SHERIFF SEES MARIJUANA MEASURE AS PLOY TO LEGALIZE OTHER DRUGS

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- A medical marijuana measure on the Nov. 3 ballot
is a ploy to legalize other drugs, says the sheriff of the state's
most populous county.

"We don't believe Measure 67 has anything to do with medicine,"
Multnomah County Sheriff Dan Noelle told the state Criminal Justice
Commission on Thursday.

The commission is taking testimony to compile an informative report
for the public, but won't take a formal position on the initiative
measure.

Noelle said in the field of pharmaceuticals, marijuana "would be the
least effective and most risky" option.

He also claimed the drug "contributes to violent and assaultive
behavior."

But the sponsor of the measure, Dr. Richard Bayer of Portland, said
marijuana is a time-tested remedy for some ailments and was used as
far back at the late 1800s to relieve pain.

He said it's the only pain reliever that has no side effects on the
gastrointestinal system.

And he said the drug's use needs to be tightly controlled.

"We don't want people driving who are under the influence," Bayer
said.

Other supports said the drug has been shown to relieve chemotherapy
side effects and glaucoma.

Portland psychologist and addiction counselor Roger Burt argued that
marijuana "is definitely in the big leagues of addiction."

He said its use damages learning ability and health and even shrinks
the brain.

"This sounds like physician-assisted suicide to me," Burt said. "I
think it's nothing but trouble for Oregon."

Checked-by: Patrick Henry