MEDICAL USAGE OF MARIJUANA ON THE AGENDA

CHICAGO -- One month after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the medical
use of marijuana, the American Medical Association is being urged to
endorse the illegal drug as last-resort pain relief for seriously ill patients.

At its policy-setting annual meeting starting here today, the AMA also is
being asked to endorse a moratorium on executions nationwide, although it
rejected a similar proposal last year. The measures are among more than 250
reports, resolutions and proposals conference delegates are asking the
nation's largest group of doctors to approve.

Whether the historically cautious group will take a more activist role at
its five-day meeting remains to be seen as the group struggles for
effectiveness amid a worrisome slide in membership. The challenge is to
appeal to physicians with divergent political views while at the same time
tackling issues relevant to patients.

Desperately seeking to attract new members, the AMA is more likely than
ever to stick to middle ground, said Dr. Jimmy Hara, co-president of the
Los Angeles chapter of the activist group Physicians for Social Responsibility.