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   From: fbspi@optonline.net   
      
   Senate Approves Medical Marijuana   
    19-15 Vote Sends Bill To Aid Chronically Ill People To The House   
   June 4, 2005   
   By BILL LEUKHARDT, Courant Staff Writer   
      
         A bill legalizing marijuana as a treatment for chronically ill people   
   was passed 19-15 early this morning by the state Senate after a 90-minute   
   debate.   
      
         "We do not have the knowledge to make this decision," said Sen.   
   George Gunther, R-Stratford, who stressed that physicians are divided on   
   the medical benefits of marijuana. "I think we should table it, go home and   
   go to bed."   
      
         But supporters prevailed. The bill must be approved by the House and   
   signed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell to become law. She has not said whether she   
   will sign it.  A similar bill was passed last year by the House, but it   
   died in the Senate.   
      
         Under the bill, patients would need a doctor's certificate verifying   
   that use of marijuana would ease a debilitating condition.  Once patients   
   received that certificate, they would have to register with the state   
   Department of Consumer Protection before they could grow or use medical   
   marijuana.   
      
         Licensed people could grow four plants in a secure indoor setting and   
   keep 1 ounce of marijuana for personal, medical use. They could not use   
   marijuana near anyone under age 18.   
      
         "This proposal would relieve a patient and a caregiver from fear of   
   federal prosecution for medical marijuana," Sen. Andrew McDonald,   
   D-Stamford, said.  The bill would not decriminalize marijuana, he said.  He   
   and other supporters said some people suffering from cancer, glaucoma,   
   AIDS, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis already use marijuana to   
   relieve chronic pain, nausea and other conditions.   
      
         Some of these patients testified this spring about the fear they have   
   of prosecution for growing and using marijuana - a drug the state ruled 25   
   years ago that doctors could prescribe to patients.   
      
         "But not one script has been written since then because of the fear   
   of prosecution," McDonald said. "This proposal would remove that threat.   
   There are 11 other states that already have similar laws."   
      
         During the debate, some senators said the bill raises risks and   
   questions.  What about the elderly poor, living in a senior housing   
   complex, Sen. Thomas Colapietro, D-Plymouth, said.   
         "Where are they going to grow four plants? In their bathrooms?" he   
   asked.   
      
         Sen. Catherine Cook, R-Mystic, said various medical studies conclude   
   that smoked marijuana is a crude medical delivery system at best and that   
   inhaled marijuana does not have a valid role in treating chronic diseases.   
      
         "We're talking about approving the inhaling of a legal substance at   
   the same time we're telling our children `don't smoke,'" said Sen. Judith   
   Freedman, R-Westport. She called the bill a guise to allow people access to   
   an illegal drug.   
      
         But Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, who had opposed legalized medical   
   marijuana for the first 11 of his 13 years in the legislature, said he now   
   supports it.   
      
         What changed his stance were the many calls he got the past two years   
   from people who told him of the relief marijuana gave to the sick and the   
   fear they have about breaking the law.   
      
         "For a small percentage of people, medical marijuana can be the   
   difference between life and death," Kissel said. "When a person is staring   
   into the abyss, when all the chips are on the table, at that point we need   
   to allow them this other option."   
      
      
      
      
      
      
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