ND likely to debate medical marijuana proposal

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota voters are likely to have a chance this fall to decide whether marijuana may be used legally as a pain reliever, an option the Legislature has never addressed and that South Dakotans have rejected twice.

Supporters of medical marijuana have been circulating a citizen initiative to put the issue on the November ballot. On Monday, Dave Schwartz, campaign director for a pro-medical marijuana group called North Dakotans for Compassionate Care, delivered petitions that he said contained about 20,000 signatures to North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger's office.

The petitions need about 13,500 signatures from North Dakota voters for the initiative to qualify for a vote. Jaeger has about a month to review the petitions and decide whether they are valid.

The measure would allow someone who suffers from cancer, glaucoma, post-traumatic stress disorder and other debilitating illnesses to use marijuana if a doctor recommends it.

Medical marijuana users could grow a limited supply for their own use, and possess up to 2? ounces of pot for medical reasons, the measure says.

People who needed to obtain the drug would do so from a state-licensed dispensary, with the North Dakota Health Department given regulatory responsibility over medical marijuana.

Terry Dwelle, the Health Department's chief administrator, was traveling Monday and not immediately available to comment about the measure, a spokeswoman said. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said he will not comment unless the measure is approved for the ballot.

Seventeen states, including Montana, have laws that allow for medical uses of marijuana, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a Denver organization that collects data on the subject. An 18th state, Maryland, allows someone who is charged with using or possessing marijuana to offer a defense that it was for medical reasons.

South Dakota voters have rejected medical marijuana initiatives twice. In 2006, 52 percent of South Dakota voters opposed the idea; in 2010, the "No" faction grew to 63 percent.

Schwartz said he believed public attitudes on the medical use of marijuana have changed in favor of those who advocate it.

Many people know someone who has suffered from chronic pain, a debilitating disease or cancer chemotherapy, and marijuana can be useful in relieving pain and nausea, he said Monday.

"Some of the myths that we often hear is that, this is only for people to just go ahead and get high, and that's not the case," Schwartz said. "This is about medical patients that would benefit greatly from it."

[silence1956]

I am a 56 year old woman who has suffered such severe pain that it isnt even describable due to spinal conditions and other health illnesses. I tried Mariquana only twice in my life many years ago, not even sure why, but because i was offered it, and found it created such nausea for me, i never tampered with it again. In the past ten years, the pain as severe as has been, has caused for me, to be unable to enjoy my life as others would never experience. I am on tons of pain medications daily ( Narcotics) which have also been hard on me and I would like to see Mariquana legalized for those who need it. Yes ! of course their would be more recreational use than true medical need but every other drug is the same way. What difference would it really be. Alcohol is legal and causes the majority of troubles in every possible manner. Maybe the mariquana coming in illegally from Mexico would surely lessen if we grew our own hwere in America, and less money spent on arresting over the border drugs tremendously. Hemp used for many things would be a positive. Marijuana will be a part of the American culture whether legal or not so why not just make it at least legal for those who could gain less with it,LIKE PAIN ! The interferance of the government is sickening when the states themselves can make the decisions . They will no doubt receive a good prtion of it anyway . Physicians have seen the positive results so are we to trust in government to secure our medical care or doctors? ND is behind in everything. Legalize Medical Mariquana and allow the people and doctors to decide what is best for a patient.

[knowa2]

The most patriotic thing we can do as American is to expose the fraud of Prohibition and to hold those accountable for perpetuating these Treasonous Evils the DEA is doing has done and will do to keep their jobs.

[Paulpots12]

The more states that allow for medical marijuana the more states liberalize there laws and for a very simple reason.
Once the people get to see who is smoking and what it does to them they realize there is no big deal, nothing to be afraid of unless of course you are the DEA.
They have a lot to be afraid of. They are going to be out of a job soon. They may even find themselves on the stand for corruption.
Absolutely nothing will stop marijuana being legalized no matter what anyone says because every day it is becoming clear to more and more people that prohibition is a total lie.
There is going to be a lot of ballot initiatives at the election this year and a lot of them could pass. This is the big year for drug law reform.
Vote for legal marijuana in Colorado, Oregon and Washington.
Vote for medical Marijuana in Massachusetts, Montana and hopefully Arkansas and North Dakota.
Legalize! Apologize! Compensate! Prosecute the perpetrators!

[pvplacid]

Hard to believe any state would buy into the hoax of "medical" marijuana at this point. These laws are all about recreational use of marijuana, primarily by kids. The feds are shutting down marijuana programs all over the country. Not only do these dumb laws create chaos, increase crime, increase teen drug use, and drain state economies, they're illegal. (You can't tax it -- the feds can seize tax revenues!) The ATF, DEA, DOJ, IRS and FCC are attacking these programs in a coordinated fashion. And, the lawsuits are flying! Just Google the words "medical marijuana" along with the name of any state that already has been scammed into passing one of these laws (for instance, Montana, California, Colorado, Arizona) and read what's going on -- the people are trying hard to get rid of these dumb laws! It's a scam! Steer clear!

[knowa2]

you must have your snout in the prohibition trough or your still suffering from the effects of yellow journalism fraud and lies.

[cnetisdumb]

A hoax and a scam huh? How about corrupt self-perpetiating law enforcement agencys lobbying to keep prohibition in place? Who do you work for pvplacid?

[knowa2]

Exiled Canadian Rick Simpson now living some where in Europe who perfected a home remedy similar to a medicinal cannabis tincture describe in the 17 pages cannabis medicine of 1936 American Pharmacopoeia prior to its removal by prohibitionist pressures. Rick Simpson Hemp oil should be made open for transparent independent research. And the State of North Dakota would be perfect for growing this type of plant a long with high CBD's strains, for it take a pound of Indica bud to make a few ounce. Google Run from the Cure

[kevin_hunt]

Quoting Newt Gingrich: "On September 16, 1981, Representatives Stewart McKinney and I introduced legislation designed to end bureaucratic interference in the use of marijuana as a medicant. We believe licensed physicians are competent to employ marijuana, and patients have a right to obtain marijuana legally, under medical supervision, from a regulated source". Source: The Journal of the American Medical Association, March 19, 1982;247(11)