HARRIS VOTE PROTEST

The Florida Cannabis Action Network staged a protest at the district
office of U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Longboat Key, on Wednesday to
speak out against Harris' recent vote against a bill that would have
supported those states that have legalized marijuana for medical purposes.

According to Anthony Lorenzo, FLCAN spokesman, a group that advocates
for the regimented legalization of marijuana, Harris has now voted
four times against a bill that would prevent the Drug Enforcement
Administration from using funds to prosecute people who use and
provide marijuana for medical purposes.

Lorenzo said Harris' vote stood "in stark contrast to the (Republican)
Party's position of supporting states' rights." Harris was scheduled
to be in Ft. Lauderdale on a campaign stop for her U.S. Senate race
and was not present at the protest.

Lorenzo said his group wasn't looking to speak with Harris because it
had done so before without producing any change in her viewpoint.

Cannabis has a documented track record aiding cancer patients with
symptoms such as nausea, and helping people with diseases like ALS, or
Lou Gehrig's disease, by slowing down or stopping the
neurodegenerative effects of the ailment, Lorenzo said.

He said Manatee's other member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, D-
Tampa, had previously opposed the DEA bill but changed his stance
after talking with FLCAN.

Gerry Fritz, Harris' spokesman, said the congresswoman is opposed to
the legalization of any illegal drug, for medical purposes or otherwise.