LOCKYER TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW

Attorney General Bill Lockyer is attempting to clear up legal clouds caused
by the passage of the medical marijuana initiative.

Lockyer invited about 35 law enforcement, health and elected officials and
advocates for medical marijuana to the Justice Department's Sacramento
office yesterday for the first meeting of a new task force.

In contrast to his predecessor, Dan Lungren, Lockyer supports Proposition
215, which legalized marijuana for medical use under certain circumstances.

California voters passed Proposition 215 in November 1996. Yet Lungren and
the federal government moved quickly to shut down loosely organized pot clubs.

Lockyer spokeswoman Hilary McLean said her boss wants "to get sick people
the medicine they need and still work within the confines of current law.''

"If current law needs to be changed, find out what needs to be changed,''
McLean said.

Task force member Mike Nevin, a San Mateo County supervisor and former San
Francisco police officer, said he is encouraged by Lockyer's stance.

"He has open arms,'' Nevin said. ``Lockyer himself was a proponent of
Proposition 215. That makes a lot of difference.''

Nevin noted that health officials in San Mateo County are asking for
federal approval of a clinical study of the health benefits of medical
marijuana. Patients suffering from AIDS or HIV or undergoing chemotherapy
would smoke marijuana to see whether it relieves pain and stimulates
appetite as proponents say.

The proposed study would differ from one under way at San Francisco General
Hospital in that it would include cancer patients, not just those with HIV.
San Mateo County needs federal approval before distributing marijuana,
which is classified as a dangerous drug on par with heroin or cocaine.

Nevin said the study could help determine whether developing an inhaler,
similar to ones used by asthma patients, would "impact the immediate
nausea'' caused by some cancer treatments, for instance.

The task force is led by state Senator John Vasconcellos, D-San Jose, and
Santa Clara County District Attorney George Kennedy. The group has divided
into subcommittees to study the various issues raised by medical marijuana
and plans to meet again next month.