ALASKA LAW ALLOWS MARIJUANA USE

State Is The Sixth To Legalize Drug To Treat
Specified Medical Ailments

Juneau, Alaska -- Alaska's medical marijuana law went into effect last
week, offering a legal shield to people who smoke the weed for a short
list of medical ailments.

Nearly 60% of the voters in the November election favored the measure,
which allows marijuana use for ailments including cancer, AIDS,
glaucoma, chronic pain, seizures and muscle spasms, provided the
patient has a doctor's recommendation.

The law allows patients to grow limited amounts of marijuana and
protects doctors who recommend it.

Growing, selling or using marijuana for recreational purposes remains
illegal, and marijuana still is classified with heroin and LSD under
federal law.

However, a bill introduced in Congress last week would set aside the
federal ban on marijuana in the states that have approved its use:
Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and Nevada.

"What we need to do to get marijuana into the hands of people
suffering is to set aside the federal controls on marijuana, so the
states can determine this issue for themselves," said the bill's
sponsor, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.).

Frank's legislation would reclassify marijuana as a Schedule II drug,
meaning that it could be prescribed by doctors under certain
conditions, just as cocaine and other controlled substances are.
Prescriptions for such drugs are subject to federal and state review.

Although the Alaska law calls for identification cards that medical
marijuana users could show to fend off arrest, the Department of
Health and Social Services is not yet accepting applications for a
registry of qualified patients.

Even without a card, the law will provide a defense if people are
arrested for using medical marijuana. Patients will be allowed to keep
1 ounce of marijuana, or grow six plants, including three flowering
plants.