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Medical Marijuana News Update
The Coalition
for Medical Marijuana includes:
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Connecticut House Passes Medical Marijuana BillThe Connecticut State House of Representatives approved legislation allowing patients in need to have access to medical marijuana. The Journal-Inquirer reported on May 24, 2007 ("Medical Marijuana Scores House Win") that "The fight to legalize marijuana use for medicinal purposes scored a big win Wednesday when it cleared the House of Representatives by 31 votes. The measure, which now heads to the Senate, was approved 89-58 after more than six hours of debate. 'We have the opportunity to give relief to Connecticut residents who are sick, who are dying, who are wasting away, who are losing their quality of life,' Rep. Penny Bacchiochi, R-Somers, said. 'And we can tell those Connecticut residents that the state of Connecticut no longer will prosecute you.' Over the past five years, Bacchiochi has become the legislature's leading advocate for legalizing marijuana use for those suffering from certain illnesses and injuries that cause prolonged, debilitating pain, such as cancer and multiple sclerosis." According to the Journal-Inquirer, "Wednesday's win in the House might give legalization advocates their best chance yet of changing the law. In 2003, the House rejected a bill to legalize medicinal use by 15 votes. One year later advocates gained a small win when a legalization amendment narrowly was approved in the House, but the bill it was attached to subsequently was scrapped and never escaped that chamber. The marijuana legalization debate took a different route in 2005, starting in the Senate, which approved a bill by two votes. The House never took it up. If Senate approval can be obtained for the measure before the 2007 legislative session ends June 6, the bill would go to Gov. M. Jodi Rell's desk." The Journal-Inquirer noted that "Rell said she hasn't decided whether to sign the measure, and made it clear she has some concerns with the bill as it currently stands. If the bill limited marijuana use to terminally ill patients, 'everyone would feel better about the language,' Rell said. But the governor quickly added she has mixed emotions, noting that many people have watched a family member or other loved one suffer from a painful illness. 'You would do anything in your power to alleviate that pain,' Rell said."
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