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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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US CO: Voters Will Decide Fate Of Medical Marijuana
ccguide Monday 17 Jul 2000 Pubdate: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 Source: Gazette, The (CO) Copyright: 2000 The Gazette Contact: Address: Tell it to The Gazette, P.O.Box 1779, Colorado Springs CO 809 01 Fax: (719) 636-0202 Website: http://www.gazette.com/ Author: Associated Press VOTERS WILL DECIDE FATE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA DENVER - Ror Poliac hopes he is the last man prosecuted in Colorado for growing marijuana for use as a pain reliever. The 43-year-old Poliac, who has multiple sclerosis, says he smokes a little marijuana at night, to help him sleep. "I have spasticity in my legs. There are times when I can't even bend my legs, and it's hard to get into bed," he said. That illegal habit could cost him two to six years in jail, but Poliac doesn't think that's going to happen. He says he just can't imagine a jury looking at him, in his wheelchair, with his colostomy bag, and deciding he should be in jail. This November, Colorado voters will vote on whether to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. Proponents say the change makes sense - marijuana is less dangerous and less addictive than other drugs, like morphine, that doctors prescribe legally. Opponents say there is a big difference - people like Poliac still couldn't get a prescription, precisely filled out by a pharmacist. Instead, they'd still have to grow their own or buy off the street uncertain doses of an unproven, potentially dangerous drug. California passed a similar measure in 1996, which has resulted in frequent clashes as federal authorities insist it remains illegal. In Poliac's case, the Arapahoe County district attorney's office offered to bump the charges down to a misdemeanor - if Poliac agreed to stop using marijuana for the length of his probation. But Poliac said he can't do that. Besides, he and his attorney, Warren Edson, want a trial. They want to make a statement about Colorado's marijuana laws. And until the trial was delayed this month, they were hoping to make that statement in time to sway voters. Proponents tried to get the medical marijuana measure passed in 1998, but then-Secretary of State Vikki Buckley said they had not gathered the required 54,242 signatures. As the legal wrangling dragged on, the question remained on the ballot, but the results were not tallied. Even without the outcome of Poliac's trial to digest, voters will hear plenty of messages this fall, some factual, many just designed to tug at their heartstrings or play on their fears. Like the battles over abortion or gay rights, the war over medical marijuana is often waged on an emotional front. - --- MAP posted-by: greg
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