[420 Girl]

Pot luck is the only to explain what would happen if a bill introduced by a Dayton state senator allowing for the medical use of marijuana were passed in the lame duck session of the General Assembly, which has been controlled by Republicans since 1994 but which will be split come January, when Democrats, who won more seats than they lost for the second election in a row, take control of the Ohio House.

Sen. Tom Roberts, a Dayton Democrat who recently lost a bid to lead his minority caucus in the senate, introduced The Medical Cannabis Bill or "Ohio Compassionate Act" (S.B.343), which would allow for medicinal use of cannabis to qualified patients through a regulated systems. If passed, which isn't likely given the hostile attitude Republicans have had toward drug use, especially marijuana which they see as a gateway drug to more potent and harmful drugs like h****n among other illegal substances, it will give patients the right to choose which medicine most effectively meets their health and medical needs. Michigan, whose Wolverine football team squares off against their arch rival Ohio State University Buckeyes this Saturday, passed a similar measure in early November. If Ohio were to pass Robert's bill, it would join Michigan and a dozen other states who have made the decision to look past the long-held paranoia about the drug and its powers, to focus on what is a viable way for many with illnesses to seek alternative ways to treat their medical problems.

In unusual timing, OSU researchers announced yesterday that specific elements of marijuana can be good for the aging brain by reducing inflammation there and possibly even stimulating the formation of new brain cells. The research, performed by Gary Wenk, professor of psychology at Ohio State and principal investigator, suggests that the development of a legal drug that contains certain properties similar to those in marijuana might help prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease. His work has already shown that a THC-like synthetic drug can improve memory in animals, so now his team is trying to find out exactly how it works in the brain.

“I believe this legislation is critical because of the lack of current alternatives available,” said Senator Roberts in a media release. “Patients are sometimes treating their illnesses with medicine that often can be more harmful than beneficial to their well being. They should not be forced to choose between living a normal life and living in pain." During the hearing Senate members heard testimony from a number of heath care professionals regarding the benefits of usimng cannabis in treating pain, nausea and other symptoms associated with a variety of debilitating medical conditions.

Roberts' bill would create a card-holder system that will issue an identification card to a qualified patient or a primary caregiver. This card would shield those registered in the system from being arrested, prosecuted or penalized in any manner. Furthermore, it would protect registered individuals from being denied any rights or privileges for the medical use of cannabis. Roberts says his bill has received "growing support that will follow it throughout the legislative process."

If conservative Republicans let this liberal idea slip through their long-standing dragnet of opposition to marijuana, a drug they believe is purely recreational, serving no purpose other than to make users happy and hungry and dealers rich while fueling crime cartels abroad, then maybe they're smoking more than the addictive drug that kills hundreds of thousands each year: king tobacco.

States with medical marijuana laws are Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Michigan.

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