Pubdate: Fri, 02 Sep 2005
Source: Craig Daily Press, The (CO)
Copyright: 2005 The Craig Daily Press
Contact: http://www.craigdailypress.com/site/feedback
Website: http://www.craigdailypress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2334
Author: Brandon Johansson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/don+nord

MEDICAL MARIJUANA GAINS SUPPORT

The Oak Creek Town Board passed a resolution in support of medical
marijuana three weeks ago. On Thursday night, the Hayden Town Board
discussed a similar resolution.

The resolutions are part of a plan to drum up local support for
medical marijuana after the U.S. Supreme Court decided in June that
federal laws trump medical marijuana laws on the books in 10 states,
including Colorado.

Colorado voters voted in favor of medical marijuana in 2000.

"When a local governing body speaks out on this, it really can make a
difference," said Brian Vicente, executive director of Sensible
Colorado, a Denver nonprofit that specializes in medical marijuana
issues.

Hayden resident and medical marijuana user Don Nord is driving the
resolution in Hayden.

Grand Routt and Moffat Narcotics Enforcement Team authorities seized
Nord's marijuana plants in 2003. Nord had a permit for the plants and
was never charged with a crime, but he never got his plants back.

Nord said he hopes passing local resolutions eventually will lead to
legislation at the national level.

"If local governments will agree to it, why shouldn't the federal
government agree to it?" Nord said.

The 58-year-old said marijuana helps his many ailments, which include
kidney cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, diabetes and
chronic pain.

"I won't have to sit here and worry they're going to let GRAMNET come
in and tear up my house again and take my medicine away from me," Nord
said.

If the resolution passes in Hayden, Nord said he plans on trying a
similar resolution in Craig.

He handed out petitions in support of medical marijuana in Craig on
Wednesday. He said he got about 100 signatures from people of all
ages. He has 500 signatures from supporters throughout the valley.

Nord plans to send the petitions to U.S. Rep. John Salazar,
D-Manassa.

"I've gotten a lot of people in Craig (who support me)," Nord
said.

Nord hasn't presented a resolution to the Craig City Council or the
Moffat County commissioners yet.

Craig city manager Jim Feree said medical marijuana isn't an issue the
City Council is very concerned about.

"It's not something we have even talked about," Feree
said.

Moffat County Commissioner Darryl Steele said he hasn't been
following the issue, but he doesn't think he would be in favor of it.

"I guess I would be hard pressed to vote for that," Steele
said.

Nord said he isn't sure what he'll do if the Hayden Town Board doesn't
support his resolution.

"If I get rejected here in Hayden, I don't know what I'll do," Nord
said.

Nord said he might move if the resolution fails.