Pubdate: Thu, 08 Jun 2006
Source: Asbury Park Press (NJ)
Copyright: 2006 Asbury Park Press
Contact:  http://www.app.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/26
Author: Tom Baldwin, Gannett State Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?232 (Chronic Pain)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

SENATE COMMITTEE TAKES UP MEDICAL MARIJUANA

TRENTON -- TV personality Montel Williams, who says he daily breaks 
the law by medicating himself with marijuana, presaged emotionally 
charged testimony expected today when New Jersey, for the first time, 
considers allowing prescribed pot.

"I break the law every day. I will continue to break the law every 
day," a sometimes teary Williams told reporters at a Statehouse news 
conference where the Drug Policy Alliance New Jersey -- which 
supports medical marijuana -- issued results of a poll it 
commissioned which showed support for their positions.

Today the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee 
will hear testimony, but not vote, on a proposal to allow seriously 
ill patients to possess one ounce of marijuana and six marijuana 
plants, if their doctor recommends it. The state would oversee the 
program and issue registration cards. In the poll, provided those 
specific descriptions of the rules, 71 percent of registered voters approved.

One sponsor is Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, who is a onetime 
prosecutor. "These people are not a threat to society," he said of 
the ill who seek salves for their pain. "We owe it to them to adopt a 
policy that places a premium on compassion and relief."

The Assembly version is jointly sponsored by two of the more liberal 
and more conservative lawmakers. Assemblyman Michael Carroll, 
R-Morris, usually stands spheres to the right of Assemblyman Reed 
Gusciora, D-Mercer, but not on this issue.

"There is no such thing as an evil plant," Carroll says, noting 
medicines have always come from plants and that a decision to 
prescribe should be made by a doctor.

"It does not make sense for many of New Jersey's citizens to suffer 
when there is a viable way to ease their pain," Gusciora said.

Scutari said he felt the intent of the law was being trivialized by 
critics who suggested backers hoped to legalize recreational 
marijuana through a "back door." "Let's open a dialogue," Scutari said.

"The governor says that he will sign the bill, if it gets to him," he added.

Williams fought back tears as he described how marijuana eases 
night-and-day pain caused by multiple sclerosis, which the 
49-year-old said was diagnosed with years ago.

Williams said he is a registered medical marijuana user in 
California. Ten other states allow similar prescription use.

Rating constant pain on a scale of 10, Williams said going 
marijuana-free leaves him suffering at level of six or seven, but 
with marijuana, he eases back to about four.

Glaucoma, some cancers, wasting syndromes, chronic unexplained pain 
and nagging muscle spasms have been said to be aided my properties in 
marijuana.

Backers and opponents presented conflicting polls on whether people 
in this state would OK use of marijuana as a medicine.

The Drug-Free Schools Coalition will also testify today. It followed 
Williams' appearance at the Statehouse Wednesday to point to poll 
results that conflicted with those from the Drug Policy Alliance and 
showed public support for the idea waning.

"Marijuana is intoxicating. There's no surprise that sincere people 
report feeling better after taking it. They may be feeling better, 
but they're not getting better," said Catharina Evans, whose father 
is a cancer survivor.

Evans acknowledged, in response to a question, that there are a 
number of drugs prescribed as painkillers that don't cure illnesses.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman