Pubdate: Fri, 23 May 2003
Source: Herald-Mail, The (Hagerstown, MD)
Copyright: 2003 The Herald-Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.herald-mail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1537
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

EHRLICH SIGNS CONTROVERSIAL MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

ANNAPOLIS (AP) - Gov. Robert Ehrlich's decision to sign a medical marijuana 
bill strongly opposed by the Bush Administration will help many patients 
end their suffering, supporters said Thursday.

"These are people who are suffering. They're dying. It will help those 
people," said Del. Dan Morhaim, D-Baltimore County, a sponsor of the bill 
and an emergency room doctor at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore.

The new law does not legalize marijuana, but reduces the penalty to a 
maximum $100 fine with no jail time. Defendants, however, must convince a 
judge they need marijuana for medical reasons.

Previously, possession or use of marijuana brought penalties of up to a 
year in prison or a $1,000 fine.

Erin Hildebrandt of Smithsburg, who had lobbied lawmakers to pass the law, 
went to Thursday's bill-signing ceremony in Annapolis.

"It was really exciting. The bottom line, it means I won't have to go to 
jail if I need my medicine again," said Hildebrandt, 32, who has smoked 
marijuana in the past to treat migraine headaches and Crohn's Disease.

Despite opposition from some Republicans, Ehrlich had indicated support for 
the bill early on because of his belief that people can differentiate 
between legalizing the drug and allowing those dying of chronic illnesses 
to alleviate their pain.

"This is a position I've had for many, many years," Ehrlich said at 
Thursday's signing ceremony. "It is not without controversy. It's not 
without controversy across parties, across chambers, across states, across 
the country."

Ehrlich said he didn't think signing the bill would damage his relationship 
with the White House.

"Certainly we received a lot of pressure from the administration," the 
first-term governor said. "This is an issue I have dealt with for a decade. 
My views are well known."

Ehrlich is the first Republican governor to sign a bill protecting medical 
marijuana patients from jail, according to the Marijuana Policy Project in 
Washington. "Governor Ehrlich's courageous action in the face of a hostile 
White House shows that our campaign to protect medical marijuana patients 
is truly nonpartisan," said Executive Director Robert Kampia.

Ehrlich's former GOP colleagues in the House of Representatives are acting 
to take drug enforcement money from state and local police officers in 
states where marijuana for medical use has been legalized.

Eight other states - Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, 
Colorado, Nevada and Maine - have medical marijuana laws.

Backers of the legislation say smoking marijuana can ease the symptoms of 
serious illnesses such as cancer, HIV or AIDS, multiple sclerosis and 
Crohn's disease, and help patients suffering from nausea hold down food and 
medications.

Opponents, including White House drug czar John P. Walters, have been 
pressuring Ehrlich to veto the measure, which they say offers a false and 
illegal remedy to the sick. "I suspect that Governor Ehrlich acted with the 
best of intentions, with an honest desire to help people, but it looks like 
he may have been misled on the actual science and public health issues 
here," Walters said Thursday in response to the signing. "It would be truly 
unfortunate if today's actions led, however unintentionally, to greater use 
or availability of dangerous drugs in Maryland."

Joe McGeeney, Elks State Drug Awareness Chairman for Maryland, Delaware and 
the District of Columbia, said he was disappointed in the governor's 
decision to sign the bill and vowed to help repeal it.

"It's sending the wrong message to our kids that it's OK to use because 
there is medicinal powers," he said. "Other states that have approved 
(similar bills) have seen a sharp increase in the youth smoking marijuana."

Staff writer Laura Ernde contributed to this story.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom