MEDICINAL MARIJUANA BOOSTERS SEEK CLINTON'S ASSISTANCE

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A group of California state legislators Tuesday asked
President Clinton to help resolve the impasse blocking the state from
implementing its 1996 law permitting medical marijuana use.

At a "summit" to discuss the medical marijuana problem, state Sen. John
Vasconcellos released a letter to Clinton signed by 24 other lawmakers
which said California's clash with the Justice Department could be repeated
around the country as other states consider legalizing medical use of the
drug.

"Let's get together to collaboratively resolve these issues now, so efforts
in other states can reflect a sound working model developed by all
stakeholders, including the federal government," the letter said.

The letter marked the latest plea to Clinton from local California
officials, who have watched state and federal courts rule against the clubs
which provide marijuana to sick people suffering from AIDS, cancer and
other illnesses.

While medical marijuana proponents say the clubs are a safe way to provide
the drug to people who need it, the courts have ruled that they violate
both state and federal laws prohibiting possession and distribution of the
drug.

On Monday, sheriff's deputies forcibly closed the San Francisco Cannabis
Healing Center, evicting almost a dozen people as they locked the doors on
the state's oldest medical marijuana club.

Tuesday's summit in Sacramento drew local California law enforcement and
health officials along with medical marijuana users and their doctors in an
effort to discuss potential new ways to get the drug to sick people.

Appealing to the state senate's Committee on Public Safety, Dr. Mitchell
Katz from the San Francisco Health Department said he needs marijuana for
patients suffering from AIDS.

"We want to be able to retain access to marijuana for our citizens," Katz
said, "And we're concerned with the recent rulings that the clubs that
provide these services will have to close down, and that therefore
residents will not have access to marijuana even when they have an
appropriate recommendation from their physician."

The "buyer's clubs" came above ground after voters passed California's
Proposition 215 in 1996, a measure which approved the possession and use of
marijuana by seriously ill patients under the direction of a doctor.

But they have faced an uphill legal battle since. John Gordnier, of the
California Department of Justice, said that the law has been impossible to
implement.

Justice Department officials declined to attend the summit, citing ongoing
federal litigation against three northern California marijuana clubs.

Many of those who did attend agreed that the clubs, some of which have
developed a wild reputation, were not an ideal outlet for the drug. Several
several doctors said they would prefer to see marijuana dispensed under the
control of regular pharmacies.

Dr. Neil Flynn who cares for AIDS patients at the University of California
Davis Medical Center, said it was frustrating to see marijuana outlawed
while much more potent drugs are regularly used to treat patients.

"We can relieve ... pain with morphine or morphine derivatives or
narcotics, and yet we appear to be helpless in relieving the severe
discomfort of nausea," Flynn said.

Medical marijuana advocates say one of its main benefits is relieving the
nausea caused by other drugs used to treat AIDS and cancer.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski