CALIFORNIA SENATE PASSES MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

SACRAMENTO - Conservative and liberal senators joined Wednesday to pass a
statewide medical marijuana registry that could test the limits of an
adverse U.S. Supreme Court decision last month.

The measure pits California's landmark medical marijuana law against last
month's U.S. Supreme Court decision that Proposition 215 cannot supersede
federal laws against marijuana distribution.

Since voters approved the ballot initiative in 1996, eight other states
have passed similar measures, and the Nevada Legislature approved a medical
marijuana bill earlier this week.

"We need to go forward to force the issue," argued conservative Sen.
Maurice Johannessen, a Redding Republican. "Law enforcement in some areas
has zero tolerance. Law enforcement in other areas says, 'Two pounds - is
that all you have.' - and kicks them loose."

The measure passed the Senate 23-8, reflecting its unusual support by both
medical marijuana advocates and law enforcement officials from Attorney
General Bill Lockyer on down. It now goes to the Assembly.

Patients and caregivers - those who provide the patients with marijuana -
would be immune from arrest on state charges if they join the statewide
registry.

The measure also bars state prosecution of doctors who recommend marijuana
to their patients, and allows caregivers to cultivate marijuana
cooperatively for medical purposes under the auspices of the state
Department of Health Services. Distribution by such marijuana clubs was
specifically ruled illegal by the Supreme Court.

Law enforcement organizations said they want an easily verifiable, uniform,
statewide registry so they don't waste time and money charging a legitimate
medical marijuana user who will go free under California law. Supporters
said California has had difficulty enacting its law to date because of the
conflict with federal statutes.

Johannessen joined with the bill's liberal author, Sen. John Vasconcellos,
a Santa Clara Democrat, in backing marijuana's use by patients with AIDS,
anorexia, arthritis, cancer, chronic pain, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis,
epilepsy and other chronic conditions, despite the Supreme Court's ruling
that there is no valid medical use under federal law.