MARIJUANA INITIATIVE THREATENED

Rep. Robert L. Barr Jr. (R-Ga.) said yesterday that he will introduce
legislation to nullify Initiative 59, the District referendum to legalize
the medical use of marijuana, if the D.C. Council enacts the measure and if
a budget standoff between the White House and Congress stalls a separate
city marijuana ban.

"It would be a travesty for Congress to stand by and allow a handful of
activists to overturn federal narcotics laws with an argument that is,
medically speaking, the worst kind of quackery," Barr said.

District voters approved the initiative in November, 69 percent to 31
percent, but the votes were not tallied until Monday after a federal judge
rejected Congress's attempt to seal the results.

Separately, Congress has passed a Barr amendment to pending D.C.
appropriations legislation prohibiting any city attempt to loosen drug
regulations, although President Clinton has threatened to veto the bill for
unrelated reasons.