LEGISLATORS DECLINE TO ASK CONGRESS FOR MARIJUANA Rx

The House Health Committee isn't ready to ask Congress to allow doctors to
prescribe marijuana.

A resolution heard by the committee yesterday to do that was "much too
strong" said Chairman Alex Santiago. He said it would be difficult getting
support to pass it.

He said, however, there is strong feeling that marijuana relieves pain and
suffering and the committee should look at the issue. He suggested the
author, Rep. David Tarnas, rewrite the measure to ask the federal
government to move more quickly on testing to establish a universal policy
on medical use of marijuana.

"Rather than the tail wagging the dog, let's get the dog to move a little
quicker," Santiago said, "and get the feds to come up with a position." The
Health Committee earlier in the session held a bill, also proposed by
Tarnas, to allow use of marijuana for medical reasons. Rep. Bob McDermott,
committee member, said he would also vote against a resolution based on
testimony and evidence.

The Honolulu Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, state
Public Safety Department and state Health Department opposed the
resolution. but they indicated that a consistent federal policy would help
their agencies. Eight states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes
while others have banned it, Santiago noted.

Donald Topping, retired university of Hawaii professor who heads the Drug
Policy Forum of Hawaii, said denying marijuana "to sick people because of
the politically motivated war on drugs is unconscionable." "You can go down
the streets anywhere and see stuff all over the place," said Rep. Gene
Ward. "So isn't there de facto legalization already?" Topping said the
drug with the highest increase of arrests in Honolulu is marijuana. People
who use it for pain and suffering must resort to black market supplies, he
said.

He supported Tarnas' resolution as a "small step" forward and would even
favor a modified version, he said. "Anything that would move it to
rational discussion and scrutiny."