[IVY]

Blais, Raptakis Explain Medical Marijuana Qualms
Posted by CN Staff on May 25, 2005 at 22:15:30 PT
By Justin Sayles
Source: Kent County Times

Providence, R.I. -- Coventry's senatorial delegation has a few misgiving about the proposal to legalize the use of marijuna for medical purposes.
Sens. Leo Blais (R-Dist 24) and Leonidas "Lou" Raptakis (D-Dist. 33) cast the sole dissenting votes against a medical marijuana bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. The bill, which would protect patients suffering from diseases such as AIDS and cancer from prosecution, was passed by the committee 7-2. The bill now moves to the full Senate for a vote.

In an interview Tuesday, Blais said that approving the bill would send the "wrong message." Blais, who owns Pawtuxet Valley Prescription & Surgical Center, said that the legislation gives the impression that the General Assembly is condoning the use of a substance illegal under federal statues -- a substance he said has "no accepted medical value."

Also, before he would jump on board with studies showing that medical marijuana can be beneficial, Blais said that he would like to see studies of the long-term side effects that the drug can have on the population as a whole.

Marijuana, he said, impairs fertility and is a fat-soluble substance, meaning once you use the drug, your system is never completely clear of its traces.

Blais also worries about marijuana's distinction as a "gateway drug" and the perception that the drug could lead people to use more serious illegal substances. Making it OK for older people to possess the drug would mean it may be around children.

"Kids steal cigarettes from their parents, why wouldn't they steal joints?" Blais said. "What kind of message does that send?"

Raptakis' line of reasoning was different. In a separate interview, he said that he "supports the concept" of using marijuana for treatment, but opposed the bill.

Rather than allowing Rhode Island residents to posses the substance, the state should work with the federal government to make its medical use legal, Raptakis said.

That way, rather than have patients possess the drug on their own, they could receive a doctor's prescription for it, he said.

Raptakis also had issues with enforcement of the law, stating that it was impossible to know if the marijuana was staying in the hands of the person it was prescribed to. He also did not like provisions in the bill which exempted registered patients from driving under the influence penalties.

"I know there's a need and we need to address it, but it needs to be under supervision," Raptakis said.

Ten states currently have effective medical marijuana laws protecting patients and their caregivers from arrest and imprisonment, including: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

Source: Kent County Times (RI)
Author: Justin Sayles
Published: May 26, 2005
Copyright: 2005 Kent County Daily Times
Contact: kceditor@ricentral.com
Website: http://www.kentcountytimes.com/