POT LEGALIZATION SUPPORT BILL STALLS

SACRAMENTO - State Sen. John Vasconellos, D-Santa Clara, has authored a
bill, SB 1887, to put teeth into Prop. 215, the ballot measure that was
described as legalizing the medicinal use of marijuana in California.

The Vasconellos measure has passed the Senate, but it's bogged down in the
state Assembly's Health Committee. State Assemblyman Scott Baugh, R-
Huntington Beach, the vice chairman of the committee, recently voted against it.

Among other things, the bill gives local communities the power to adopt
zoning areas where cannabis co-ops can be established. It also would
mandate that every medically eligible person be given access to marijuana,
even if they cannot afford to purchase it. It would limit distribution to
weekly supplies, while also requiring photo identification cards. Medical
records would be kept confidential, but authorities could inspect program
centers without notice.

Authorities would be allowed to determine whether patients receiving
marijuana had a physician's authorization.

Vasconellos said he expects eventual passage of SB 1887, but he also expects
Gov. Pete Wilson to veto it. The Clinton Administration, he said, is his
biggest headache.

"It's absolutely insane, hysterical and embarrassing," Vasconellos said.
"The frustration level is very high, because we're fighting an uphill battle
against a federal government that's gone mad."

However, the pro-Prop. 215 legislators continue to seek federal cooperation
for what they consider a health issue. The Clinton Administration has put
more restrictions on marijuana than on morphine or cocaine, Vasconellos
said. Marijuana, according to the federal government, is classified as a
dangerous drug with no medical use.

However, the concern in Sacramento prompted 25 state legislators to recently
petition Clinton to reconsider his administration policy.

"Mr. President, we can't ignore this issue," the letter stated. "It won't
go away -- so long as human beings believe they have the right to attend to
their own illness, as their doctor recommends, rather than as government
dictates."

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett