Medical Marijuana

Task force researches research program

by Sam Smith

In its ongoing search for viable methods of distributing marijuana in the state, the Medical Marijuana Task Force, meeting this week in Augusta, has begun studying the creation of a federally sanctioned research program. As the only current method of distributing marijuana for medical purposes that does not run counter to federal law, a research program, says Assistant Attorney General James Cameron, who chairs the task force, would kill two birds with one stone.

"Maine could help further research," says Cameron, "but it would also be an opportunity for participants to have access [to marijuana]."

Maine has passed two bills previously -- once in 1979, and again in 1983 -- attempting to implement research programs, but a sunset clause in each terminated the effort before research could be approved by the federal government. Last year's referendum legalizing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes has rekindled interest.

Cameron says they have learned from past mistakes -- the two previous bills, for instance, suggested doctors prescribe marijuana -- and they have enlisted Richard Schmitz, director of state policies with the Marijuana Policy Project in DC, to offer consultation this week.

"There are a lot of reasons to establish a research program, but one big concern is it may not be allowed to proceed in a timely fashion," says Schmitz. "There are currently no active research programs in the country."

Cameron says Maine will be looking to California, which approved research at the state level last year, for guidance as well.

Rand Martin, chief of staff to California State Senator John Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara), who sponsored the state's research bill, says the key to drafting their successful legislation was bipartisanship.

"We worked very closely with our attorney general, a staunch conservative, to get the bill drafted and passed," says Martin. "We didn't want the bill to have an agenda other than furthering research. That was the only agenda the bill had and it passed."

The research will be conducted by the University of California, with $3 million from the state. The bill says that if federal approval is not forthcoming, the university can proceed without it.

On a related note, Maine State Rep. Michael Quint (D-Portland) was appointed to the task force earlier this week. Cameron says Quint's experience on the Health and Human Services Committee, which will ultimately have jurisdiction over bills relating to medical marijuana, will be valuable. Quint says he's anxious to bring some balance to a task force he feels is too heavily weighted toward those who opposed last year's referendum. He also hopes to bring some perspective to the debate.

"For the administration to say, `The feds say we can't do this [distribute marijuana], so we can't do it,' is ridiculous," says Quint. "What about endangered salmon? We told the feds to forget it."