Montel Williams & Maryland Mmj.

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Montel Williams Seeks Medical Marijuana BillPosted by CN Staff on January 24, 2011 at 19:54:00 PT

By The Associated Press

Source: Associated Press

 

Maryland -- Former talk show host Montel Williams urged lawmakers on Monday to legalize medical marijuana in Maryland, saying the drug is the only thing that alleviates neuropathic pain he has suffered for years because of multiple sclerosis. The 54-year-old Baltimore native was flanked by lawmakers from both parties who support the legislation.

 

"Marijuana may not work for everyone, but what it has done for me is it's given me my life back," Williams said, his voice wavering as he tearfully spoke about his condition at a news conference.

 

Williams, a Baltimore native and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy blocks from the Maryland State House, said he has been living with neuropathic pain in his lower extremities, face and side for 10 years. Opiates, he said, don't work for him anymore.

 

Williams was cited recently for possession of drug paraphernalia at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee after authorities found he had a pipe commonly used for marijuana as he passed through a security checkpoint. Williams said he paid a fine, and he plans to have an attorney fight the citation in three days.

 

"I'm right now the poster child and in a lot of places a lot of people are looking for somebody to make an example of to prove a point," Williams said. "All I'm trying to do is live."

 

Williams, who now lives in New York which doesn't have a medical marijuana law, told The Associated Press that he is a "card-carrying member" in two states that allow marijuana to be used for medicinal purposes. But he declined to comment in detail about where he buys it.

 

The Maryland Senate passed a bill last year to allow physician-approved use of marijuana, but members of the House of Delegates wanted more time to study the idea.

 

Last year's measure would have allowed pharmacies to distribute marijuana to patients who receive authorization from a physician. It also would have re-categorized marijuana as a highly regulated pain medication like morphine instead of keeping it in the same category of drugs as heroin.

 

Delegate Dan Morhaim, D-Baltimore County, said he plans to submit similar legislation again this year.

 

Morhaim, a physician, said the bill will be similar to last year's measure with some recommendations added by a House work group that examined the proposal. The recommendations include tightening rules on who physicians would recommend its use and making sure fees are adequately collected to support the program. Morhaim described the changes as relatively minor.

 

"We're attempting to put this in as close a model to how other controlled and dangerous substances that I prescribe every day when I'm in practice," Morhaim said.

 

In 2003, Maryland approved a law limiting sentencing to a $100 fine for people who use marijuana if they have a medical excuse. But critics of that law say it still drives people whose pain could be alleviated by marijuana into alleys to buy from drug dealers.

 

"The first thing we want to do is to replace the drug pusher-patient relationship with the doctor-patient relationship," said Sen. Jamie Raskin, D-Montgomery, who said his recent experience with colon cancer has redoubled his belief that marijuana should be available for medicinal purposes.

 

Sen. David Brinkley, R-Frederick, underscored last year's bipartisan support in the Senate for creating a tightly crafted law to enable sick people to get relief.

 

"We've come full circle to join hands on this issue," Brinkley said.

 

Fifteen states and the District of Columbia have approved a medical marijuana law.

 

Source: Associated Press (Wire)

Published: Monday, January 24, 2011

Copyright: 2011 The Associated Press

 

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