Pubdate: Fri, 04 Dec 2009
Source: Times Leader  (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
Copyright: 2009 The Times Leader
Contact:  http://www.timesleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/933
Author: Bill O'Boyle
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

MUNDY BACKS MEDICAL MARIJUANA

More Addictive Drugs Now In Use, State Rep Says About
Complaints

State Rep. Phyllis Mundy is a co-sponsor of a bill that  would allow
the use of marijuana to ease patients'  pain.

Mundy, D-Kingston, admits the bill is controversial and  says it's not
a "legislative priority." But, she said,  it's time to start thinking
about the use of such drugs  in treatment.

"House Bill 1393 seeks to ease human suffering by  allowing those who
are gravely or terminally ill to use  marijuana to relieve their
pain," Mundy said. "It does  not, as some may suggest, seek to promote
the  recreational use of marijuana or in any way legalize it  for such
use.

"While I realize this topic is controversial, I believe  it is time to
begin the discussion as to why we allow  much more addictive drugs
such as OxyContin and  morphine to be prescribed for pain relief, but
not  marijuana, which is much less harmful and less  expensive."

The state House Committee on Health and Human Services  heard
testimony this week from patients, doctors and  members of advocacy
groups who say medical marijuana  should be legal because it is
effective in treating  chronic pain, nausea and other ailments.

The bill is sponsored by state Rep. Mark Cohen,  D-Philadelphia. It is
not given much of a chance to  pass. State Attorney General Tom
Corbett opposes the  bill and the Senate's Republican majority is not
expected to give it serious consideration.

In an Associated Press story on the hearings, an aide  to Committee
Chairman Frank Oliver, D-Philadelphia,  said more hearings on the bill
are planned before a  vote is taken.

Brad Walter of Larksville testified before the  committee. In the AP
story, Walter said he smokes  marijuana four or five times a day to
relieve  gastrointestinal pain and distress from the 14 pills he
takes to counteract the effects of HIV.

Walter told the committee he takes the risk of getting  pot illegally
because nothing else - including Marinol,  a government-approved
prescription drug that contains  the active ingredient in marijuana -
helps nearly as  much.

There are 13 other states that have approved similar  laws, but
opponents of the legislation have said those  states have had
instances in which marijuana was  dispensed fraudulently. 
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