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News (Media Awareness Project) - US CO: Voters Will Decide Fate Of Medical Marijuana
Title:US CO: Voters Will Decide Fate Of Medical Marijuana
Published On:2000-07-17
Source:Gazette, The (CO)
Fetched On:2008-09-03 16:00:49
VOTERS WILL DECIDE FATE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

DENVER - Ror Poliac hopes he is the last man prosecuted in Colorado
for growing marijuana for use as a pain reliever.

The 43-year-old Poliac, who has multiple sclerosis, says he smokes a
little marijuana at night, to help him sleep. "I have spasticity in my
legs. There are times when I can't even bend my legs, and it's hard to
get into bed," he said.

That illegal habit could cost him two to six years in jail, but Poliac
doesn't think that's going to happen. He says he just can't imagine a
jury looking at him, in his wheelchair, with his colostomy bag, and
deciding he should be in jail.

This November, Colorado voters will vote on whether to legalize
marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Proponents say the change makes sense - marijuana is less dangerous
and less addictive than other drugs, like morphine, that doctors
prescribe legally.

Opponents say there is a big difference - people like Poliac still
couldn't get a prescription, precisely filled out by a pharmacist.
Instead, they'd still have to grow their own or buy off the street
uncertain doses of an unproven, potentially dangerous drug.

California passed a similar measure in 1996, which has resulted in
frequent clashes as federal authorities insist it remains illegal.

In Poliac's case, the Arapahoe County district attorney's office
offered to bump the charges down to a misdemeanor - if Poliac agreed
to stop using marijuana for the length of his probation.

But Poliac said he can't do that. Besides, he and his attorney, Warren
Edson, want a trial. They want to make a statement about Colorado's
marijuana laws. And until the trial was delayed this month, they were
hoping to make that statement in time to sway voters.

Proponents tried to get the medical marijuana measure passed in 1998,
but then-Secretary of State Vikki Buckley said they had not gathered
the required 54,242 signatures.

As the legal wrangling dragged on, the question remained on the
ballot, but the results were not tallied.

Even without the outcome of Poliac's trial to digest, voters will hear
plenty of messages this fall, some factual, many just designed to tug
at their heartstrings or play on their fears.

Like the battles over abortion or gay rights, the war over medical
marijuana is often waged on an emotional front.
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