PANEL KILLS MEDICINAL MARIJUANA MEASURE

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A Florida man on Thursday sat before an Illinois
legislative committee and displayed a tin of prescription marijuana
cigarettes, telling lawmakers that medicinal use of the drug shouldn't be
viewed as a crime.

After his testimony, Capitol police detained him while they called federal
officials - a sobering example, proponents say, of why drug laws should be
adjusted to medical necessity.

The drama ended about 30 minutes later, after police confirmed the man had
a legal right to the marijuana under a small federal medical program.

"This is a clear example of why we need this legislation," said state Rep.
Larry McKeon, D-Chicago.

But opponents of the measure - who persuaded the committee to vote it down
Thursday - say prescription marijuana can be too easily abused and
shouldn't be legal. Among opponents who testified Thursday was national
drug czar John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control
Policy, who called marijuana a "gateway drug," leading users to harder drugs.

The man who was detained, Irvin Rosenfeld, 51, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is
one of seven people in the country who are participants in the
Compassionate Care

Investigative New Drug Program. Rosenfeld, who suffers from a painful bone
disease, said the program was halted in 1992. However, 13 participants with
varying illnesses were grandfathered in.

"Here I am a legal patient and look at the hassles I just went through,"

Rosenfeld told reporters later. "What if I wasn't a legal patient and had a
crippling disorder and was being made a criminal to get the medicine I need?"

Although the measure failed in the House Human Services Committee in a 4-7
vote, McKeon, the bill's sponsor, said Thursday that he will pursue the
matter until it passes. He said those who suffer from diseases like cancer
could use the drug to reduce pain, nausea and other discomforts stemming
from their symptoms, or the uncomfortable side effects from treatment.

Under the proposal, health care providers could grow up to 12 plants to
treat their patients.

Bruce Doblin, an Evanston doctor who testified at the hearing, said there
are several studies, including one by the Institute of Medicine, that
recommend marijuana for medicinal use. He also disputes the notion
marijuana is a gateway drug.

Two secretary of state police officers escorted Rosenfeld from the hearing,
questioning him about his marijuana, which was in a tin with a prescription
label. The officers pushed Rosenfeld in a wheelchair to a security office
after he told them walking was painful.

Dave Druker, secretary of state press secretary, later said the department
did not know about the federal program.

"It's an illegal substance and had he not had documentation (of the federal
program) on him, he would have been arrested," Druker said. Officers called
U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency officials, who confirmed Rosenfeld's status in
the program.

Rosenfeld said he picks up 300 cigarettes from his pharmacy every 25 days.
He smokes 10 to 12 every day to relieve the pain from his disease. Although
Rosenfeld is not allowed to operate heavy machinery, he is allowed to drive
and can smoke marijuana while in the car.