NEW MINN. BILL TO ALLOCATE $100,000 FOR MEDICINAL MARIJUANA RESEARCH

(U-WIRE) MINNEAPOLIS -- Medicinal marijuana advocates voiced support for a
bill to study the potential medical applications of the drug at the State
Capitol on Tuesday.

"Medicinal marijuana can help with the lessening of pain and nausea," said
Sen. Linda Higgins, DFL-Minneapolis, who authored the bill to allocate
$100,000 in state funds toward marijuana research.

George McMahon, who uses the drug legally under a federal program to treat
spasms and nausea, accompanied Higgins to the subcommittee meeting and
testified marijuana cigarettes help ease his condition.

"This stuff is good for some people," said McMahon, who has been using
marijuana for decades.

Tom Prichard, Minnesota Family Council president, told the subcommittee
legal marijuana use would send the wrong message to children and that it is
associated with several health risks, including cancer.

Prichard also voiced concerns that Higgins' bill might be a "strategy for
promoting the legalization of marijuana."

In 1970, the Controlled Substance Act federally regulated the manufacturing
and distribution of the controversial substance. Nine states have since
adopted state rules allowing for medicinal marijuana to be prescribed to
chronically ill patients.

Another public meeting, which will address issues surrounding private
research of medicinal marijuana, is scheduled for Friday.