Originally published 12:00 a.m., February 18, 2010, updated 01:01 p.m., February 18, 2010
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Photo Illustration by Lauren Harned/The Daily |
Advocates of medical marijuana met with lawmakers Wednesday to discuss medical marijuana, the people it benefits and doctors who agree it has medicinal purposes. This was apart of Medical Marijuana Day at the state Capitol.
Lawmakers were given a copy of the proposed legislation that would set up a task force to study the effects of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. Senate Bill 732 authored by Sen. Constance Johnson, D-Oklahoma City, would create a commission that would study what diseases and conditions marijuana can be prescribed for, what plant is considered marijuana, how much patients can have and who can diagnose and prescribe marijuana for patients.
The legislation is similar to other medical marijuana legislation passed in California and Colorado, according to the Drug Policy Reform Network of Oklahoma.
Johnson‘s bill states the commission will examine “the feasibility of legalizing Delta-9-Tetra-Hydrocannibinol in the State of Oklahoma.” However, Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, the chairman of the committee the bill would be introduced to has yet to bring the bill up for debate.
Medical Marijuana Day was organized by the Drug Policy Reform Network of Oklahoma, the political arm of the non-profit organization Drug Policy Forum of Oklahoma, as part of the Oklahoma Compassionate Care Campaign.
But instead of this just being a one day campaign to change the law, the fight to legalize medical marijuana will continue beyond the steps of the state Capitol.
A Medical Marijuana Day Parade is coming up, said Clinton Wiles, secretary of Drug Policy Reform Network of Oklahoma.
Wiles said that the group is trying to bring relief from the “drug war” for those who wish to use marijuana medically and to get people who use marijuana medically “out of the criminal system.”
Wiles said the organization contacted lawmakers to let them know that the event would be taking place and that some were receptive to their cause.
Mary McKnight, an activist for medical marijuana and a sufferer of many ailments treatable by medical marijuana, said that she has used narcotics for her fibromyalgia, two herniated disks in her back, and degenerative disk disease for years.
“At this point, I’m sick of narcotics. I’m ready to try something, anything ... you know?” said McKnight, “And part of the issue with my narcotics is that my doctor, last week, had to increase the milligram of my narcotics to take the edge off the pain so I can get motivated.”
McKnight said she has a permanent disability according to The Social Security Administration. She said she had made arrangements with both of her lawmakers, Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha, and Rep. Phil Richardson, R-Minco, to talk about legalizing marijuana for medical purposes.
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Actually Lawmakers were give a copy of the "Oklahoma Compassionate Care Medical Marijuana Bill" the bill can be found at http://okmedicalmarijuana.org
This was not in support of SB 732
Not sure that a medical marijuana parade is in effect but I will check and see if this actually true.
The fight for medical marijuana in Oklahoma will continue and we need people to contact their legislators/Representatives and demand they support medical marijuana.
Thanks you so much for reporting on this event!!
Well, if she thinks she has "a hard time getting motivated" wait until you try doing it while stoned. I hate that these people are wasting the time of government officials with these stupid legalize marijuana campaigns. You stinking hippies should grow up, cut your hair, and for God sake take a bath.
I was at the capitol on Feb.17,2010. I think we need more people to support this cause. I attended this movement with large expectations and was unfortunately let down by the number of people who were there. I was there to speak for myself, being predetermined for glaucoma and my brother a long time sufferer of lupus. I don't feel this is taken serious enough. I would also like to state a comment for the people who are against this proposal, If it were you or a loved family member would you not want to help relieve some of the pain some of the time?
I'm getting very annoyed with this. I would have been there if I had heard about it. The problem is there is little to absolutely NO media coverage to inform people like me that these movements are happening. So how are we supposed to get anything done about this when there are so many people who care but just never hear about it? Or is that done purposely?
fat_boy81 eeeerrr you really have allot of nerve. I hate ignorance it really yanks my chain. first maybe you need to try it considering or user name. marijuana affects people differently. like me it curves my appetite maybe you need to try it. if you or your loved one cried every min of the day and night because they hurt so bad and Dr's these days won't give you pain meds often because they are very bad for you they cause heart failure, kidney failure, and causes a fluid leak in your spine. and that's the last thing my spine needs. I broke it in 86 now it is worse 2 slipped disc 2 bulging disc nerve root damage , arthritis in it, I also have lupus/ fibromyalgia and osteoporosis. I am in pain 24-7 never stops even with pain meds , Dr's give me muscle relaxers mood elevators , tranquilizers, nothing helps and I am so tired of sleeping my life away. I have 4 kids 2 teens at home. 5 grand kids and they all need me. my youngest grandbaby only weighed 14oz when she was born and i still could not hold her for just a min it hurt to bad thought i would drop her. my teen hates me for smoking because of the law tells her it is bad. drinking and cig is 100% worse on you than marijuana. she also does not understand why i'm in so much pain and i can't work or play with her or be the mom that i should and i blame the government for that they have taught them they can do and say what they want because we as parents can not give them a whooping when they needed one. and fatboy_81 my hair is cut i do take a bath and i had to watch my mother suffer until she died begging me to help her until you have experienced any of this you have no right to judge or voice or opinion . and people ask why there was not anyone at this campaine is because no-one knew about it it was not advertized on tv or flyers on your car i was clueless until today and i happened to run across this by googleing I don't even know when they vote for this at the poles but i know since the ruplicans are out and democrates in this is the perfect time to win this so everyone needs to Please call your OK senator and representative and tell them to sponsor, or support, the Oklahoma Compassionate Care Medical Marijuana bill. Find and e-mail your state legislators here, http://dprnok.net/blog/take-action-now/f... or off the Internet at the Oklahoma Election Board (405)521-2391, or contact your county election board.
thank you xxoo
Oklahoma is notorious for benefiting from the misfortune of it residents and making the laws sound good to the others by way of manipulating the way they think to coherse them to vote in the favor for incarcerating drug abusers. We are supposed to be the heartland while other states display more heart than us by allowing it's residents other ways to medicate themselves. It only proves the religious nuts here still prevail, they call themselves loving the lord but sign off on the death penalty regularly. Truth be told cannabis was in a very large portion of our medicines per history but only when imagration became a issue with the hispanics is when the law was passed to criminalize it. All comparisons show tobacco is a lot more harmful to you than cannabis so why is tobacco legal and marijuana isn't? I'll tell you why, because death is big business in America!
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