WCMR - FEDS BEGIN TO BEND ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

SEATTLE, May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington Citizens for Medical Rights
(WCMR), the sponsors of the Washington State Medical Marijuana Act, today
praised a new National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy that opens the
door to scientific research on the medical potential of marijuana and its
unique compounds, known as cannabinoids.

Dr. Rob Killian, primary sponsor and author of Initiative 692, called the
change in policy significant. "It appears that our efforts on the state
level are beginning to move the Federal Government towards a more
compassionate stance," Killian said. "This announced change is an
important first step in allowing patients in all states access to a
medicine that works. We can be proud that our new law in Washington is
helping to prompt change in our Nation's capitol."

The NIH announcement follows up on recommendations from a landmark March
1999 report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), which confirmed that
marijuana is valuable for many patients for whom other medications do not
work. The report urged the federal government to make a commitment to new
medical marijuana research. In spite of his praise for the policy change,
Dr. Killian stresses that this is only a small step in the right direction.
"In March, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended the creation of an
experimental access program to provide smokable marijuana to seriously ill
patients who have not benefited from standard medications. The IOM
investigators called this an important, interim step for patients who have
no real alternatives while new medical marijuana research gets under way."

The Federal stance on Medical Marijuana prevents patients in Washington
State from obtaining marijuana through pharmaceutical outlets. "The time
has come for the Federal Government to move out of the way of suffering
patients, and their ability to safely use medical marijuana, under the care
of their physician; politics has stood in the way of this medicine for far
too long."

Washington voters approved Initiative 692 in November of 1998 by a margin
of 59% to 41%.

Additional information can be found at the web site:
http://www.medmjscience.org

SOURCE Washington Citizens for Medical Rights

CONTACT Tim Killian for the Washington Citizens for Medical Rights,
206-781-7716