HALLINAN, FAZIO TUSSLE OVER WHO SUPPORTS MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORE

In their last scheduled debate before next Tuesday's election for district
attorney, incumbent Terence Hallinan and challenger Bill Fazio found plenty
of ways to agree on their support for medical marijuana, but they also
traded a few barbs.

The candidates gathered Tuesday night at the San Francisco Patients
Resource Center, the recently opened headquarters for medical marijuana
distribution, and tried to convince an assembled crowd of about 50 people
that they would best protect their interests in the medical marijuana issue.

Hallinan kicked off the debate by identifying himself as the nation's
leading district attorney on the issue of medical marijuana -- based
chiefly on his support of Proposition 215, the 1996 voter-approved medical
marijuana initiative that came under attack from the Clinton administration
because it clashed with federal drug laws against distributing the drug.

Fazio wasted little time in going after Hallinan on the medical marijuana
issue, however, saying he has heard of numerous problems that San Francisco
citizens have faced in obtaining and possessing marijuana for medical use,
in part because of enforcement from Hallinan's office.

"If you are having problems, you should look over here," said Fazio,
referring to Hallinan. "Sadly, San Francisco is behind other counties in
providing medical marijuana to its citizens."

Fazio also said he would be more effective in conveying the message to
police that crackdowns on people who use marijuana for medical purposes are
not a priority. He also said he would push to strengthen Prop. 215's
language to make it legal for people to cultivate the drug for sale.

Passed by California voters in November 1996, Prop. 215 allowed patients to
legally possess and grow marijuana for a variety of medical conditions,
including AIDS and cancer, if recommended by a doctor. The measure did not
allow for the sale of marijuana, even for medical use.

Hallinan launched a few barbs at Fazio as well, most notably criticizing
his opponent, a former assistant district attorney, for prosecuting pot
club founder Dennis Peron in a 1982 case that resulted in Peron serving six
months in jail for possession of marijuana for sale.

"Dennis Peron's case could have been dropped," Hallinan said. "How many
hundreds of people have you prosecuted for marijuana? Why is it different
now than it was then?"

Hallinan was applauded warmly when he told the crowd that if he is
re-elected, one of his main goals is to encourage The City's Health
Department to cultivate a relationship with Mendocino County officials to
obtain a "clean, safe and pure" supply of marijuana for those in need.

The crowd was heavily pro-Hallinan but also applauded many of Fazio's
positions.

Onlooker Azubuikeh O said, after listening to the debate, that he still
plans to vote for Hallinan, but was impressed with Fazio as well. "Hallinan
has a long liberal history in The City and I like that," O said. "But if
Mr. Fazio wins, I don't think it will be the end of the world."