Pubdate: Sat, 29 Sep 2012
Source: Staten Island Advance (NY)
Copyright: 2012 Advance Publication Inc.
Contact:  http://www.silive.com/advance/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/646
Author: Tom Wrobleski

STATEN ISLAND STATE SEN. DIANE SAVINO, CHALLENGER LISA GREY SPAR OVER 
MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN DEBATE

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Medical marijuana was a flashpoint in a 
televised debate on Friday between Democratic state Sen. Diane Savino 
and her GOP challenger, Lisa Grey.

The two squared off in a 30-minute encounter sponsored by the Advance and NY1.

Ms. Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) has sponsored a bill to legalize 
medical marijuana in New York state.

"Anybody who ever had a family member suffer from a debilitating 
disease ... learns very quickly the limitations of modern medicine," 
said Ms. Savino, whose mother and father each died of lung cancer.

She said marijuana, which can be inhaled in vaporized form or 
ingested instead of smoked, was a safer, "humane and cost effective" 
alternative to stronger painkillers like oxycodone and Vicodin.

Marijuana, she said, gives "people a choice in how they can manage 
their chronic illness."

But Ms. Grey, a defense attorney and former prosecutor, said, "I see 
what marijuana does to our young people. They abuse it ... My fear is 
that we won't be able to adequately regulate it."

She said the state should instead look to use a 
tetrahydrocannabinol-based product called Marinol.

The face-off was the second in a series of seven televised debates 
featuring borough candidates running in this year's federal and state 
Legislature races.

The two candidates agreed that the New York Wheel project in St. 
George would be a boon for the North Shore and the Island as a whole.

The Bloomberg administration on Thursday announced that the Wheel, 
which will be the world's largest observation wheel, would anchor a 
waterfront development effort that will also feature an outlet mall complex.

Ms. Grey called the Wheel "a perfect fit" for the borough.

"It's going to encourage tourists to get off the ferry," she said, 
"it's going to give them a reason to visit ... It'll put money in our 
economy ... It's going to put people to work."

Said Ms. Savino, "I think this development ... is going to bring 
millions of people to Staten Island who would otherwise never come here."

She also said the outlet mall complex would lure shoppers who 
ordinarily travel to the Woodbury Commons outlet area in the suburbs 
north of the city.

"We can capture some of that revenue we're losing to Orange County," she said.

Both candidates said the Wheel would also encourage South Shore 
residents to visit the North Shore, home to cultural institutions, 
restaurants and other attractions.

Ms. Grey said she supports term limits for lawmakers, particularly in 
the wake of revelations that Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon 
Silver authorized a secret payout in taxpayer funds in the Vito Lopez 
sexual harassment scandal.

"Sheldon Silver is a poster child for term limits," she said.

Ms. Savino pointed out that the Senate passed term limits for 
leadership positions, but said she doesn't support term limits for lawmakers.

"I think we have them," she said. "We call them elections."

In a fast-faced "lightning round" of questions, both candidates said 
that Borough President James Molinaro had gone "too far" in calling 
Lady Gaga a "slut" this week. They both said they support 
full-fledged casinos for New York.

On a lighter note, Ms. Grey said she has never watched any of the 
"Housewives" reality shows. Ms. Savino said she had watched.

The debate will air again on Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on NY1.

Election Day is Nov. 6.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom