LOCAL MARIJUANA SUPPORTERS SAY DECISION WON'T DETER USE

Tuesday, May 15, 2001 - Supporters of Colorado's medical marijuana law said
Monday's Supreme Court decision won't keep sick Coloradans from getting the
drug starting June 1.

State officials said likewise. "The ruling today doesn't change where we
were two months ago," said Dr. Richard Hoffman, chief medical officer for
the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Voters in November approved Amendment 20, which makes it legal for
Coloradans with such illnesses as glaucoma and cancer to use marijuana with
a doctor's OK.

But the measure put Colorado at odds with federal law, and Monday's court
decision ensured that the federal government will not recognize the medical
benefits of marijuana any time soon.

"Before today's decision, people thought they had a medical-necessity
defense," said Colorado Solicitor General Alan Gilbert. "They made it very
clear that there is no medical-necessity defense."

Monday's decision, which affirmed the federal government's right to crack
down on cooperatives that dispense marijuana to sick people, does not
directly affect Colorado's medical marijuana law. That's because Colorado's
law does not specifically authorize the distribution of marijuana.

"I tried very hard not to step on any federal toes," said state Rep. Mark
Cloer, R-Colorado Springs, the law's author.

Under his legislation, the Colorado Department of Health will begin
accepting applications June 1. Applicants must have a serious illness and
their doctor's recommendation and must pay $140. The health department will
then issue identification authorizing marijuana possession and record the
applicants' names in a confidential registry.

Because the law does not address how applicants would obtain marijuana,
they would still have to buy it illegally.

Luther Symons, whose group, Coloradans for Medical Rights, helped pass
Amendment 20, said he fears the court's ruling will keep patients from
taking advantage of the new law.

"My big concern is that it's going to scare people who are sick and dying
and give them one more reason for being fearful," he said.