Group hopes ‘pot’ passes smoke test

It says 60% of state lawmakers favor legislation on medical use

— A group that wants to legalize medical marijuana said Wednesday that a majority of lawmakers support their cause, but none is willing to put his name on a bill to make it legal under state law.

Arkansans for Medical Cannabis spokesman Robert Reed of Dennard said at a news conference in the Capitol rotunda that 60 percent of Arkansas lawmakers told him they would approve legislation to decriminalize the use of marijuana for medical reasons.

Using marijuana with or without a prescription would remain illegal under federal law. Some states have gone ahead with legalizing medical use because of a 2010 memo from the U.S. Justice Department that suggested the Obama administration wouldn’t prosecute marijuana users who are following state marijuana laws.

At least two House members and Sen. Randy Laverty, D-Jasper, said they would pursue some kind of medical marijuana legislation this session, Reed said.

“We’re putting them between a rock and a hard place,” Reed said. “It’s time to put up or shut up.”

Laverty backed away from the possibility when he spoke to reporters Wednesday.

“I don’t know, I haven’t decided. Frankly, if I beat my head against the wall in the Senate and we do have the votes to get it out of committee and it gets out of the chamber it would do us very little good - other than exposure to the issue - for it to go down to the House and fail,” Laverty said.

He said he will wait to hear if House members support it. He said the bill should start on that side of the building because it faces a bigger hurdle there.

“Anytime you have something that’s potentially this controversial... you have to give pause,” Laverty said. “If my counterparts in the House think the votes are there then I expect they’ll file the bill.”

Reed said he was still optimistic a lawmaker would step forward.

According to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, 15 states have a provision in their laws that allows the use of marijuana to treat certain illnesses.

Gov. Mike Beebe wants the Legislature to OK bills that would stem the growth of Arkansas’ prison population. Reed said not punishing people for medical use of marijuana is one way to do that.

“Right now we’re crucifying seniors and veterans,” Reed said. “You’re worried about prison overcrowding? Get rid of people in there for cannabis.”

Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample said the governor hasn’t identified which ideas he will support but “the proposals that we are looking at for prison reform do not involve decriminalizing any current offense.”

Legislation to decriminalize medical use of marijuana hasn’t gotten far in the past. Bills introduced in 2001 and 2003 did not make it out of the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

Attempts to bring the issue directly to voters has failed twice in the past decade because supporters haven’t gathered enough signatures.

Reed said they don’t have the money to launch a statewide signature-gathering campaign.

Front Section, Pages 5 on 01/13/2011

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