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The Maine State
Patients Coalition
Chris Kenoyer
Maine
State Director Of The
Maine Patients Coalition, Patient Caregiver,
Online Patients Advocate,
Online MMJ News Journalist
Online News Reporter
Tonya Davis
Political Consultant
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The State Of Maine Patients Coalition
MAINE POLICE OPPOSE POT FOR PATIENTS
AUGUSTA -- Law enforcement officials said Monday they oppose a bill that would
allow nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries, fearing easier access to the drug
would increase crime. "If this bill becomes law, it will dramatically increase access
to this intoxicant," said Geoffrey Rushlau, district attorney for Waldo, Knox, Lincoln
and Sagadahoc counties.
In Other Words "This Backwoods Maine DA"
Doesn't Like The Idea?
Now He Wouldn't Happen To Be "Running For Re-Election" Shortly
Is He?
Awfully Funny That The Few Of The Local Sheriff's That I
Have Personally Met, & Talked With Them About The Medical Use Of Cannabis
Has NO Problems With It. Simple Fact! It Means "More
Maine State Taxes Paid" Which Means Maine Will Be Able To Afford
To Keep More Police Officers !!!
"On The Roads & Doing Their Jobs! 24/7 - 365 Days a Year!
"About 6 Months Ago" York
County, Maine Sheriff Dept! Just Lost
5 or 6 Full-Time "Road Police
Officers" Strictly Due To The Budget Cuts!!
The Town I Now Live In The "Min
Response Time" If We Have To Call 911 To Our House, To Get
A Police Officer Out Here. It Is A Minimum "Of
25 To 40 Minutes Response Time" Before They Can
Even Get "Just The 1st Police Officer Here
On Scene" I Know I Sure Wouldn't Want To Be That County
Sheriff Or A Local PD From Another Town, Late At Night!
Knowing Dam Well! I Got Upwards of 20
More Minutes, Before Another Police Unit Might Show Up, To Back Me
Up!
Sincerely Chris Kenoyer
Rushlau and others testified before the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee as it considered a bill brought forward by citizen initiative.
The bill, L.D. 975, adds conditions that a physician can prescribe marijuana; creates a voluntary identification card for qualified patients; and allows nonprofit dispensaries, which would make access to marijuana easier for patients who have a doctor's permission.
Jonathan Leavitt, who spoke on behalf of Maine Citizens for Patients' Rights, said the bill addresses the biggest flaw in current state statute: access.
Current law allows those who are qualified to grow up to six plants, but he said many patients don't have the equipment or the permission of a landlord to cultivate the marijuana.
"People access it via the black market," he said.
Leavitt said more than 80,000 people signed the petition to put the new bill before the Legislature. He said he chose not to pack the hearing room with supporters and, instead, spoke on behalf of "the thousands of Maine residents" whom he said would benefit from medical marijuana.
"There is not a lot that could be added to the stories you have probably heard of: people with cancer using cannabis to lessen the pain of radiation treatments, or someone who was living HIV-positive using cannabis to simply allow them to eat," he said.
Yet law enforcement officials fear creating storefronts for medical marijuana would increase crime, traffic and noise, said Roy McKinney, director of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
"This legislation raises concerns for public health, safety and welfare of Maine citizens," he said.
In all likelihood, it will be up to voters in November to approve or reject the bill. Although it is now before a legislative committee, lawmakers typically reject citizen initiatives, putting them to a public vote.
The Health and Human Services Committee is scheduled to vote on the bill Wednesday.
Dave Wilkinson, of Harpswell, who has stage two prostate cancer and leukemia, has been authorized to use marijuana by two doctors.
However, he testified in opposition to the bill, saying he's worried about the names of patients ending up on a list if people sign up for a card.
"L.D. 975 treats a nontoxic herbal plant as if it were plutonium," he said. "Far more deadly are police harassment, employment problems and social stigma."
The Maine Medical Association did not take a formal position on the bill, but said it is not aware of complaints from physicians about misuse of the current law, said Andrew MacLean, deputy executive vice president of the association.
He said "most physicians" believe there are other prescription drugs that help address the conditions described by medical marijuana advocates.
While some physicians acknowledge that marijuana provides some relief sooner than some prescription medications, "most believe that the health risks of smoking outweigh the potential benefit," he said.
Yet Charles Wynott, who said medical marijuana helps control nausea caused by the pills he takes for HIV/AIDS, said people need safe access to medical marijuana.
"Please understand there are patients out there who need your help," he said.
Pubdate: Tue, 14 Apr 2009
Source: Morning Sentinel (Waterville, ME)
Copyright: 2009 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc
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