MARIJUANA BATTLEGROUNDS

Proponents of allowing marijuana to be used by patients whose doctors
believe it could help them made significant advances in 1998, but in
California the medical-marijuana law passed by voters in 1996 remains
well short of full implementation. Changing that sad situation will be
one of the most important challenges incoming California Attorney
General Bill Lockyer faces when he assumes office.

In November voters around the country signaled that the government
has lost a good deal of credibility when it comes to the drug war.
Voters in Alaska, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, the District of Columbia
and Colorado passed initiatives designed to allow certified patients
access to marijuana and relax drug-law enforcement in other ways.

The federal government responded angrily, and its determination to
thwart the will of the people was underlined by federal closure of
medical marijuana clubs in San Francisco, Oakland and other cities.

In Orange County, Marvin Chavez, who had started a patient-doctor
cooperative, was convicted of marijuana sales, with sentencing due
Jan. 8. Much more effort (and suffering) will be necessary before
government at all levels abandons its war on sick people.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry