U.S. OFFICIALS URGE VOTE AGAINST MEDICAL MARIJUANA

WASHINGTON - Federal anti-drug officials Tuesday urged voters to reject
initiatives to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana that are on the Nov.
3 ballot in four states and the District of Columbia.

"Smoked marijuana has not been tested (by the government)," Dr. Don Vereen,
deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy told a news
conference.

"We must keep an open mind about drugs with medical purposes, (but) before
you vote, ask yourself: 'What other medicines do you smoke?' Smoked
marijuana damages the brain, heart, lungs and immune system."

The ballot initiatives in Alaska, Nevada, Oregon, Washington state and
Washington, D.C. seek to allow doctors to recommend the smoking of
marijuana for AIDS, cancer and terminally ill patients.

Approved In California, Arizona

Voters in California and Arizona approved measures in recent years to
legalize marijuana for medical uses, but legal challenges and other
controversies in both states have prevented full implementation.

Federal anti-drug officials believe the initiatives will undermine the
legitimate medical use of cannabis. THC, the active ingredient in the
cannabis leaf, has been available in pill form for 15 years. They also fear
that medicinal marijuana initiatives will undermine their drug prevention
programs.

"These marijuana referenda come at a time when we can't afford to send the
wrong message to our children about smoking marijuana," U.S. anti-drug czar
Barry McCaffrey said at the news conference.

"Let's have none of this malarkey on marijuana smoking by cunning groups
working to legalize drugs. American medicine is the best in the world for
pain management," he said.

The NORML Foundation, a nonprofit lobby working to end marijuana
prohibition, said it has compiled a database of over 40 medical
organizations that support medical marijuana research or therapeutic use.

Report Due In January

"Over the past several years, the medical community has resoundingly spoken
in favor of allowing certain patients legal access to medical marijuana,"
said Allen Pierre, executive director of The NORML foundation.

"It remains politicians in Washington and law enforcement officials, not
doctors and nurses, who continue to support policies prohibiting the use of
marijuana as a legal medicine," he added.

The National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine is scheduled to
complete its report for the government on "medical marijuana" in January.