COALITION FIGHTS LEGAL POT

Conference targets medical marijuana

The Troy Community Coalition, in collaboration with several groups, has
launched a pre-emptive strike against the legalization of marijuana and
other drugs in Michigan.

"Watching other states deal with this issue has made us uneasy," said Mary
Ann Solberg, executive director of the coalition.

The coalition, the chief prosecutors from Oakland, Macomb and Wayne
counties, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Coalition of
Healthy Communities sponsored a half-day conference Monday at the Troy
Marriott, "Marijuana: Myth vs. Reality."

The event, billed as a statewide conference, was designed to raise awareness
about a potential ballot initiative in Michigan, said Oakland County
Prosecutor David Gorcyca.

Other states have gained the signatures needed to place the legalization of
marijuana as a medication on the ballots, circumventing the state
Legislature, Solberg said.

The Oakland County Health Division's office of substance abuse said there
has been an increase in teenagers seeking treatment for marijuana use.

During the 1996-97 fiscal year, 51.5 percent of people younger than 20 who
were admitted to treatment programs had marijuana problems, while 34.4
percent were being treated for alcohol, said John Larsen, a division program
analyst.

"That statistic has reversed itself in the last four or five years," said
Larsen.

Speakers at the conference included public officials from Arizona and
Washington, states that have had referendums on drug legalization.

Barnett Lotstein, special assistant county prosecutor in Arizona, praised
the organizers for being "way ahead of the curve." In 1996, Arizona voters
approved by 64 percent a measure that allows doctors to prescribe marijuana,
heroin and LSD for medicinal purposes.

Lotstein told the crowd of about 200 that anti-legalization groups were
outspent, $1.6 million to $35,000.

Washington Lt. Gov. Brad Owens said "legalizers" have been successful
"because of America's complacent, 'it's-only-pot' attitude."

Allen St. Pierre, executive director of NORML, or National Organization for
the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said Michigan is not an immediate target
state. NORML, based in Washington, D.C., argues that marijuana laws should
be changed to allow medicinal and non-medicinal use for adults.

St. Pierre said anti-reform groups should be worried because public opinion
is against them. "That's why they had trouble raising money in the Arizona
election.

"This same effort went on last week in Florida. It was called the
Anti-Medical Marijuana Summit. It was exactly the same tone and tenor there.
Plotting in advance on how to stymie voter initiatives."

Several teens who attended Monday's event criticized it for being too political.

Marijuana is "already illegal and it doesn't make any difference. People
still smoke," said Sarah Miller, 17.

Instead you have to change people's attitudes, said Mac Vaughey, 17.

Robert H. Campbell may be reached at 1-248-586-2621.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett