Pubdate: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 Source: Rutland Herald (VT) Copyright: 2002 Rutland Herald Contact: http://rutlandherald.nybor.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/892 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) A LEGITIMATE USE Vermonters in small numbers are already smoking medicinal marijuana. A bill now in the Senate would legalize the practice and subject it to strict regulation. If the bill were passed, it would help some patients treat symptoms such as nausea for which there is no suitable alternative. The fact that people are already using medicinal marijuana illegally is, of course, no justification in itself for legalizing the drug. People do lots of illegal things that should remain illegal. But the search for treatments for a small number of patients suffering from AIDS, cancer or other debilitating illnesses need not be made more difficult. For those people in need, the process could easily be made legal and safe. Gov. Howard Dean opposes the bill, and it is possible he would veto it if passed. He fears the introduction of legal marijuana would encourage the use of illegal marijuana. There is already plenty of illegal marijuana out there, and enforcement of the laws against its use should continue. There is nothing to be gained by making a drug that is easily misused, particularly by kids, more readily available. But it's hard to see how a few plants grown on a doctor's recommendation in the privacy of a few people's homes will have much of an effect on the illegal drug trade. In fact, it ought to have the positive effect of eliminating the need of patients or their loved ones for dealing with those who peddle illegal drugs. Separating the legitimate use of the drug from the illegitimate would be helpful for those who have a legitimate medical need. The marijuana law would face one problem: It would be contrary to the federal law that continues to ban medicinal use of the drug. And the federal law has primacy. But if medicinal marijuana were legalized within Vermont, police would no longer have responsibility for cracking down on its use. If federal authorities wanted to enforce the law, they would have that prerogative, but in Vermont the limited use of the drug would probably not make enforcement a high priority. Passing the bill would help Vermonters who are facing trying circumstances, and it is not likely to do any harm. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh