Reuters ] Date: Wed, Jun 4, 1997

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuter) California's Senate approved a bill
Wednesday to set up a statefunded center to study the medical uses of
marijuana.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. John Vasconcellos, a Democrat, is aimed at
clarifying and putting into effect Proposition 215, a measure passed by
California voters last November that allows sick people to legally use
marijuana to ease the pain of illnesses such as AIDS, cancer and glaucoma.

"I don't think we should freak out when we hear the word marijuana,"
said Republican Sen. Bruce McPherson, who coauthored the bill. "We need to
know whether we can help people with marijuana in a medical sense."

The Senate approved the measure on a 279 vote, the minimum for
passage. The bill now advances to the Assembly.

Gov. Pete Wilson, a Republican, opposes the bill. [Note: this is
likely a reporter's error.] The California Medical Association has endorsed
the measure.

The Clinton administration opposed Proposition 215 and had threatened
to levy sanctions against doctors who prescribe marijuana, which remains an
illegal drug under federal law.

Vasconcellos has accused the Clinton administration of avoiding
research that might find marijuana to be a safe and effective medicine.

His bill would require the University of California to set up a
medical marijuana research center to study the medical safety and efficacy
of marijuana and develop medical guidelines for its use.

It calls for the center to receive $1 million in state funding for
fiscal year 19971998.