MICROSOFT MILLIONAIRE BACKS MOVE TO LEGALIZE POT

OLYMPIA -- Convinced that laws against marijuana sales and use are futile, a
Microsoft millionaire says he was more than glad to donate $100,000 to a
campaign to legalize pot in Washington.

Bruce McKinney, 47, now a Seattle software programmer, this week identified
himself as the millionaire providing major financial backing for Initiative
229, which would permit marijuana sales in state liquor stores and would
license farmers to cultivate the plant.

His backing, but not his identity, was announced last week by the Campaign
for the Restoration and Regulation of Hemp, sponsor of Initiative 229.

"I'm acting because I believe prohibition causes serious damage to the
health of our state and our nation," said McKinney, who added that he
occasionally uses marijuana.

Supporters of Initiative 229 are trying to gather the 180,000 signatures
they need by Dec. 31 to submit the measure to the Legislature. If, as
expected, lawmakers don't approve the initiative, the measure would be
placed on the ballot in November 2000.

McKinney's money already has allowed sponsors to hire paid signature
gatherers. He said he would probably donate more if needed.

McKinney left Microsoft two years ago and started his own software company.

At Microsoft, he wrote Hardcore Visual Basic, a well-known programming
language book.

McKinney said he supports the initiative because marijuana prohibition is an
invasion of privacy and will never work because the drug is so widely
available.