Pubdate: Thu, 08 Jun 2006
Source: Courier News (Bridgewater, NJ)
Copyright: 2006 Courier News
Contact:  http://www.c-n.com/c-n/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2163
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)

TV'S MONTEL URGES OK OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

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

"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 that 
showed support for its 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, 71 
percent of registered voters approved of that plan.

One sponsor is Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Linden, 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 Plains, usually stands spheres to the right of Assemblyman 
Reed Gusciora, D-Princeton, but not on this issue.

"There is no such thing as an evil plant," Carroll said, 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 TV host said he 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 one to 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 by properties in marijuana.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman