INITIATIVE 59: SNUFFED OUT

INITIATIVE 59, the Nov. 3 D.C. ballot measure that would legalize the
possession, use, cultivation and distribution of marijuana if "recommended"
by a physician for serious illnesses, got snuffed out by Congress this
week. Without giving District residents a chance to register their views,
Congress used the omnibus spending bill to kill the voter initiative even
before ballots were cast.

The congressional rider essentially bans funds in the FY 1999 D.C. budget
from being spent on the medical marijuana initiative. Although ballots
containing Initiative 59 have already been printed, Congress still gets to
have its way. Initiatives ratified by the voters still must be certified by
the Board of Elections and Ethics. According to election officials, the
congressional action prevents the board from counting and certifying the
results. Hence the ballot measure -- regardless of how many votes it draws
on Election Day -- cannot become law.

You don't have to be a supporter of Initiative 59 to regard this latest
congressional intrusion as an affront to District voters. This page has
been supportive over the years of more flexibility in the use of regulated
narcotics -- heroin, in particular -- for the alleviation of pain in the
terminally ill. But we believe that doctors and scientists are the best
arbiters of how and under what conditions dangerous drugs can be used to
help the sick. Voters, no matter how well intentioned, cannot do the FDA's
job. We also note the availability of Marinol, a prescription drug
containing the cannabis leaf's active ingredient, THC.

In this instance, however, the immediate issue is not whether District
residents favor or oppose Initiative 59 but rather their right -- now
denied by Congress -- to express their views on the measure. Congress
should have allowed that to happen.

Checked-by: Richard Lake