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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 14, 2002

Vermont Medical Marijuana Bill Headed for Showdown

MONTPELIER, VERMONT -- The Vermont Senate today passed a medical marijuana bill that would allow seriously ill patients arrested for using medical marijuana to present an affirmative defense in court. The bill, which passed 22-7, is a watered-down version of a more comprehensive bill passed by the House on March 15. The House bill would remove the threat of arrest and allow patients to grow their own marijuana with the approval of their physicians.

The House must now accept or reject the Senate's weak bill.

House members have openly criticized the Senate bill for failing to adequately protect people suffering from cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and other serious illnesses. The House bill's sponsor, Rep. David Zuckerman (P-Burlington), told the Rutland Herald he was concerned that the Senate bill would "force patients to go to drug dealers," and House Judiciary Chairwoman Margaret Flory (R-Pittsford) noted, "I'm not sure I could support something that took the doctors out of the loop."

If the House rejects the Senate bill, then both bills would go to a House/Senate conference committee to work out a final version to present to Governor Howard Dean (D).

Dean, whose opposition to medical marijuana has diminished throughout the legislative session, is said to favor the weaker Senate version of the bill.

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin (D-Windham), who appoints three conference committee members from the Senate, will be the deciding factor in determining which bill the conference committee ultimately favors. With very little time left in the legislative session, the bill may die in conference.

"Vermont's representatives and senators have made it clear that they believe seriously ill people should have access to medical marijuana," said Billy Rogers, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project. "No one wants patients arrested for the simple act of taking their medicine. The House must stand behind its strong medical marijuana bill."

Eight states -- Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington -- have enacted measures legalizing the medical use of marijuana by patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, and other serious illnesses.

"Passing the House bill should be a no-brainer," said Rogers. "The people -- and legislators -- of Vermont support medical marijuana, and there's just no reason to compromise the strong protection offered by the House bill."

The Marijuana Policy Project works to minimize the harm associated with marijuana -- both the consumption of marijuana and the laws that are intended to prohibit such use.

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