STATE-SPONSORED FORUM ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA PLANNED FOR FRIDAY

Marijuana's medical potential and a little-known Minnesota law that allows
researchers to study it will take center stage at a public forum Friday
with a couple of surprising sponsors: the state departments of Health and
Public Safety.

The forum is believed to be one of the first to be sponsored by state agencies.

However, officials said, it is not intended to endorse marijuana's medical
use, but to make Minnesota scientists aware of a 1981 state law that allows
investigation of marijuana's active ingredient.

"This is not a matter of us endorsing medical marijuana," said Buddy
Ferguson, Health Department spokesman. He said the forum was put together
after several legislators expressed interest in the topic.

Sen. Linda Higgins, DFL-Minneapolis, is pursuing a $100,000 grant for the
Department of Public Safety to study marijuana's potential medical
benefits. Her bill goes before a Senate subcommittee today.

Medical studies have shown that the drug may have value in treating
glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and the pain and nausea that cancer patients
often experience. In March 1999, the congressional Institute of Medicine
issued a report stating that marijuana may have "moderate" value in
treating cancer nausea and multiple sclerosis.

Federal law, however, still prohibits its use.

Sara Schlauderaff, assistant commissioner of public safety, said the forum
will focus on the process that researchers must go through to get approval
to study the drug.

"All we're doing is providing an informational session on the application
process," she said.

Under the 1981 law, researchers need a permit from the state pharmacy
board, Schlauderaff said. Then, they have to apply for a permit from the
federal government.

Gov. Jesse Ventura and George McMahon, an Iowa man who heads the advocacy
group Patients Out of Time (POT), are expected to appear at the forum.

The event will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at Snelling Office Park's
Mississippi Room, 1645 Energy Park Dr., St. Paul. For more information,
call 651-215-1300.