. But if the person thinks itâ??s helping them, then itâ??s helping them.â?�

This isnâ??t Mescherâ??s first time at bat while defending a hot issue at the Statehouse in Columbia. For about a decade, he pushed for legalizing tattooing in South Carolina so it could be regulated in the interest of protecting public health.

He said he expects this new measure will become a highly contested matter, as well, but he plans to move forward with it just as he did with the controversial tattoo bill.

Lethal G Reviewed by Lethal G on 01-19-2007. South Carolina proposes medical marijuana bill I'm an SC resident, and couldn't believe it when I heard the news. Check this out: Bill would OK medical marijuana Thursday, Jan 11, 2007 - 11:08 PM A new bill proposed this week by a South Carolina senator would legalize the use of marijuana for medical applications. Sen. William Mescher, R-Pinopolis, introduced the legislation Tuesday, which has since been referred to the Senateâ??s Committee on Medical Affairs. Rating: 5

[Myth1184]

You can just as easily treat the symptoms with Medications available, but they dont provide the High as Pot, which is why people dont want it.

Medical Marijuana is a scam

[brookerosebud]

You can just as easily treat the symptoms with Medications available, but they dont provide the High as Pot, which is why people dont want it.

Medical Marijuana is a scam

who are you? have you ever had an ailment that could not be treated by chemical that the perverse doctors prescribe?

let me tell you something. i have a prescription for marinol. i have abundant health probs, including siezures. marinol, and other drugs prescribed do nothing to help, they only cause more health issues with the adverse side effects. since i started smoking mj, my life has been SOOO much better. i can move around, i can sleep, i can go days and weeks without having a single seizure...

to hell with drug companies. MAKE IT LEGAL. MMJ is NOT a scam, it is a way to rehabilitate, help, and sooth. i hope and pray that the bill goes through. i just can't believe that it is being proposed in sc...

RIGHT ON!!!:thumbsup:

[MotleyCrueBoy24]

You can just as easily treat the symptoms with Medications available, but they dont provide the High as Pot, which is why people dont want it.

Medical Marijuana is a scam

Unfortunately I feel the same way. But like my enemies in the Drug War I will lie to seduce the dumb!!! Muhahaha!

Good thing I'm not a politician.

[Sterling]

wheres south carolina???
hahahah

[Markass]

You can just as easily treat the symptoms with Medications available, but they dont provide the High as Pot, which is why people dont want it.

Medical Marijuana is a scam

I must say that you're completely wrong. Pain medication makes me sick, eliminates my appetite, and its effects on me prevent me from being able to work or go to school and be able to function in a normal manner. Another thing about it is...with 1 it isn't enough, with two is much too much. Marijuana actually makes me want to eat..I can go to work and school without it being noticed that I'm under the influence(which is good because my state doesn't have medical marijuana laws) it is unbelievably effective in comparison to prescription drugs at reducing pain for me, I can easily control my dosage and do not have to worry about it not working, or me smoking too much. I know what it's going to do to me 10 or 15 seconds from when I inhale it. I have never thrown up from smoking marijuana, I am not addicted to it like pills made me, and when I am unable to find marijuana, I don't experience those fucking horrible bullshit withdrawal effects.

FUCK YOU.:S4: YOU'RE NOBODY TO TALK ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA, SO PLEASE STOP MAKING BULLSHIT COMMENTS ABOUT IT

[Amun]

My fathers old military buddy, a *drugfree* pilot for 20 years, was diagnosed with cancer. He almost died twice and each time while undergoing chemotherapy he smoked marijuana because he had heard it worked, and he said it was with out comparison better than any perscription drug he has ever taken in his life. The perscriptions he had were all opiates and some other really harmfull drugs....and when you take opiates for a long time it can shut down your colon and do many other harmful things. It helped him have a regular life, maintain his emotional composure in a sever crisis during a crucial time in his familys history and he believes has saved him from dying at least once.

He still denies ever using it recreationally and furthermore, does not approve of using it for any other reason other than medial uses.

[Purple Banana]

You can just as easily treat the symptoms with Medications available, but they dont provide the High as Pot, which is why people dont want it.

Medical Marijuana is a scam

Unless you have a medical ailment that can be aided by MMJ, you have no room to talk.

I toke once every 3 days for chronic pain- MUCH more effective than popping opiates 3 times a day- with opiates, I'm hazy, numb, and clumsy as well as very nauseated- with cannabis, I am productive, happy, and 90% pain free. Simply because people abuse is doesn't make it a scam... Next time, choose your words a bit more carefully.

[Storm Crow]

Until you walk a mile in our shoes- Shut your fool mouth! - Granny :hippy:

[dankkeeper]

I'm from South Carolina. I honestly doubt this bill will get far. The conservatives that run this crap state will probably look at this bill and laugh their asses off. A shame