Pubdate: Thu, 17 Oct 2002
Source: Newsday (NY)
Copyright: 2002 Newsday Inc.
Contact:  http://www.newsday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/308
Author: Seanna Adcox, Associated Press Writer

GOLISANO PROPOSES MEDICINAL USE OF MARIJUANA

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Independence Party candidate for governor B. Thomas 
Golisano said Wednesday he wants to make marijuana readily available to 
terminally ill New Yorkers who want to use the drug for medical purposes.

Golisano contended that the pharmaceutical industry has blocked 
implementation of a 1980 law legalizing medicinal marijuana in New York, 
the first state nationwide to do so. California and Arizona passed similar 
laws 16 years later, and six other states, plus the District of Columbia, 
followed.

Proponents claim marijuana relieves pain, reduces nausea and revives the 
decreased appetite of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and suffering 
from other diseases such as AIDS.

New York discontinued its program in the late 1980s, said Health Department 
spokesman John Signor.

"George Pataki cannot and will not make medical marijuana available to 
terminally ill New Yorkers because he is in the pocket of the big drug 
companies who stand to lose money if medical marijuana is made available," 
Golisano charged.

Golisano announced his plan at a news conference with two multiple 
sclerosis patients at his side. Latham resident Lisa Reiss, 47 years old 
and weighing only 91 pounds, said marijuana has eased her pain.

"There's not a pill out there that helps you with the excruciating pain," 
said Reiss, whose husband died of AIDS 11 years ago. "If he hadn't had 
marijuana, he would've starved to death."

Pataki, a Republican seeking his third term, said he does not support 
medical marijuana because patients have other, legal, options to manage 
pain and counter treatment side effects.

"I talked with our medical professionals about it," the governor said 
during an appearance in Saratoga Springs. "They're not convinced that there 
aren't alternatives that aren't a better way for people to deal with pain 
and with illness."

The governor's campaign received $44,740 from drug companies in the last 
three years, while his Democratic challenger H. Carl McCall received 
$4,000. Also since 1999, the state Republican Committee received $166,125, 
and state Democrats got $42,448, according to Golisano, citing state Board 
of Elections filings.

McCall said Tuesday he supports medical marijuana.

Marijuana Reform Party candidate Thomas Leighton accused Golisano of 
stealing his issue three weeks before the election. Leighton needs at least 
50,000 votes to put his party on the ballot statewide for the next four 
years, and fears Golisano's new support of medical marijuana could 
jeopardize that.

"Since my first appearance in the debate, a billionaire has put my words in 
his mouth," Leighton said. "The voters should not be fooled by 'me too' 
medical marijuana advocates. This is an act of political opportunism."

Golisano denied the accusation. "Definitely, I don't want to steal his 
issue," he said. "There's a huge difference between me and the Marijuana 
Reform Party candidate."

Leighton, as well as the Green and Libertarian Party candidates, want to 
eventually make marijuana legal for everyone, while Golisano believes 
marijuana should remain illegal, except when a doctor recommends it for 
medicinal purposes.

"We should maintain the heavily controlled status of marijuana," Golisano 
said. "Its illicit use should remain a serious crime."

Green Party candidate Stanley Aronowitz advocates the decriminalization of 
all drugs.

"Legalization of marijuana, and the end to the war on drugs, are long 
overdue," said Green Party Chairman Mark Dunlea. "Having Mr. Golisano run 
television ads on this issue will help generate much-needed momentum."

Tom Constantine, former head of the Drug Enforcement Agency and New York 
State Police, said the pro-marijuana candidates were being "irresponsible."

They "are sending the message to young, impressionable people that 
marijuana is not a dangerous substance," he told Albany radio station WROW 
Wednesday. "They've decided it is a medicine."

The New York State Nurses Association supports medical marijuana.

"The justification is that patients could benefit from this," said 
association spokeswoman Anne Schott. "It would help patients in situations 
where nothing else works as well."
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