DEA PICK HEDGES ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Asa Hutchinson, President Bush's choice to lead
the Drug Enforcement Administration, declined Tuesday to commit the agency
to vigorously enforcing the federal ban on medical marijuana.

The question came up during Hutchinson's confirmation hearing in the Senate
Judiciary Committee.

The Supreme Court ruled in May that a federal law classifying the drug as
illegal includes no exception for medical uses.

"Do you think the federal government should make it a priority to prosecute
people who are distributing marijuana to ill people?" asked the committee's
chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).

The 50-year-old Hutchinson (R-Ark.) said he personally opposes the use of
marijuana for medical purposes, but he wouldn't say that pursuing medical
marijuana dealers would be a priority for the DEA.