R023-9900
10 A RESOLUTION CONCERNING
20 THE PROTECTION OF SERIOUSLY ILL PEOPLE FROM ARREST AND
30 IMRISONMENT FOR USING MEDICAL MARIJUANA
40 WHEREAS: The National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine concluded, after
50 reviewing relevant scientific literature including dozens of works documenting
60 marijuana's therapeutic value, that there are some circumstances in which
70 smoking marijuana is a legitimate medical treatment; and,
80 WHEREAS: A scientific survey conducted in 1990 by Harvard University researchers found
90 that 54% of oncologists with an opinion favor the controlled medical availability
100 of marijuana, and 44% had already suggested at least once that a patient obtain
110 marijuana illegally; and,
120 WHEREAS: Tens of thousands of patients nationwide--people with AIDS, cancer, glaucoma,
130 chronic pain, and multiple sclerosis--have found marijuana in whole form to be
140 therapeutically beneficial and are already using it with their doctors' approval;
150 and,
160 WHEREAS: Numerous organizations have endorsed medical access to marijuana, including
170 the AIDS Action Council, American Bar Association, American Public Health
180 Association, American Society for Addiction Medicine, California Legislative
190 Council for Older Americans, California Medical Association, California Nurses
200 Association, California Pharmacists Association, California Society of Addiction
210 Medicine, California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church,
220 Colorado Nurses Association, Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, Lymphoma
230 Foundation of America, Multiple Sclerosis California Action Network (MS-
240 CAN), National Association of Attorneys General, National Association for
250 Public Health Policy, National Association of People With AIDS, National Black
260 Police Association, New England Journal of Medicine, New Mexico Nurses
270 Association, New York State Nurses Association, Virginia Nurses Association;
280 and,
290 WHEREAS: A scientific survey conducted in 1995 by Belden & Russonello (a Washington,
300 D.C.-based polling firm) indicated that 79% of U.S. voters support the idea of
310 "legaliz(ing) marijuana to relieve pain and for other medical uses if prescribed by
320 a doctor"; and,
330 WHEREAS: National public opinion polls conducted by ABC News, CBS News, the Family
340 Research Council, and the Gallup Organization between 1997 and 1999 found
350 substantial support for medical marijuana; and,
360 WHEREAS: Since 1996, medical marijuana initiatives received a majority of votes in every
370 state in which they appeared on the ballot--Alaska, Arizona, California,
380 Colorado, the District of Columbia, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington
390 state; and,
400 WHEREAS: On September 6, 1988, after reviewing all available medical data, the Drug
410 Enforcement Administration's chief administrative law judge, Francis L. Young,
420 declared that marijuana is "one of the safest therapeutically active substances
430 known" and recommended making marijuana available by prescription; and,
440 WHEREAS: The federal penalty for possessing one marijuana cigarette-even for medical use-
450 is up to one year in prison, and the penalty for growing one plant is up to five
460 years; and,
470 WHEREAS: The penalties are similar in most states, including Maryland, where medical
480 marijuana users must live in fear of being arrested; and,
490 WHEREAS: The present federal classification of marijuana and the resulting bureaucratic
500 controls impede additional scientific research into marijuana's therapeutic
510 potential, thereby making it nearly impossible for the Food and Drug
520 Administration to evaluate and approve marijuana through standard procedural
530 channels; and,
540 WHEREAS: Seriously ill people should not be punished for acting in accordance with the
550 opinion of their physicians in a bona fide attempt to relieve suffering;
560 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That licensed medical doctors should not be punished for
570 recommending the medical use of marijuana to seriously ill people, and seriously
580 ill people should not be subject to criminal sanctions for using marijuana if the
590 patient's physician has told the patient that such use is likely to be beneficial; and,
600 MANDATES: Speaker of the House Casper Taylor
610 President of the Senate Thomas V. Miller
620 House Minority Leader Robert H. Kittleman
630 Senate Minority Leader Martin G. Madden
640 Delegate Joseph F. Vallario, Chairman, Chairman, House Judiciary Committee
650 Senator William M. Baker, Chairman, Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee
660 Governor Parris N. Glendenning
670 Senator Paul Sarbanes
680 Senator Barbara Mikulski
690 Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Co-sponsors:
Matthew Thomas
Western Maryland College
Westminster, MD 21157
(410) 751-8391
David Stysley
Western Maryland College
Westminster, MD 21157
(410) 751-8632