AM. 20 ADS SHARE HEALTHY DOSE OF REALITY

Nov. 3, 2000 - Two new TV ads clash over the medical use of marijuana, but
the commercials also share two traits that are rare in politics: They're
largely fair and accurate.

Supporters of Amendment 20 are airing a low-key spot with a Breckenridge
physician who looks sincerely into the camera and tells how marijuana can
help chemotherapy patients.

Foes counter with an ad noting that Colorado already has problems with
illegal marijuana use, and that almost all the state's political
establishment is against Amendment 20.

Both ads do contain some exaggerations, but they also set an admirable
standard for tough but credible advertising.

Here's a skeptical look at the latest ads:

The pro-Amendment 20 ad:

Dr. C.L. Perrinjaquet of Breckenridge: "As a doctor, I know that cancer
patients undergoing chemotherapy often have a rough time. The side effects
can be so severe - nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite. There is a medicine
that can help. It's marijuana. But we doctors can't recommend it.

The man speaking is a family practice physician, nicknamed Dr. P.J., who
works at the High Country Health Care clinic in Breckenridge. He is being
filmed in an office in California, where the commercial was produced.

It's true that chemotherapy patients have reported some pain relief from
smoking marijuana, and it's true that doctors are banned from recommending
marijuana to patients.

"Amendment 20 would allow dying and suffering patients to register with the
state and use small amounts of marijuana. Non-medical use remains illegal.

Amendment 20 allows medical use of marijuana for people with a
"debilitating medical condition," including cancer, glaucoma, AIDS or
HIV-positive status, as well as "cachexia, severe pain, severe nausea,
seizures."

After receiving medical and state approvals for inclusion in a state
registry, those people would be allowed to possess no more than 2 ounces of
"a usable form of marijuana," plus up to six marijuana plants.

Opponents say 2 ounces of marijuana constitutes more than a "small amount."
The Drug Enforcement Administration says that's enough for 20 or so typical
joints, or marijuana cigarettes, though some users roll as many as 60
joints per ounce.

"Morphine works, marijuana works. Let us treat you with every medicine that
can help."

Morphine long has been a legally prescribed drug for pain. One difference,
though, with marijuana: Under Amendment 20, no pharmacy or prescription
would be required for medical use of marijuana.

That means patients on marijuana essentially could set their own doses, a
difference from the way morphine is used.

The anti-20 "No Weed" ad:

"Who's against legalizing marijuana in Colorado? The medical community,
Gov. Owens, our legislature, law enforcement, newspapers and parents
everywhere.

Medicinal use of marijuana has been denounced by major groups including the
American Medical Association, Denver Medical Society and the Colorado
Health and Hospital Association, while being endorsed by the smaller
Colorado AIDS Advisory Council and Boulder County AIDS Project.

On record against Amendment 20 is the governor, the Colorado legislature
and many law enforcement officials. The Denver Post, Denver Rocky Mountain
News and Greeley Tribune have editorialized in opposition to Amendment 20;
the Durango Herald and Boulder Daily Camera endorsed it.

As for the claim that "parents everywhere" are against legalizing marijuana
in Colorado, there are enough supporters, at least in this stage of the
campaign, for Amendment 20 to be leading in the political opinion polls.

"So who's pushing to legalize marijuana here? A California-based front
group, an Ohio insurance executive, a wealthy person from Arizona and a New
York financier.

A California-based group, Americans for Medical Rights, has contributed
$200,000 to the pro-20 campaign. That group is financed largely by New York
hedge fund operator George Soros, Ohio insurance executive Peter Lewis and
University of Phoenix founder John Sperling, said the pro-20 campaign.

The ad accurately attributes that information to an Oct. 7 story in the
Colorado Springs Gazette.

"Don't they know Colorado already has the highest rate of marijuana use in
the country? We want to fix that problem - not make it worse. Please, vote
no on 20."

The 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, conducted by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, found that Colorado led the
country in marijuana use.

The government estimated 8.1 percent of Coloradans had used marijuana
within a month of the survey, significantly higher than the national
average of 5.2 percent.