LEGALIZATION OF POT FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES WILL BE SOUGHT

Cayetano Says He Will Ask For Abercrombie's Help

Gov. Ben Cayetano said today that he'll ask U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie to
introduce federal legislation to legalize marijuana use for medical purposes.

The governor said he wasn't surprised at yesterday's U.S. Supreme Court
ruling upholding federal laws against using marijuana for medicinal
purposes, despite laws allowing it in Hawaii and eight other states.

"The court really just affirmed what we always knew what the law was," he
said. "State law cannot supersede federal law."

The question now is how seriously will the federal government enforce the
law, Cayetano said.

"I just think it's a matter of time that Congress finally gets around to
understanding that the states should be allowed to provide this kind of
relief to the people," he said.

"Congress is way, way behind in their thinking," Cayetano said.

The governor said Abercrombie (D, urban Honolulu) "is the one who converted
me to the cause of marijuana's medicinal uses" and might be willing to
introduce the legislation next year.

"I'm not sure the rest of Congress is receptive," said Cayetano, noting
next year is an election year. "Some of these guys probably will not want
to be seen as soft on anything, including marijuana."