MEDICINAL MARIJUANA FORUM TO BE HELD

"There are varying levels of skittishness surrounding the issue of medicinal
marijuana," said Don Regis-Bilar, host and organizer of the Lake Tahoe
Medicinal Marijuana Forum 2001. The event will take place from 1 to 3 p.m.
Sept. 9 at 3071 Sacramento Ave. There is no charge. For information call
(530) 544-6959 or e-mail dregisbilar@earthlink.net.

Known to longtime locals as the high-profile publisher of the Tahoe Reader,
published from 1985 to 1993, Regis-Bilar gained the reputation for not
shunning controversial issues.

"Even among ourselves we have struggled with the concept of holding a public
forum on medicinal marijuana," he said of his co-organizers, Kathy Farrell
of the Tahoe-Douglas Chamber of Commerce, Douglas County Librarian Patty
Timmens and 20-year resident Sue Barton.

"It has become a bi-state issue in that voters in both Nevada and California
have passed laws allowing for medicinal marijuana," Farrell said. "At the
South Shore we are influenced by issues on both sides of the border."

"I was a little naive going into this," Regis-Bilar said, "at how political
it would all become."

"I don't have a political bone in my body," Barton said. "I see the
fundamental motivator behind permitting marijuana for medicinal purposes as
being compassion and humanity."

"Exactly," Timmens said. "I am uncomfortable with this issue because the
laws are so vague. There is a lot of confusion surrounding them and the
federal government maintains that there is no legal use for marijuana.

"At the same time," she said speaking of her brother who died in April, "I
watched Jeff suffer through acute liver failure and I know it eased his
pain."

The foursome are hoping that the event will nurture an informative dialogue
between the public and a panel that includes Cecile Crofoot, program manager
for the implementation of Nevada's Medicinal Marijuana Law, AB453; Dale
Gieringer, executive director of the California office of the National
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws; and South Lake Tahoe City
Council member Bill Crawford.

"This is an interesting historical time in which there are reportedly a
significant number of medicinal marijuana cardholders at the South Shore,"
Regis-Bilar said. "But the only way they can obtain marijuana is through the
black market where there is not regulation, no quality control and no price
monitoring. The last thing a critically ill person needs is to introduce
marijuana into their system which has not been grown organically and is
possibly contaminated with a variety of toxins."

The organizers hope that the forum will clear up some of the confusion, but
do not view the event as a debate.

"The laws allowing medicinal marijuana exist and the big question is 'now
what?' Surely there must be a better way for people to find relief from
their pain without the fear, stigma or shame often associated with
marijuana," Farrell said.

"We're hoping for a lot of public input, Barton said. " We're hoping to
determine what local interest levels there are in helping our fellow
citizens who need assistance."

Timmens said, "Everyone has a right to their opinion at this forum. We just
need to listen to one another, exchange ideas and learn more about this
issue affecting members of our community who deserve our attention and
compassion."

A partial list of the businesses supporting and sponsoring the Medicinal
Marijuana Forum are Ernie's Coffee Shop, Nel's Tahoe Hardware and The Tahoe
Hemp Company.

As to why he is supporting the forum, Paul Bruso, owner of Ernie's Coffee
Shop, said, "The voters of California and Nevada have determined that the
use of medicinal marijuana should be legal. It is my belief that the use of
medicinal marijuana should be legal. it is my belief that many people
suffering from severe or terminal illnesses find that the use of medicinal
marijuana alleviates much of their suffering. I fully support its use when
prescribed by a licensed physician."

Nokomis Murin, manager of The Tahoe Hemp Company explained her support, "We
believe that it should be an individual's choice and that one shouldn't have
to put their personal freedom at risk to find relief from pain. The key to
it is education. We hope that the forum will help inform the community about
the positive aspects of marijuana."

The four organizers are part of an informal group, the Friends of Patrick
Bennett, which was formed to give a face to AIDS via Bennett who died of the
illness in 1997. He was the editor and co-founder of the Tahoe Reader and
was the longest sitting commissioner for the City of South Lake Tahoe Parks
and Recreation Department. The group continues to conduct events as a way to
honor Bennett and bring awareness to humanitarian issues.

Bennett was prescribed marijuana by his physician, Neil Flynn, M.D.,
professor of clinical medicine at the University of California, Davis. Flynn
has said, "I firmly believe that medical marijuana is medically appropriate
as a drug of last resort for a small number of seriously ill patients. Over
20 years of clinical experience persuade me of this fact. The anecdotal
evidence is overwhelming. Almost every patient I have known to have tried
marijuana achieved relief from symptoms with it."

Regis-Bilar, who was Bennett's primary caregiver during the last two years
of his life said, " I administered intravenous chemotherapy to Patrick up to
nine hours a day. I witnessed personally the profound health benefits
marijuana had for him.

Farrell, who has a 12-year-old daughter, said, "I tell her that the saddest
thing about the issue is that there are individuals, like Patrick, who might
be able to get some relief from marijuana but cannot obtain it legally
without tremendous difficulty. And those circumstances are very different
from someone who just wants to get high or smokes socially."

"Unfortunately the two issues are not cleanly separated and legalizing the
medicinal use is threatened by the recreational use.

When asked what makes the Friends of Patrick Bennett work Farrell said, "We
all genuinely enjoy each others company."