" Voters should reject sweeping drug initiative"

Initiative 685 (Washington State) might have some merit if it were simply
designed to make it legal for patients suffering from cancer, AIDS or other
serious diseases to use marijuana for medicinal purposes under a doctor's
care.

Some medical studies show that marijuana can settle nausea after
chemotherapy and stir an appetite in AIDS patients. And scientists are
just delving into marijuana's potential for curbing cocaine and heroin
addiction.

But Initiative 685, which is on the November 4 ballot, is a poorly drafted
attempt to decriminalize heroin, cocaine and LSD. It would set aside drug
convictions and make many of the state's drug laws unenforceable. Voters
should reject the initiative.

The measure would legalize possession of marijuana, heroin, LSD and other
"Schedule 1" drugs by people who are seriously ill. It says physicians
must comply with "professional" medical standards" when recommending such
controlled substances, but it doesn't say whose standards should be
applied. And it doesn't define "seriously ill."

The measure does offer some ideas that deserve more public debate,
especially its attempt to promote more drug treatment instead of jail time
for people convicted of nonviolent drug crimes.

But Initiative 685's vagueness, its broad agenda to legalize drugs and its
attack on current drug laws are unacceptable.