CONGRESS REVIEW OF LEGALIZING POT SOUGHT

UKIAH -- Citing 30 years of failed state and federal anti-marijuana
campaigns, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday became the
first in California to call on Congress to conduct special hearings toward
legalization of pot.

"Government agencies have spent millions and millions of dollars trying to
eradicate marijuana, with the only clear result being escalating prices
that attract more and more growers,'' groused Board Chairman John Pinches.

Before a unanimous vote, Pinches and other board members complained Tuesday
that while government agencies bankroll their war against marijuana, they
do little to combat escalating manufacture and use of dangerous drugs like
methamphetamine. County drug officials told board members Tuesday that
methamphetamine use on the North Coast is running more than 80 percent
higher than the statewide average.

The board-approved letter to Rep. Frank Riggs, R-Windsor, asks him to
follow through on a past pledge to seek special congressional hearings on
marijuana issues if county supervisors sought them.

"Due to the millions of dollars spent on eradication efforts against
marijuana, this board is urging your support to move forward and seek a
congressional hearing on the issues surrounding legalization of
marijuana,'' according to the letter.

Riggs was unavailable for comment Tuesday on his willingness to seek the
special congressional hearings the county board wants.

Tuesday's vote was the first by a county board of supervisors in what's
generally considered to be California's premium pot-growing region.
Mendocino County consistently is among the state's top marijuana producers,
despite years of state and federal campaigns against pot growers. One
result has been escalating prices, leading some experts to estimate that
the value of Mendocino's annual pot production could total nearly $1
billion.

In a second unanimous vote relating to marijuana issues, board members also
passed a resolution calling on local law enforcement and prosecutors to
spend no more time or money on medical marijuana-related cases until state
or federal agencies provide ""clear guidelines.'' It also expressed support
for the Ukiah Cannabis Buyers Club as long as the club operates under
guidelines of Proposition 215.

The board acted in response to federal prosecutors' moves to obtain court
orders shutting down cannabis clubs in California. Federal authorities
contend that federal law supercedes Proposition 215, a statewide initiative
approved by voters in 1996, allowing marijuana use for medicinal purposes.

The board's Proposition 215 vote was endorsed by a group of cancer and
HIV-related patients, who said smoking pot alleviates some of their
suffering.

"The people of this state have made their views known. Why can't the
federal government accept that?'' asked Michael Hooper.

Pinches, a Republican candidate for state Senate, was outspoken in his
support for both actions.

"We need to attack these issues at every level we can. The state and
federal governments must come to recognize the incredible impacts of their
marijuana policies on the local level,'' said Pinches.

Copyright 1998, The Press Democrat