Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jun 2014
Source: Hickory Daily Record (NC)
Copyright: 2014 Hickory Daily Record
Contact:  http://www.hickoryrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1109
Author: Evan Matsumoto

DRUG OR MEDICINE? THESE GUYS ARE WALKING 240 MILES IN SUPPORT OF STATE
BILL

HICKORY -- Todd Stimson's potted marijuana plant is a plastic replica.
But that didn't stop the afternoon U.S. 70 traffic from honking and
yelling at the trio of men.

Hickory was another city they had to pass on their walk from Asheville
to Raleigh. The march on the state's capital is in support of House
Bill 1161 -- the controversial bill to legalize cannabis for medical
use -- Stimson said.

As Stimson explained the group's purpose, a white SUV pulled into a
parking lot, horn blaring. Girls jumped out of the car, expressed
their support and snapped a couple photos before driving away. A few
minutes later, another car pulled in. A woman hopped out to take a few
pictures.

Ray Pague said he is a registered patient in the state of Oregon,
where the use of marijuana for medical purposes is legal. In Oregon
he's a post traumatic stress disorder patient, he added. In North
Carolina, where he lives now, he's a criminal.

"I wanted to know why I was treated one way on one side of the country
and a different way on the other," he said.

HB 1161 says modern medical research has discovered beneficial uses to
treat "certain debilitating medical conditions." The bill, also known
as the North Carolina Medical Cannabis Act, says "compassion dictates"
for the state to distinguish between medical and non-medical uses.

The third member of the party was Jason Humes. His forearms were
covered with long socks to protect his already sunburned arms. And all
three complained, through smiles and laughs, of blisters.

"It seems like the public approval is overwhelming," Humes said as
another handful of cars showered the group in honks.
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MAP posted-by: Matt