Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jun 2010
Source: Times-News, The (Twin Falls, ID)
Copyright: 2010 Lee Publications, Inc.
Contact: http://www.magicvalley.com/home/about/index.php
Website: http://www.magicvalley.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/595
Author: Ben Botkin
Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA ISSUE CROPS UP IN IDAHO

A north Idaho lawmaker wants to legalize medical  marijuana as a means
of helping residents deal with  illnesses with chronic pain.

Rep. Tom Trail, R-Moscow, has been working on the issue  for about two
years and plans to introduce legislation  in the 2011 session. Before
that happens, he'll be able  to gauge what other Idaho Republicans
think of the idea  at the party's convention next week in Idaho Falls,
  when he floats a proposed resolution to delegates.

Fifteen states, including Montana, Washington, Oregon  and Nevada,
have laws allowing medical marijuana,  according to the National
Conference of State  Legislatures.

The way Trail sees it, medical marijuana should be  strictly limited
to those who need it for conditions  with chronic pain, like cancer.
Those eligible for  prescriptions could only get up to two ounces
every 28  days.

Under Trail's proposal, the Idaho Department of Health  and Welfare
would have a lead role in regulating  medical marijuana, and handle
applications and  background checks for people wanting to operate an
"alternative treatment center."

And just because it's marijuana doesn't necessarily  mean that
patients would be smoking joints.

"There are various ways to take medical marijuana,"  said Trail. "Most
of the doctors are prescribing taking  it in a vapor."

Another option would be putting it in a food form, such  as
"marijuana-laced cookies," Trail said.

The legislator admits it's a proposal that will face  intense
scrutiny.

"Controversial legislation takes time," he said, adding  that the
proposal would not allow marijuana use in  public.

Tom Shanahan, spokesman for the Idaho Department of  Health and
Welfare, said the debate over medical  marijuana will be for the
Legislature and governor to  decide. He noted that the department
would need funding  to get a registry and permitting system set up.

In Blaine County, there's an openness toward medical  marijuana.
Hailey Mayor Rick Davis has said efforts to  curb marijuana use on
private property will be the  local police force's lowest priority.

Davis' announcement came after residents passed  pro-marijuana
initiatives: One to allow medical  marijuana, another to legalize
industrial hemp and a  third to make enforcement of anti-pot laws the
lowest  priority for Hailey police.

A citizen panel, the Marijuana Oversight Committee, has  been debating
how to respond to voters' wishes and  still uphold state laws.

Davis told the Hailey City Council the decision to make  pot smoking
on private property the lowest police  priority wasn't easy, but it
represents something that  "works for those on both sides of this issue."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 
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