Pubdate: Fri, 18 Feb 2005 Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO) http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisstatenews/story/4C36D7701A2ACD7786256FAC00534977?OpenDocument&Headline=Panel+kills+medicinal+marijuana+measure Copyright: 2005 St. Louis Post-Dispatch Contact: http://www.stltoday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/418 Author: Kate Thayer, Post-Dispatch Springfield Bureau Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Irvin+Rosenfeld Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Larry+McKeon Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/House+Bill+407 PANEL KILLS MEDICINAL MARIJUANA MEASURE SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A Florida man on Thursday sat before an Illinois legislative committee and displayed a tin of prescription marijuana cigarettes, telling lawmakers that medicinal use of the drug shouldn't be viewed as a crime. After his testimony, Capitol police detained him while they called federal officials - a sobering example, proponents say, of why drug laws should be adjusted to medical necessity. The drama ended about 30 minutes later, after police confirmed the man had a legal right to the marijuana under a small federal medical program. "This is a clear example of why we need this legislation," said state Rep. Larry McKeon, D-Chicago. But opponents of the measure - who persuaded the committee to vote it down Thursday - say prescription marijuana can be too easily abused and shouldn't be legal. Among opponents who testified Thursday was national drug czar John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, who called marijuana a "gateway drug," leading users to harder drugs. The man who was detained, Irvin Rosenfeld, 51, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is one of seven people in the country who are participants in the Compassionate Care Investigative New Drug Program. Rosenfeld, who suffers from a painful bone disease, said the program was halted in 1992. However, 13 participants with varying illnesses were grandfathered in. "Here I am a legal patient and look at the hassles I just went through," Rosenfeld told reporters later. "What if I wasn't a legal patient and had a crippling disorder and was being made a criminal to get the medicine I need?" Although the measure failed in the House Human Services Committee in a 4-7 vote, McKeon, the bill's sponsor, said Thursday that he will pursue the matter until it passes. He said those who suffer from diseases like cancer could use the drug to reduce pain, nausea and other discomforts stemming from their symptoms, or the uncomfortable side effects from treatment. Under the proposal, health care providers could grow up to 12 plants to treat their patients. Bruce Doblin, an Evanston doctor who testified at the hearing, said there are several studies, including one by the Institute of Medicine, that recommend marijuana for medicinal use. He also disputes the notion marijuana is a gateway drug. Two secretary of state police officers escorted Rosenfeld from the hearing, questioning him about his marijuana, which was in a tin with a prescription label. The officers pushed Rosenfeld in a wheelchair to a security office after he told them walking was painful. Dave Druker, secretary of state press secretary, later said the department did not know about the federal program. "It's an illegal substance and had he not had documentation (of the federal program) on him, he would have been arrested," Druker said. Officers called U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency officials, who confirmed Rosenfeld's status in the program. Rosenfeld said he picks up 300 cigarettes from his pharmacy every 25 days. He smokes 10 to 12 every day to relieve the pain from his disease. Although Rosenfeld is not allowed to operate heavy machinery, he is allowed to drive and can smoke marijuana while in the car. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth