A group in Idaho wants to legalize medical marijuana there, and is collecting signatures to get the initiative on the November general election ballot. Meanwhile, a medicinal cannabis bill is already before the Legislature.
House Bill 370, the Idaho Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, is sponsored by Rep. Tom Trail (R-Moscow), reports Todd Kunz at
Local News 8. It would establish a system for patients to legally get and use cannabis.
Should HB 70 die in the Legislature, the Boise-based group
Compassionate Idaho is already collecting signatures to get a medical marijuana initiative on the November ballot. They need 47,500 signatures to qualify; they say they're shooting for 50,000.
"The state of Idaho has a lot of sick people and patients that have seriously ill and terminally ill conditions and we need to protect those patients from being arrested and from forfeiture," said Lindsey Rinehart, head volunteer coordinator.
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| Local News 8 |
| Lindsey Rinehart, Compassionate Idaho: "I started to learn about all the other people in this state that need it just as bad as I do" |
The mission to legalize medicinal cannabis in Idaho has a personal element for Rinehart, who has multiple sclerosis.
"I started to learn about all the other people in this state that need it just as bad as I do that have seriously ill conditions or people that are dying," Rinehart said.
And according to Rinehart, the initiative stands a good chance if it's on the ballot.
"BSU did a public policy poll and it showed that 74 percent of Idahoans support medical marijuana," Rinehart said. "We have a lot of compassionate people here. When you are talking about a population that is sick, Idaho people respond to that because we're compassionate people."
According to oncologist Dr. Christian Shull, with Snake River Cancer Center, marijuana does several things that are helpful.
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| Local News 8 |
| Capt. Mark Cowley, Bingham County Sheriff's Office: "Where in your community do you want these medical marijuana dispensaries that are selling pot?" |
"The chemically active ingredient in marijuana, THC, primarily has three effects that we look for in cancer patients," Dr. Shull said. "One would be the effect that it has on their appetite. The second effect we look for is that it is quite an antiemetic, which means that it works to help control nausea quite well. And then the third effect that we get with marijuana is that it can give you a sense of well-being, kind of gives them a calming sensation that patients who are facing very difficult illness can really benefit from."
Of course, any time you're talking about medical marijuana, you're going to have some hysterical law enforcement types that -- voila! -- suddenly become medical experts, and loudmouths to boot.
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| Local News 8 |
| Dr. Christian Shull: "The chemically active ingredient in marijuana, THC, primarily has three effects that we look for in cancer patients" |
"This isn't about cures," said Captain Mark Cowley of the Bingham County Sheriff's Office. "This is business. This is about money."
" 'It's not a bad drug, it's medicine'?" he mimics supporters. "And that's wrong. That's the wrong message to send to kids. And if people are entitled to smoke this and then do their jobs, do you really want the bus driver that is hauling your kids to school that has a medical marijuana card that says I smoked dope for hours earlier? Do you want your kids on that bus?" Cowley emoted, spittle starting to form on his lips.
"If it's medical marijuana, there are dispensaries," Cowley added, building up a head of righteous anti-marijuana steam. "You could legitimately put it next to a school or church. Where in your community do you want these medical marijuana dispensaries that are selling pot?"
Well, ideally, next door, there, Captain Cowley. Now, get out of my life and SHUT UP.
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