Pubdate: Fri, 06 Jul 2012
Source: Glasgow Daily Times (KY)
Copyright: 2012 Glasgow Daily Times
Contact:  http://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2078
Author: Ronnie Ellis
Note: Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort.

'TIME HAS COME' TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA

FRANKFORT - For a Frankfort press conference, it was a pretty 
laid-back affair, but the 40 or so proponents of legalizing medicinal 
marijuana were nonetheless passionate about their cause.

State Sen. Perry Clark, D-Louisville, held the press conference to 
announce "the time has come" to end the "absurd" prohibition on a 
drug supporters say can alleviate pain, nausea and cure a variety of 
ills and diseases and that he will again file a bill to make 
medicinal marijuana legal in Kentucky.

There are already about 17 states that allow the private use of 
cannabis to treat some chronic and critical diseases. But Clark 
conceded it will be a steep hill to climb to get his bill approved in 
the 2013 General Assembly. A similar bill sponsored by Clark last 
year died in committee.

He said he doesn't have the votes to pass it next year either and 
urged supporters to contact their representatives and senators to 
support the bill he calls the Gatewood Galbraith Memorial Act, named 
to honor the Lexington attorney and frequent candidate Gatewood 
Galbraith who touted the legalization of medical marijuana and 
decriminalization of the drug for other purposes. Galbraith died last 
January from complications of pneumonia.

Speaking on behalf of the bill was one of Galbraith's daughters, 
Molly Galbraith, who said the only thing her father "loved more than 
the state of Kentucky was its people. For the better part of 40 
years, he talked about the benefits of medical marijuana and right 
now there are hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians who are suffering 
and need and deserve access to this plant."

Clark also played a video of a younger Galbraith campaigning to 
legalize the drug and the audience frequently cheered and laughed as 
Galbraith used his trademark humor to make his points.

Clark's bill would make marijuana a Schedule II drug for medicinal 
purposes. He said the issue is one of "justice and compassion" and 
cited studies showing medical benefits of the drug and minimizing its 
dangers compared to other commonly used or prescribed substances.

Several in the audience offered personal testimonials, including a 
former nurse who suffers from degenerative nerve disease, veterans 
suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, cancer survivors and a 
victim of sexual and physical abuse.

One woman, Robin Walker of Lexington, who previously lived in 
California which has a medical marijuana law, showed her 
prescriptions from a doctor. Walker said she suffers from multiple 
sclerosis but she also said the drug "is not just the medical part - 
it also makes you feel good." Because of her MS, Walker said she 
cannot drink alcohol and occasionally smokes marijuana before 
attending a party with social drinkers.

Clark, who faces Republican Chris Thienaman on the fall ballot, said 
he has smoked marijuana and suffers back pain but is "not a chronic 
user." He said he isn't concerned that sponsoring the bill or making 
a public admission to smoking marijuana will hurt his chances of reelection.

He also said the issue is one of states' rights and Kentucky voters 
who support states' rights should support his bill. The federal 
government still outlaws marijuana use, even for medical reasons, but 
rarely enforces the law in such states as California.

"This is a liberty issue for me," Clark said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom