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SUN/MON PROMO |
Web Promo |
Hello/Intro |
Key: Community Politics / Government |
HB 442 Medical Marijuana |
Key: Crime / Legal Issues/ Law Enforcement |
Thanks/Goodbye |
Key: Health / Health Care |
SUN/MON PROMOReturn to index of stories... |
Track: Should NH legalize Medical Marijuana? Last month, the NH House said yes. Now, it's up to the state Senate. |
Hello/Intro Return to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to NH Outlook. Will New Hampshire become the 16th state to legalize medical marijuana? It's a very real possibility. In March, the NH House overwhelmingly passed HB442 which would allow patients with a variety of illnesses to possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana. We'll cover both sides of the issue in a moment but first, let's hear some of the testimony given at the hearing before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. |
HB 442 Medical MarijuanaReturn to index of stories... |
AND JOINING ME AT THE STATE LIBRARY IN CONCORD ARE: REP. EVALYN MERRICK, PRIME SPONSOR FOR HB442; KIRK MCNEIL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NH COMPASSION; KARIN ECKEL, NH ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND RICHARD CRATE, ENFIELD POLICE CHIEF AND MEMBER OF THE NH CHIEFS OF POLICE DRUG ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE. WELCOME ALL. 1: REP. MERRICK - YOUR SUPPORT FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS A VERY PERSONAL ISSUE - HOW DID MEDICAL MARIJUANA CHANGE YOUR LIFE? 2: CHIEF CRATE - WOULDN'T THIS MAKE YOUR LIFE SIMPLER? I RECALL A NIGHT I SPENT WITH LACONIA POLICE - AND NEARLY EVERY CALL WAS ALCOHOL-RELATED.. 3: KARIN ECKEL - YOU'VE BEEN ON THIS CASE FOR A FEW YEARS - SINCE IT KEEPS COMING UP. WHAT IS THE BASIS FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO OPPOSE MEDICAL MARIJUANA? 4: TO THE BILL ITSELF. SOME RATHER STRONG FINDINGS - AMONG THEM: MARIJUANA HAS MANY CURRENTLY ACCEPTED MEDICAL USES, HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THOUSANDS OF LICENSED PHYSICIANS TO MORE THAN A HALF MILLION PATIENTS. RECOGNIZED BY THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, THE AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION - IT GOES ON. DOESN'T THIS SEEM LIKE A TIDAL WAVE OF PROFESSIONAL OPINION? 5: AND WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC OPINION, 2008 MASON-DIXON POLL SHOWED THAT 71% OF NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS SUPPORT ALLOWING SERIOUSLY ILL PATIENTS TO USE AND GROW DOCTOR-RECOMMENDED MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR PERSONAL USE. A UNH SURVEY CENTER POLL IN 2009 SHOWED TWICE AS MUCH SUPPORT FOR CANDIDATES WHO FAVOR LEGALIZATION. 6: ANOTHER FINDING: FBI STATISTICS SHOWS THAT 99 OUT OF EVERY 100 MARIJUANA ARRESTS IN THE US ARE MADE UNDER STATE LAW, RATHER THAN UNDER FEDERAL LAW. REMOVE THE STATE LAW - AND WHAT HAPPENS? ADD TO THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER THAT THE FEDERAL GOVT. WOULD NO LONGER PROSECUTE AS OF LAST JULY, THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD PERMIT PATIENTS TO USE MEDICINAL MARIJUANA IN VA FACILITIES IN STATES THAT ALLOW IT. 7: SO - WHO IS ELIGIBLE? THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CATEGORIES OF QUALIFYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS. "CHRONIC OR TERMINAL DISEASE" I'LL READ SOME OFF: CANCER, GLAUCOMA, HIV POSITIVE STATUS, ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME, HEPATITIS C, AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS , MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY, CROHN'S DISEASE, AGITATION OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, OR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. SYMPTOMS INCLUDING: WASTING SYNDROME, SEVERE PAIN THAT HAS NOT RESPONDED TO OTHER TREATMENTS FOR MORE THAN 3 MONTHS, SEVERE NAUSEA, SEVERE VOMITING, SEIZURES, OR SEVERE, PERSISTENT MUSCLE SPASMS. THERE WOULD BE A DESIGNATED CAREGIVER FOR EACH PATIENT. ONE WHO PICKS IT UP AND ASSISTS - CANNOT HAVE ANY DRUG CONVICTIONS. 8: NO PATIENTS UNDER 18 EXCEPT WITH PERMISSION OF PARENT OR GUARDIAN DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP MUST BE AT LEAST 3 MONTHS OLD OUT OF STATE PATIENTS CAN USE NH JOB AND HOUSING PROTECTIONS WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE LAW 9: CHIEF CRATE: I LOOKED AT SOME STATS FOR NH - THE PERCENT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REPORTING DRUG US - BY THE 10TH GRADE - MORE THAN 40% HAVE USED MARIJUANA - BY THE 12TH GRADE - WELL OVER HALF. HOW WOULD A PRETTY CONTROLLED MEDICAL PROGRAM MAKE THE CURRENT ILLEGAL MARIJUANA USE ANY WORSE? 10: HERE'S A QUICK HIT FROM OUR PAST. DURING PROHIBITION FROM 1920 TO 1933, THE SALE OF ALCHOHOL WAS ILLEGAL. HOWEVER, A DOCTOR COULD PRESCRIBE IT FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES. HERE'S A PHOTO OF THE LIQUOR PRESCRIPTION PAD - HAD TO FILL IN LOT OF DETAILS INCLUDING WHAT KIND OF LIQUOR, THE QUANTITY, DIRECTIONS ON USE, EVERYBODY'S NAME…. AND AS WE ALL KNOW - THESE PRESCRIPTIONS WERE ABUSED. - HOW DO WE PREVENT THAT THIS TIME? 11: 15 STATES - INCLUDING OUR NEIGHBORS MAINE AND VERMONT - HAVE ALREADY DECRIMINALIZED MEDICAL MARIJUANA. IT HASN'T BEEN EASY. MAINE PASSED ITS FIRST LAW IN 1999 - IT TOOK UNTIL THIS YEAR FOR ITS FIRST DISPENSARY OPENED - IN FRENCHVILLE ON THE CANADIAN BORDER. TWO MORE ARE EXPECTED BY THE END OF APRIL - IN BIDDEFORD AND ELLSWORTH - AND ANOTHER IN AUBURN IN MAY. BEEN A LOT OF LOCAL OPPOSITION - MANY TOWNS PASSED MORATORIUMS. 12; DO A BIT OF MATH. IN 2008, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ESTIMATED THAT 42% OF AMERICANS HAVE USED MARIJUANA - NH'S POPULATION IS AGING - WHEN THE BOOMERS COME DOWN WITH THE AILMENTS - AND LOTS OF THEM HAVE ALREADY TRIED MARIJUANA - WELL - DO YOU SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS TO GET REALLY BIG? HTTP:/MRESOURCEID=000881EDICALMARIJUANA.PROCON.ORG/VIEW.RESOURCE.PHP? 13: ONE PROVISION: WHEN A QUALIFYING PATIENT DIES, THE FAMILY OR DESIGNATED CAREGIVER SHALL NOTIFY THE TREATMENT CENTER WITHIN 24 HOURS. SEEMS AWFUL FAST. CAN A PATIENT USE MEDICAL MARIJUANA IF THEY DON'T OWN THE PROPERTY - BUT RENT IT? STILL LIABLE FOR DWI CAN'T DO IT IN PUBLIC PLACE 14: WHERE TO SCORE: "AN ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT CENTER MAY ACQUIRE, POSSESS, CULTIVATE, MANUFACTURE, DELIVER, TRANSFER, TRANSPORT, SUPPLY, OR DISPENSE MARIJUANA, MARIJUANA PARAPHERNALIA, AND RELATED SUPPLIES." HOW? HOW DO THESE TREATMENT CENTERS GET GOING. THERE'S NO FISCAL NOTE ABOUT STATE SUBSIDIES… AN ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT CENTER MAY CULTIVATE AND POSSESS: 96 MARIJUANA PLANTS, 96 SEEDLINGS, AND 32 OUNCES OF USABLE MARIJUANA; OR 6 PLANTS, 6 SEEDLINGS, AND 2 OUNCES FOR EACH REGISTERED QUALIFYING PATIENT. YOU'LL NEED SECURITY MEASURES - WOULDN'T THE BEST-QUALIFIED APPLICANTS FOR A TREATMENT CENTER LICENCE BE - THOSE WHO ALREADY GROW IT OR HAVE GROWN IT ILLEGALLY? HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THIS WOULD COST? ONLY GOING TO START WITH 3 TREATMENT CENTERS - FOR THE WHOLE STATE? CAN ONLY GET A 10 DAY SUPPLY AT A TIME. IS THAT A HARDSHIP. CAN GET NARCOTIC PAINKILLERS IN 30 DAY OR MORE. HOW DO YOU GET AWAY FROM THE CHEECH AND CHONG EFFECT - THE SHEER FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE USED MARIJUANA WHAT KIND OF ADS WOULD BE PERMITTED? VOTE IN THE HOUSE WAS 221-96 - THAT IS OVERWHELMING. ANY EXPECTATION IN THE SENATE, GIVEN THAT A FAIRLY LIBERTARIAN GROUP OF REPUBLICANS ARE IN OFFICE? YOU HAD 5 REPUBLICAN AND 4 DEMOCRAT SPONSORS. NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE? |
Thanks/GoodbyeReturn to index of stories... |
THAT IS THE LAST WORD - FOR NOW. THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING PART. I'M RICHARD AGER. JOIN US AGAIN ON THE NEXT NH OUTLOOK. |
Web PromoReturn to index of stories... |
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Key: Community Politics / GovernmentReturn to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 4/15/2011 HOST: Richard Ager Length: 25:00 Hello. I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to NH Outlook. Will New Hampshire become the 16th state to legalize medical marijuana? It's a very real possibility. In March, the NH House overwhelmingly passed HB442 which would allow patients with a variety of illnesses to possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana. We'll cover both sides of the issue in a moment but first, let's hear some of the testimony given at the hearing before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Sen. Russell Forsythe\ District 4, John Wallace\NH Health & Human Services., David Woody\Navy Veteran, Karin Eckel\NH Asst. Attorney General, Richard Crate\Police Chief, Enfield, Rep. Evalyn Merrick\ Prime Sponsor, HB 442, Kirk McNeil\Executive Director, NHCompassion.org |
Key: Crime / Legal Issues/ Law EnforcementReturn to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 4/15/2011 HOST: Richard Ager Length: 25:00 Hello. I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to NH Outlook. Will New Hampshire become the 16th state to legalize medical marijuana? It's a very real possibility. In March, the NH House overwhelmingly passed HB442 which would allow patients with a variety of illnesses to possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana. We'll cover both sides of the issue in a moment but first, let's hear some of the testimony given at the hearing before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Sen. Russell Forsythe\ District 4, John Wallace\NH Health & Human Services., David Woody\Navy Veteran, Karin Eckel\NH Asst. Attorney General, Richard Crate\Police Chief, Enfield, Rep. Evalyn Merrick\ Prime Sponsor, HB 442, Kirk McNeil\Executive Director, NHCompassion.org |
Key: Health / Health CareReturn to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 4/15/2011 HOST: Richard Ager Length: 25:00 Hello. I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to NH Outlook. Will New Hampshire become the 16th state to legalize medical marijuana? It's a very real possibility. In March, the NH House overwhelmingly passed HB442 which would allow patients with a variety of illnesses to possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana. We'll cover both sides of the issue in a moment but first, let's hear some of the testimony given at the hearing before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Sen. Russell Forsythe\ District 4, John Wallace\NH Health & Human Services., David Woody\Navy Veteran, Karin Eckel\NH Asst. Attorney General, Richard Crate\Police Chief, Enfield, Rep. Evalyn Merrick\ Prime Sponsor, HB 442, Kirk McNeil\Executive Director, NHCompassion.org |