LOCKYER BACKS PROPOSAL FOR MARIJUANA REGISTRY

California's top law enforcement official backed a proposal to
regulate the use of medicinal marijuana Monday,endorsing a plan that
includes a statewide registry of qualified patients.

"Proposition 215-while well-intended-was badly drafted.It actually
raised more questions than answers,"Attorney General Bill Lockyer
said."There clearly is a need for crisp state regulations and
guidelines that will assist local agencies in implementing the
voter-approved law."

The recommendation for a state registry-contained in a bill by
Sen.John Vasconcellos,D-Santa Clara-in an effort to protect medical
marijuana users and growers from prosecution.

When Lockyer took office in January,he expressed his support for
Prop.215 and created a 30-member task force to try to make the law
work.