YOUR COMMENTS

I dont see what the problem is. It seems to me that opposers are now streching to find a legitimate argument as to why sick NH citizens cannot get the help they need, but this country has a long history of discarding their elderly and sick. If marihuana was discovered last week, poeple would be calling it a wonder drug. Its funny, government has no problem with hardcore pain killers that can easily kill from a simple overdose or an unsuspecting child eating an oxycotin off the floor, but a drug like marijuana, that will replace these hardcore drugs in most cases, is being reject because of the stigma that surrounds it. Personally, i have never heard of anyone overdosing on marijuana, or even getting hurt using it, have you? Fascism and stigma are the real opposers here. I hope govoner Lynch will open his eyes and smelll the coffee, the jury is out, recognize!
- patrick, berlin

Wow! I'm stunned at the number of people who are still so ignorant regarding marijuana and it's positive uses! Maybe it's time that those people do a little historical research on marijuana(ever hear of google)and why it became illegal in the US(money/power/greed). You may well be stunned to find the truth!! While you're at it focus in on the medical(it's natural too) uses for it!

I currently don't smoke due to it being illegal but will try it when it becomes legal as I'm on 2 powerful prescription drugs and have a spinal cord stimulator for the disease I have in my feet which is STILL very painful!

It's easy to be critical if you aren't in severe pain or don't have a loved one that is, but a little compassion for those that are and have tried the traditional methods of pain relief but they failed! We are talking about medical marijuana laws changing, not legalizing it for recreational use! Obama has already made it VERY clear that he opposes marijuana for recreation!!!

PS marijuana is less dangerous than both smoking and drinking and less addictive than coffee, so if you want something to be outlawed outlaw them!!!
- Ken, Alton

IMO were about 5-10 years behind where we should be. Seriously this is an organic and healthy choice for relief of what life may throw your way. I've witnessed my older brother struggle for years, trying to even out side affects from multiple brain surgeries and countless meds he's been prescribed, in an effort to battle brain tumors. These meds have left him with weakened liver, serious tooth decay, and extremely low self esteem. Confidence is almost non existant now. Just to name a few.
All of these meds that he's been prescribed to help battle the side effects of his condition are extremely dangerous and addictive. I would honestly love to debate someone on the health risks of a natural ocuring remedy like THC over man made pharmaceuticals that, well have changed my brother into someone else all together.
- Andy, Nashua

The problem here is that the potheads look at this as one step towards making pot legal. There is no need for this bill medical maranol is available for cancer patients. This bill is not about medical use its a ploy to make pot legal. Lets hope these bums who support this bill get voted out of office.
- Tom, Nashua

As a lifelong NH resident I cannot beleive how many people in our state are so closed minded about marijuana. All the states surrounding us have lax marijuana laws. We are the "live free or die state" supposed to be limited government and our GOV is worries about the feds? Your a Democrat and Obama is President, grow up and give the people what they want. Anyone who argues against this bill does not have their facts correct. Forget what you learned in High School health class, this is the age of information, obtain it and open your mind...
- benny, NH

Ross(Derry), If/when drugs are finally RElegalized-- yes, they were legal at one time-- will you be running out and trying them?
Do you know many people who are currently non-druggies that will?

I don't.
IMO, the 'we'll be a nation of drugged-out zombies' argument is a red herring.
There may be a slight increase in the number of users in the short term, but, IMO, the benefits of legalization will far out weigh any negatives.
- Mike P., Manchester

Ross--this bill allows for the private cultivation by the patient.

Catrina--you're wrong--see below:

Obama To Stop Raids on Marijuana Dispensers

By David Johnston and Neil A. Lewis
Source: New York Times

medical Washington, D.C. -- Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. On Wednesday outlined a shift in the enforcement of federal drug laws, saying the administration would effectively end the Bush administration’s frequent raids on distributors of medical marijuana.
- JB, NB, NH

"And trust me the kids will still be getting the drugs once the state is the pusher and no one will be going to jail for it then. "

Like the booze they sell? They already are drug pushers and they spend millions a year in advertising to get more poeple to do the drugs they sell. Why do you condone this? Do you drink? Please call Pat Sajak and see if you can buy a clue.
- Zizzy, Manchester

Anyone who thinks this Bill is about caring for the sick you are Naive. It's just the first move in having government replace the drug dealers on our streets so they can tax the pot heads for more money to waste. If it was not about money they would simply allow you to grow it yourself.

If the drug dealers are bad how can government doing the same thing to our young be good? And trust me the kids will still be getting the drugs once the state is the pusher and no one will be going to jail for it then.

A druged out population will be an easy population to manipulate.
- Ross, Derry

New Hampshire NEEDS to take a stand against the stranglehold of the federal government. What a great law to start with. I have never smoked marijuana, but i don't feel as though it should be in any way illegal if alcohol and cigarettes are legal. They both get you high. What's the difference?

In getting back to the federal government, AG Eric Holder already said the federal government is gonna loosen regulation in terms of medical marijuana, as Kevin from Lancaster said. Why not take back state's rights? Read the U.S. Constitution, then read the first 9 amendments to the Constitution. Last time I check, and I have a B.A. in History, the Constitution/Bill of Rights has nothing to say about marijuana. If I were the NH legislature or Governor's office, I would be less concerned with the federal stance on the issue and more concerned with regaining power from the federal government, which has tried to nullify state's rights.
- Chris, Bristol

Catrina- A terrible idea? How do you figure? If someone is going thru Chemo,
do you really think they care what the Feds think? They have already been handed a death sentence. Perhaps you have never witnessed first hand someone being treated for cancer and the horrible side effects that go with it that MJ can ease. Maybe you should.
- Zizzy, Manchester

Perhaps the controversy by opposers to this bill is not about "the what ifs" but possibly it is about the almighty dollar in the pockets of pharmaceuticals and State revenue.
- Deborah Boyd, Dover NH

I said it in a previous article, and I will say it again here ...

Possesion and growing of marijuana is still a federal offense. If the feds were to come into your house, they wouldn't care where it's legal, or who gave you permission to do what. Its a terrible idea all the way around.
- Catrina, Manchester

This bill is a step in the right direction. When my father was being treated for cancer, he couldn't keep food down and the morphine burned his veins and negatively affected his mind. He was 6' 2" and about 90 pounds when he died at the age of 46. I think he might have survived if he had been given marijuana instead of at least some (if not all) of the morphine.

NHCompassion.org and reason.tv both provide very compelling evidence for why every honest person should support this bill.
- Tim, Somersworth

"...and he will continue talk to lawmakers as well as law enforcement and medical community about it." "

What do lawmakers and law enforcement
know about healing the body? Nothing.
Talking to them would be a waste of time full of sky is falling propaganda. Maybe
(one can only hope) Lynch is smart enough to talk to people that are being/have been treated for Cancer/HIV, because those are the people and the only people that this bill affects. Go to Ellison 14 and spend some time with people that can not hold down their food and have no appetite because of Chemo. See what they have to say. Also talk to survivors of cancer that used pot while they were being treated and see how it made their treatments less miserable.
- Zizzy, Manchester

The support of this bill, by the Dems on the panel, is further proof of even a broken clock being correct twice a day.

Good job!
- Mike P., Manchester

This is wonderful to hear. It is really vital for this bill to pass. People who have a chronic disease or serious medical condition truly need something other than the harmful drugs that our government distributes. Cannabis has been used medicinally for centuries so why not continue its use if it is so effective. Why use synthetic drugs which are harmful to your liver, kidneys. or stomach. We must also make room in jail for the KILLERS of our time instead of the peaceful cannabis smoker.
- Jon, Lincoln

Our democracy is set up so that laws can change on a state level and then the fed can follow suit eventually, if that is the will of the people. Your average citizen can get involved and effect local laws, that's how change happens, and how it was intended.
This bill is not perfect with regards to the patients acquiring an initial supply of their medicine. But no bill is perfect. This bill is a small step in the right direction, the direction of compassion and reason.
Let the Patients and Doctors decide what works for them. Lets show the rest of the country that New Hampshire cares about it's citizens and won't stand between the seriously ill and their ability to relieve suffering.
- Carrie, Hooksett,NH

Give marijuana the same laws and restrictions as alcohol. A person can brew beer and make wine legally up to certain amounts. A person should be able to grow and possess marijuana up to certain amounts. Take it out of the hands of the dealers and let law enforcement concentrate on the dangerous drugs
- steve, manchester

Personal choice and freedom in healthcare provision is something everyone can support. This is a common sense bill, long overdue. Let's pray that the full House and then the Senate do the right thing and pass this bill into law.
- Mark, Manchester

Come on just legalize it and let the dealers get real jobs. I am sure that they can learn to say 'Would you like to super-size that order.'
- Tom, Dover-Foxcroft, Me.

Kevin,

What I meant was that only people who are truly ill will be able to qualify for legal access to marijuana under the provisions of HB 648.

You're right that kids in high school and college generally have no trouble finding marijuana -- they say it is easier to get than alcohol. On the other hand, a lot of people who get diagnosed with serious illnesses who are in their 50's or 60's or 70's have never even seen marijuana, and many say they would have no idea where to get it if they needed it.

Regardless of how people feel about the War on Marijuana in general, we've got to take the sick and dying off the battlefield. That's all this bill is about, and yet it somehow manages to be controversial...
- Matt Simon, Pembroke, NH

If I were critically ill and in need of this, I would certainly want every opportunity for relief of my symptoms. Come on there is a time and place for everything and I think the time has come to pass this bill for those in desperate need.
- Kathy Radford, Kingston

Edit: I obviously meant that "I do have to DISagree" with Matt Simon on the availability of marijuana.
- Kevin, Lancaster

While this would still be overly restrictive, it is a step in the right direction.

I do have to agree with Matt Simon, though (even though I agree with his organization): it's not true that "only people who need it will be able to get it."

Anyone who wants marijuana can get it right now.

Gov. Lynch needs to stop worrying about federal law. They pass their laws, we pass ours, sometimes they conflict. It is that way in every area, and we should never change our laws to match theirs. Real-ID is a good example of that.

Attorney General Eric Holder just announced that the U.S. government will no longer prosecute or interfere with medical marijuana as long as it's legal by state law.

Pass this bill now, then make it legal for any adult even without a doctor's order.
- Kevin, Lancaster