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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2005
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Jayhawk Bookstore ..at the top of Naismith Hill 843-3826·1420 Crescent Rd. online: jayhawkbookstore.com
Connecticut adopts civil union statute
CIVIL RIGHTS
BY SUSAN HAIGH
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut yesterday became the second state to offer civil unions to gay couples—and the first to do so without being forced by the courts.
About an hour after the State Senate sent her the legislation, Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed into law a bill that will afford same-sex couples in Connecticut many of the rights and privileges of married couples.
"The vote we cast today will reverberate around the country and it will send a wave of hope to many people, to thousands of people across the country," said Sen. Andrew McDonald, who is gay.
The State House passed the measure last week but amended it to define marriage under Connecticut law as between one man and one woman.
The Senate approved the amended bill yesterday 26-8.
The law takes effect Oct. 1.
"I have said all along that I believe in no discrimination of any kind and I think that this bill accomplishes that, while at the same time preserving the traditional language that a marriage is between a man and a woman," Rell said.
Vermont is the only other state to allow civil unions. Massachusetts allows gay couples to marry.
But those changes came about after same-sex couples won court battles.
Last summer, seven same-sex couples sued in Connecticut after being denied marriage licenses; the case has not been resolved.
Roman Catholics and promarriage activists plan a big rally Sunday in opposition to the bill.
Marie Hilliard, executive director of the Connecticut
Catholic Conference, said the civil union proposal "got more legs than we ever hoped it would get."
About 44 percent of the state's 3 million residents are Roman Catholic.
Anne Stanback, executive director of Loves Makes a Family, said her group would probably begin talking to lawmakers about gay marriage — though she acknowledged it was not likely the issue would be taken up next session.
"Our mission will be to let every person know in the state of Connecticut which lawmakers voted to redefine marriage, and which lawmakers voted to protect marriage," he said.
Brian Brown, head of the Family Institute of Connecticut, said his group intended to keep the issue squarely before the public.
"As important as the rights are, this is not yet equality," she said.
HEALTH
CAMPUS
Cannabis drug approved
BY BETH DUFF-BROWN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Health Canada, the federal agency that oversees medical care for Canadians, announced on Tuesday it had approved the prescription painkiller Sativex, made from components derived from the cannabis plant that have been shown to ease pain.
TORONTO — Canada has become the first country in the world to approve a cannabis-based painkiller for patients suffering multiple sclerosis, a move applauded by those with the disease and proponents of medical uses for marijuana.
The British drug company GW Pharmaceuticals, which developed the drug, said Canada was the first country to grant regulatory approval for Sativex, which will be marketed in Canada by Bayer HealthCare and could be in pharmacies by summer. The drug can be sprayed under the tongue or inside the cheek, avoiding the carcinogenic dangers of smoking pot.
Medical professionals voice high hopes for the drug's success
"The pain (of multiple sclerosis) can be absolutely excruciating and very deblitating," said Judith H. Watt-Watson, a professor at the University of
Toronto's Center for the Study of Pain. "There's an urgent need for more options."
Many people with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, treat their pain by smoking marijuana. But the dose is hard to regulate and the drug is difficult to obtain legally.
About 50,000 Canadians and 400,000 Americans have MS and some 2.5 million people are believed to be afflicted worldwide, according to the New York-based National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
About half of MS patients suffer from chronic pain.
Kansas governor to receive award
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will join 13 other Kansas women at 7:30 tonight at the Kansas Union Ballroom for the University's annual Women's Recognition Program. Sebelius will receive the 2005 Pioneer Woman Award that recognizes exemplary Kansas women who has made historic contributions of local or statewide significance.
Flora Richardson Coleman, valedictorian and first female graduate in the class of 1873, received the award in 2003. Four of the women in the program will be inducted into the KU Women's Hall of Fame. The Women's Recognition Program was established in the 1960s to honor woman students.
Jason Shaad
The governor will join 13 other Kansas women being honored for improving campus and the community through their service, teaching or involvement.
LAWRENCE
Panel to discuss evolution, science
Kansas citizens have an opportunity today to see how prepared the state is for the bioscience industry. A panel was created to examine the question of whether Kansas students will be able to hold careers in the bioscience industry if evolution is not taught in state schools.
Because of the upcoming hearings being held by the Kansas Board of Education, the meeting was arranged on short notice. Teachers, members of the bioscience industry and students along with Steven Case, chairman of the science standards curriculum revision committee, will have the opportunity to discuss the knowledge and willingness of Kansans to support the bioscience industry.
The meeting will be from 1 to 5:30 p.m. in Plymouth Congregational Church,925 Vermont St. The meeting is open to the public.
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