AEGiS-WashBlade: HEALTH: Md. House approves medical marijuana bill Washington BladeImportant note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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HEALTH: Md. House approves medical marijuana bill

Washington Blade - April 5, 2002
Kara Fox

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Maryland House of Delegates approved a medical marijuana bill March 24 that would allow physicians to prescribe marijuana for patients with a debilitating disease. The measure also allows medical necessity as a defense in court for people charged with possession or use of marijuana.

Under the legislation, people who successfully used that defense would face a maximum penalty of a $100 fine. If approved, the law would allow physicians to discuss the use of marijuana as a viable medical option for patients with cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS or a chronic or debilitating disease.

Smoking marijuana is known to stimulate the appetite and suppress nausea, which are often symptoms of those diseases or their treatments. The amount of marijuana that patients could posses at one time could not exceed three ounces.

"People will not go to jail, and that was the priority," said Del. Donald E. Murphy (R-Baltimore County), the bill's main sponsor. The measure passed by an 80-56 vote in the House. The Senate Judicial Proceedings committee was scheduled to hold a hearing on the bill Wednesday, April 3.

E-mail The Washington Blade Copyright - 2002 The Washington Blade Inc. This article appeared in the issue of: April 5, 2002


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