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<H1><FONT face="Times New Roman">My thanks to Tom Trail for writing and
introducing Idaho legislation to legalize medical marijuana. (See the
article from the Tribune below). Far too often, legislators ignore the
real suffering of a small percentage of their constituents. Thankfully,
not Tom Trail. He has fashioned a conservative legalization bill that is
appropriate for Idaho and a real life-saver for those who need pain-relief.
BL</FONT></H1>
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<H1><FONT face="Times New Roman">Trail introduces medical marijuana
legislation</FONT></H1>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">By William L. Spence of the Tribune</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">January 21, 2011</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">BOISE - Moscow Rep. Tom Trail introduced a
medical marijuana bill this week, saying it's time for the Idaho Legislature to
help reduce the suffering of seriously ill citizens.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Trail said his legislation is directed at people
who need pain relief from chronic, debilitating medical conditions. He has no
interest in legalizing marijuana for general use.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">"I've stayed away from a lot of fringe groups on
this," he said. "Our focus is simply on providing the option for medical
marijuana."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">The bill requires patients or their caregivers
to register with the state before they could legally buy marijuana. Before
registering, patients would need a certificate from their doctor saying the drug
could help with their medical condition.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">The marijuana could only be produced and sold by
treatment centers licensed by the state. Caregivers and treatment center
operators would have to undergo criminal background checks. Patients could only
buy marijuana from a specific treatment center, and couldn't buy more than 2
ounces in a 28-day period.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Operating a vehicle or heavy equipment while
under the influence of marijuana would be illegal. Smoking marijuana in school
yards, on public transportation, in prisons, public parks or recreation centers
would be prohibited.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">The bill allows the state to charge an
application and licensing fee to cover any costs.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">"This legislation provides another option for
medically challenged citizens and provides protections for our citizens as a
whole," Trail said. "It gets down to a states rights issue: Should the use of
medical marijuana be determined by the doctor-patient relationship, or by
Congress and law enforcement?"</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">The bill was assigned to the House Judiciary,
Rules and Administration Committee. Chairman Rich Wills, a former Idaho State
Police trooper, said he hadn't read the legislation yet. He wouldn't commit to
giving the bill a public hearing, saying he needed to poll the members of his
committee.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Several other states already have some form of
medical marijuana law. Trail's bill indicates that 99 percent of the arrests for
marijuana possession nationally are done under state laws.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Consequently, his measure "will have the
practical effect of protecting from arrest the vast majority of the seriously
ill people who have a medical need to use marijuana."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">"I've taken a lot of heat over this," Trail
said. "But when you look at the states where this is working, I think we owe it
to our suffering citizens."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">---</FONT></P>
<P><EM><FONT face="Times New Roman">Spence may be contacted at
bspence@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2274.
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