Medical Marijuana's Moment (from TomPaine.com)

[marmar]

Medical Marijuana's Moment
Rob Kampia
March 20, 2007


Rob Kampia is executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C.

On March 14, New Mexico's state legislature assured that New Mexico will become the 12th state to allow seriously ill patients to use medical marijuana without fear of arrest. It also proved that the medical marijuana movement—based on science, compassion and plain common sense—is now unstoppable.

The New Mexico bill isn't law yet, but there isn't much left that could stop it. Not only did it pass both houses of the legislature by solid margins (the vote in the state Senate was an astonishing 32-3), Gov. Bill Richardson is a longtime supporter, so his signature—which could come any day now—is assured.

Indeed, the most noteworthy aspect of the bill's passage may be how little controversy there was. Medical marijuana legislation was supported by a broad coalition that included the New Mexico Public Health Association and the New Mexico Nurses Association.

The governor, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, hailed passage of the measure with a statement saying, "This bill will provide much-needed relief for New Mexicans suffering from debilitating diseases while including the proper safeguards to prevent abuse.” He called medical marijuana "a humane option for New Mexicans who endure some of the most painful diseases imaginable.” ....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/03/20/medical_marijuanas_moment.php

[SpiralHawk]

1. Thank you, NM. My wife contracted cancer back in 1999...

She was someone who had no use for marijuana. She was a Harvard Magna Cum Laude, with two Masters degrees, and a Ph.D. She did not ever want to cloud her mind. But at age 58, suffering the ravages and extreme discomfort of cancer and chemotherapy and radiation, a friend brought her some pot to see if it would help. It did. It eased her pain, eliminated her nausea so she could eat, and gave her peace of mind.

I felt so much gratitude toward that natural plant, and the healing medicine it offered to my wife of 25 years. It was a tremendous aid to her. So now I am glad that other citizens will have legal access to a profoundly healing plant medicine. Only a callous idiot would keep this natural, healing, and helpful plant from someone who was sick or dying.