The Struggle We Face

The reason medical marijuana has not spread throughout the nation, is the same reason why states, like Maryland, that are attempting to pass medical marijuana laws are having such a hard time. Patients. While we may have a lot of support in our own lives in the end it is mainly patients that come to hearings to testify. This is not meant to diminish the efforts of those who are not actually the patients in need. It is to say we need more of you, many, many more of you.

One of the leading organizations, dedicated to passing medical marijuana is Americans for Safe Access (ASA). It is led by a patient, Steph Sherer. Many of the people that I have met over the years from ASA are also patients. They are wonderful, compassionate people but they too are hurting.

The movement was born out of patients. We organize, form organizations, raise funds, and recruit healthy people to support medical marijuana. It is patients, family of patients and at the extreme, surviving family members that form the core of the medical marijuana movement.

In Maryland I have watched as the number of patients coming to testify, grow from one in 2007 (myself) to the 15 or so that testified in 2010, to over 30 this year. This is to their credit that they would take the time come, testify, and endure the pain and fatigue, which inevitably comes as a result of their efforts. During the same time period the number of people coming to testify against has remained very low. Patients come because they know that they are not criminals and they are tired of being considered as such under Maryland and federal law.

Delegate Dr. Dan Morhaim and Sen. David Brinkley both have said for two years that their intent is to “get the sick and dying off the battlefield of the war on drugs.” I am asking that healthy, able-bodied citizens who support us to join the struggle. We need help to keep sick and dying out of the legislative hearing rooms across the nation and home taking care of themselves.

The Delegate and Senator Brinkley and bill co-sponsor Senator Raskin continue to work behind the scenes to salvage something to improve on Maryland’s medical marijuana law. Their legislation (HB 291 & SB 308) is in danger of falling short again. These three men are working hard championing the rights of sick and dying patients. Just yesterday thanks to the work of Senators Raskin and Brinkley an amended version of SB 308 passed in the Judicial Proceedings Committee.

The revamped bill does two things. First it amends Darrell Putnam Compassionate Use act so that medicinal use of marijuana would be a true affirmative defense. Currently the way the law is written it is merely a mitigating circumstance a judge can take into consideration when sentencing. Under the new law if medicinal neccessity is proven, than the defendant is NOT GUILTY. Currently you have to first plead guilty before medical use even comes into question.

Second the law sets up a study commission to look at how or if Maryland should allow medicinal use of marijuana. Details on how the study will work have not been announced. I will update this story when more information becomes available. I am also waiting for a call back from Del. Morhaim's Chief of Staff to find out what is happening on the sister bill HB 291, will update.

I urge everyone who supports a patient’s right to use marijuana to relieve, their nausea, lack of appetite, muscle spasms, severe and chronic pain, to write their delegates, senators, and Gov. O’Malley and tell them so. Tell them that the criminal penalties for the medicinal use of marijuana have to end, in 2011. Do not force these patients to endure one more cold, windy, rainy day to come to Annapolis to fight for rights already codified under 2003’s Darrell Putnam Compassionate Use Act.