News for $MJNA - (Committee hears pros of medical marijuana) CHARLESTON, Mar 29, 2013 (The Dominion Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Eighteen people spoke in favor of the Compassionate Medical Marijuana Use Act of 2013 during a House Health and Human Resources Committee public hearing Thursday afternoon. No one spoke against it. Ken Robidoux, of Morgantown, is editor of an online literary magazine, a teacher and documentary filmmaker. He suffers from a seizure disorder and frontal lobe epilepsy. "It is about as horrible as you would expect," he said. "I'm a medical marijuana patient. This is what we look like." Prescription medications nearly killed him, he said, and put 200 pounds of weight on him. While several doctors recommended he try medical marijuana to alleviate his symptoms, he hesitated for a year. "I thought it was scary. I didn't want to be a pothead." But after collapsing and needing CPR two times, he decided to follow their advice. Robidoux has a medical cannabis card (the scientific term for marijuana) from California, where he lived for a time. "When you say yea to medical marijuana," he said, "you're saying yes to productive, normal members of society that just need a break." HB 2961, by Delegate Mike Manypenny, D-Taylor, with nine co-sponsors, sets up criteria to protect patients with debilitating medical conditions, their practitioners and providers from arrest and prosecution if patients engage in the medical use of marijuana. The bill creates the "Drug and Abuse Prevention Fund" to receive sales tax imposed on all sales of marijuana. The Department of Health and Human Resources would administer the provisions of the act. Terry Lively, 57, has suffered from multiple sclerosis for more than 20 years. Since 2000, she has self-injected interferon to relieve the MS symptoms, but the side effects, including suicidal thoughts, required her to also take a host of pain medications, anti-nausea medications and muscle relaxers that left her stupefied -- though legally able to drive. An artist, teacher and long-distance horse rider, the medications essentially left her little more than alive until a nurse recommended medical cannabis. The cannabis relieves the interferon side effects and some of the MS symptoms, and her life is back. She's written books produced videos, teaches and produces her art. Along with others, she told members that smoking joints isn't the only or best way to take medical cannabis. Tinctures and vaporizers can deliver the herbal drug without smoking. WVU graduate Matt Simon, now legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project, gave a short history. Cannabis was an accepted medical treatment in the U.S. from the mid-1800s until 1937 when the marijuana Tax Act led to its going off the medical books and eventually off the register of legal drugs. Emergency room physician Dr. Paul Clancy, from Spencer, said he's seen many cases of prescription drug abuse, but only four cases of marijuana problems, and none of those severe. "It is not a dangerous drug. It is much safer than opiates." It's even safer and far less toxic than milder medications such as the muscle relaxant flexeril or anti-inflammatory pain relievers. Don Smith, who runs a bamboo nursery called Grandview Gardens, highlighted some of the business advantages of legalizing medical marijuana. It will allow new businesses to start, enhance the tax base and reduce enforcement and incarceration costs. "This is pretty good news all around." Manypenny said he was pleased with the turnout and surprised no one spoke against it. "The output of support is beyond what I expected." Three years ago, when people approached him about sponsoring the bill, he thought, "That's c r a z y, " and would be political suicide. But as he studied the mounting evidence, he decided, "It doesn't matter. This is the right thing to do." Health committee chairman Don Perdue, D-Wayne, addressed the speakers from the podium, saying not long ago the seatbelt bill -- which passed Thursday -- was a nowhere bill. He encouraged them, "Don't lose your passion." After the hearing, he said that the testimony of one Iraq war veteran, who suffers from PTSD and other problems, helped sway him. The prescription medications did more harm than good, while medical cannabis eliminates his rage and anxiety and helps him sleep at night without terrifying dreams. But he risks his freedom by using it. The bill may not come out to the health committee, but Perdue said he could see an interim study on the topic. "Who can say?" The more information, the better.
