Pubdate: Wed, 13 Feb 2002
Source: Catonsville Times (MD)
Copyright: 2002 Patuxent Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.patuxent.com/catonsvl.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/786
Author: Thomas Kim, Capital News Service

MURPHY RESURRECTS MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Marijuana Bill Draws New Interest, Support

ANNAPOLIS - State Del. Donald Murphy of Catonsville (R-Dist. 12A) and the 
more than 50 co-sponsors to his medical marijuana bill are hoping it will 
pass this session after failing on two previous attempts.

The measure has strong support in the House of Delegates, but may be up for 
a tougher battle if it reaches the Senate.

Murphy and several other delegates from both parties pledged their support 
for the bill during a news conference last Thursday.

"We're here today to declare victory already," said Murphy, while 
acknowledging, "We're going to need some momentum."

Murphy heralded the fact that fellow Baltimore County delegates Dan Morhaim 
(D-Dist. 11), and Shirley Nathan-Pulliam (D-Dist. 10) are both sponsors.

Morhaim is a doctor, and Nathan-Pulliam a nurse.

"I'm on this bill to help relieve (terminally-ill patients') pain and 
suffering during their last few months," Morhaim said.

Under the legislation, patients would have to apply for a registry 
identification card from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene that 
would give them immunity from prosecution for possessing or growing small 
amounts of marijuana for medical use.

Eight states have similar laws: Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, 
Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. Seven others are considering 
legislation: Vermont, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Iowa, Minnesota 
and New York.

Maryland's previous efforts were killed by lawmakers fearful that the bills 
contained too many loopholes.

Trying to address those concerns, the new bill mandates identification 
cards, instead of making them optional. The new version prohibits a patient 
from growing marijuana, the better to stop thieves.

Also, the bill restricts caregivers from simultaneously serving multiple 
patients, in an effort to prevent a caregiver from harvesting large 
quantities of the drug.

Maryland voters have supported medical marijuana use in recent opinion 
surveys, according to Del. Dana Dembrow of Montgomery County, sponsor of a 
companion bill.

Murphy's bill is actually one of three in the General Assembly aimed at 
allowing patients' use of the drug. Dembrow's measure would allow a person 
arrested for marijuana possession to use medicinal purposes as a legal defense.

The third bill in the series, which is being introduced by Del. Thomas 
Hutchins of Charles County would allow a judge to consider medical use when 
sentencing someone on a possession conviction.

Introducing three bills, Dembrow said, gives one a better chance of passage.

Even if the measure fails, Murphy said he's adopted a little-engine- 
that-could approach. If it's struck down, he plans to try, try again.

"If we can't convince them now, maybe we can in November," he said.

But Murphy said the problem is certainty. Alluding to the state's new 
redistricting map, which takes him out of his familiar District 12, he 
added, "I may not be here in a year."
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