Pocono News Section

Supporters Push Medical Marijuana Bill

Supporters Push Medical Marijuana Bill - Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 04:06AM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Thursday May 06 2010
STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY - Marijuana. A dangerous drug? Or a helpful medicine? Depends on who you ask. Or where you live.

Marijuana for any purpose is illegal in Pennsylvania. But in next door New Jersey lawmakers recently made medical marijuana legal. That makes New Jersey the 14th state to legalize the drug for medical reasons.

Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow that here.

Mike Storm of East Stroudsburguses marijuana twice a day. He knows it's illegal. He feels like a criminal. He said, "When i go out there i'm looking over my shoulder all the time."

But he says he shouldn't have to feel that way. He believes marijuana is medicine he needs for pain from herniated and bulging discs. He explained, "It feels like you did a hard days work. You're lifting stuff all day then you come home."

His friend Sonia also uses marijuana to ease back pain. She said, "I have deteriorating disks, and sometimes i can't even get dressed."

Last winter New Jersey passed a law to allow medical marijuana. That means people onone side of the Delaware Water Gap Bridge can smoke to treat pain. But on the other side police could arrest them for possessing the drug. Storm said, "So on this side of the street you can't have it - and on that side you can."

New Jersey's law only allows marijuana to treat diseases like cancer and aids. Sonia and Mike don't suffer from illnesses that qualify. But said they plan to pack their bags. Mike remarked, "I'm just gonna move all my stuff right over to new jersey - get the apartment right there."

They'll come back if Pennsylvania changes its rules. State Representative John Siptroth said he's keeping an open mind about Pennsylvania's medical marijuana bill. But State Representative Mario Scavello said right now he can't support it. He explained, "My concern is how do you monitor that. How do you keep you safe? Where is it going to be distributed? Who is going to be the distributor."

Police also have concerns. Stroud Area Regional Police Chief John Baujan said, "I see this just as an excuse for recreational users to make it legal."

He added legal medications can ease pain. He knows first hand. He survived cancer. He said, "The c ombination of medications not only put my cancer in remission but made the journey to get there as pleasant as could possibly be."

But Mike and Sonia said they don't like legal medications. Sonia explained, "Because pills they're no good. They're killing people. They are. They'll fix one thing but they'll kill another part of you."

They also argue legalization could raise tax revenue. Sonia said, "T hey're taxing liquor - that's legal. Cigarettes, why not tax marijuana?"

Scavello responded, "Everything shouldn't be about revenue. Sometimes you have to do what's right."

And people disagree about what is right. Many say it's right to keep what they call a dangerous drug off the streets.

Others say it's right to allow people to relieve pain however they choose.

The debate burns on in Pennsylvania.