Medical Marijuana: First Kansas Bill Introduced
In a historic step, the Kansas Healthcare Strategies Committee voted Monday to introduce the state's first medical marijuana bill. The bill, titled the Medical Marijuana Defense Act, would allow legitimate medical marijuana patients arrested for pot possession to raise their medical use as "defense to prosecution."
Under the bill, people arrested for possession could present a written certification from their physicians to defend themselves in court. Out-of-state medical marijuana cards and registrations would not be a valid defense. The bill also includes protections for physicians who recommend medical marijuana to their patients.
Robert Stephan, KSCCC press conference, August 2007
Green requested that the committee introduce the bill, and that request was approved on a voice vote with only one representative dissenting.
"This is simply an issue of compassion," said Green.
"It costs a lot of money to introduce a bill," complained Sen. Vicki Schmidt (R-Topeka), the sole no vote. She added that the bill violates federal law -- it does not -- and that it would be difficult to ensure each patient used the same amount of marijuana.
The bill is now at the State Revisor's Office, where it will be formatted and given a bill number. That should take about a week. After that, look for hearings sometime next month.
digg
redditThank you Kansas for listening to the medically needy
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 02/22/2008 - 1:11amThe senator from Topeka needs to do some research. I don't hold a public office, but I know that there are states out there who have medical cards for persons to buy and even grow marijuana for their medical needs. Look at California for one.
I have a son with neurofibromatosis with tumors all over his body. Internally and externally. He is on all sorts of medication to help with the pain. He has a tumor in his spinal cord and one on the front of his brain and all sorts of tumors on his legs, nerves of his back and neck. Not to mention he has asthma. I had a mother who died from being an alcholic and I personally would call the police and have her picked up if I knew she was out driving drunk. So I am not saying that everyone should be able to use marijuana. I just know that taking pills can damage other parts of your body, so what is so wrong about using something that nature gave to us. We use the plant to make cloth and other things so why not for medicine.
Thank you Kansas for listening o the medically needy.
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 02/22/2008 - 1:16amThank you Bob Stephan and Laura Green.
Sorry, I didn't mean to leave my name from my previous comment.
Cheryl Brittain-Tillemans
buds
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 6:10amlegalize the plant quit bullshitting people out of their rights to take what whatever helps them the best with their problems
ryan vangdy
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sat, 05/23/2009 - 12:05amlegalize the dam green tree so we could live our lives with out back pain and so on. bud has help me with my back pain without it. my back pain comes back even worse then befor that's why i won't quit smoking that good tree. thank you for reading this note, i hope u legalize the bud
Marjinize Legauana
Comment posted by Anonymous on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 2:32ampersonally i think they should legalize it completely so there arent any more problems with people paying thousands and going to jail. Also, medically a doctor can perscribe all the meds he wants but in the end only the person can tell what works and what doesent, so if a person smokes some weed and is in less pain than what they were in before, then they should have every right to smoke it wenever they want!
Personally i have smoked marijuana (illegally) but with good cause. I only smoke right after i have a migrain to calm the agonizing headaches the torment me when i make suddle movements or get up to fast.
THANK YOU KANSAS
Comment posted by Anonymous on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 11:32pmAs far as I know, no one died last year from marijuanna overdose, but went to two funnerals year before for perscription overdoses, on seriously ill people, not drug addicts...
..."it would be difficult to
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sat, 02/02/2008 - 12:34am..."it would be difficult to ensure each patient used the same amount of marijuana."
Does this Senator think that all pain patients should be treated with the exact dosage of pain medication? How about high blood pressure drugs? Would she mandate the exact same "chemo" chemicals for all cancer patients? WTF?!
Where exactly does she come by her medical expertise?