CITY MANAGER'S MARIJUANA REPORT GAINS SUPPORT

A University of California-Berkeley student group that is working to
diminish drug use on college campuses gave the Berkeley city manager
resounding support this week for his report on medicinal marijuana use.

The Berkeley Chapter of International Students in Action announced late
Monday that it applauds City Manager James Keene for a report he wrote on
the various problems associated with implementing the proposed "Kinder and
Safer Streets Act of 1999." The measure, which was referred to Keene
earlier this year, recommended ways law enforcement officials should handle
marijuna-related offenses and outlined the steps that the city needed to
take to implement Proposition 215, the state measure that legalized the
medicinal use of marijuana.

Kevin Sabet, the president of the anti-drug organization's Berkeley
chapter, said in a statement that medicinal marijuana needs to be
approached with caution because authentication of the drug for medicinal
use may lead to full legalization for recreational purposes.

"It cannot be emphasized enouh how gigantic a setback this is for drug
legalization," Sabet said. "At the same time, it is a time of celebration
for those who think medicine should be determined by science instead of
anecdote, for those who know all drug use to be destructive, and for those
who correctly saw this medicinal marijuana measure as a wolf in sheep's
clothing."

Supporters of medicinal marijuna use, meanwhile, have said that the city
manager's report is not productive and does not address the appropriate
issues.

"I was very disappointed (in the city manager's report)," said
Councilmember Dona Spring, who suffers from severe arthritis. "As a person
who has a chronic pain problem, it is just unacceptable."