RETIRED JUSTICE GIVES SUPPORT TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA INITIATIVE

HELENA - Retired Montana Supreme Court Justice William Hunt this week
endorsed the medical-marijuana initiative before voters on Tuesday,
saying a federal study has shown no significant law-enforcement
problems resulting from similar laws in other states.

"It's clear to me that Montanans should not spend one more dime of
taxpayer dollars to jail sick people who need to use medical marijuana
under a doctor's care," he said.

Hunt urged voters to support Initiative 148, which would allow people
diagnosed with a "debilitating medical condition" to use marijuana to
relieve pain or other symptoms.

Hunt, of Helena, retired from the Supreme Court in 2000. He served 16
years on the court and also has been Liberty County Attorney.

He said the medical use of marijuana has been shown to be effective
for reducing pain, nausea and other conditions suffered by people with
cancer, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, AIDS and other illnesses
described in I-148.

"The medicines used by people with cancer, multiple sclerosis and
other difficult conditions should be between them, their doctors and
God - not the government," he said.

However, drug counselors and law enforcement officers contend the
prohibition on an illegal drug shouldn't be loosened.

Roger Curtiss, director of Alcohol and Drug Services in Anaconda,
wanted to know who would grow and harvest marijuana for an
incapacitated patient - and who would check to see how much of it was
grown and how much went to the patient.