MEDICAL MARIJUANA BACKERS TRY AGAIN

New initiative campaign launched

OLYMPIA -- Armed with a simpler proposal and financial backing from three
mega-rich businessmen, a Tacoma physician on Thursday opened a fresh
campaign to legalize the medical use of marijuana.

Dr. Rob Killian, who sponsored last year's sweeping initiative that was
soundly rejected by voters, filed a slimmer version with the secretary of
state's office and said he had learned his lesson.

"The public has told us that they support the right of suffering patients
to use medicinal marijuana, and that if presented with a simple,
straightforward initiative, they will vote for it," he said.

Killian's was one of two initiatives filed Thursday.

The other proposal, filed by two Seattle-area men, would eliminate the
dreaded tax on automobile license tabs.

"The 'No Car Tax' initiative will give working families more of their own
money to take care of their own needs," co-sponsor Tim Eyman said.

"Let's get rid of the car tax, the most hated tax in Washington state."

To date, 10 initiatives have been filed with the state. Supporters must
collect the signatures of 179,248 voters by July 2 to earn spots on the
Nov. 3 ballot.

Both Killian and Eyman have experienced success in the initiative process.

Killian, who runs a health clinic in Tacoma and occasionally recommends
that his patients smoke pot to relieve their suffering, collected enough
signatures to place Initiative 685 on the fall ballot last year.

But state leaders, prosecutors and the Clinton administration rallied
against the proposal, which left open the possibility of legalizing drugs
such as heroin and LSD and liberalized prison policies for drug possession.

His new proposal is modeled after Senate Bill 6271, sponsored by Sen.
Jeanne Kohl, D-Seattle. Legislative leaders declined to advance the bill,
saying the voters sent a strong message last year.

Killian's initiative, which won't be assigned a number for several weeks,
would protect from prosecution patients with terminal or debilitating
illnesses who grow and use marijuana with the consent of a physician. It
also would protect physicians who recommend the use of marijuana and people
who act as primary caregivers for patients.

JoAnna McKee, who runs the Green Cross Patient Co-op, an underground clinic
of sorts in Seattle that provides marijuana to the sick, filed a similar
initiative earlier this month, but Killian said the two have reconciled
their differences and agreed to run his proposal.

Killian said he expects more financial support from the three men who
financed last year's campaign: international financier George Soros of New
York, Arizona businessman John Sperling and Cleveland insurance executive
Peter Lewis.

Eyman, meanwhile, was part of the campaign last year that successfully
gathered enough signatures to force the Legislature to consider a proposal
to roll back affirmative action in Washington. Lawmakers are expected to
forward the question to the November ballot.

Eyman's new endeavor is equally controversial. His initiative would cut the
tax on cars, trucks and motorcycles in half next year and eliminate it in
2000.

He characterized as "chump change" the $30 to $40 license tab cut that
lawmakers and the governor have been considering. Eyman said the state is
enjoying the benefits of a booming economy and should return some of the
people's money.

The state collects $800 million a year from the motor vehicle excise tax.
The money is shared among law enforcement in cities and counties, the state
ferry system, transit agencies, public health departments and the state's
general fund.