MARIJUANA INITIATIVE STALLS BUT MAY BE REINTRODUCED

The drive to legalize pot has been canceled because the campaign was too
disorganized and had scheduling problems.

Initiative 229, a measure to permit marijuana sales in state liquor stores
and license farmers to grow the drug, is likely to be reintroduced in
January, said the campaign's leader and top financier, ex-Microsoftie Bruce
McKinney.

The campaign was not close to getting the 180,000 signatures needed by the
end of the year to place the proposal before the Legislature - despite
gathering 20,000 in one weekend at last summer's Hemp Fest. Next year
McKinney will try again, with an initiative to the people.