Doctors Group Backs Bill to Research Medical Pot Use
By ERIC BAILEY, Times Staff Writer

SACRAMENTOThe California Medical Assn. is throwing
its weight behind a legislative effort to finance $6 million in
research on the therapeutic uses of marijuana and design a
distribution system for patients who may need the drug.
The announcement is planned for a news conference at the
Capitol this morning. The state's biggest doctors group last year
opposed Proposition 215, the medical marijuana measure approved
by California voters in November.
Backers of the bill by state Sen. John Vasconcellos (DSanta
Clara) said the group's support should improve its chances and
could help sway Gov. Pete Wilson. The governor has twice in
recent years vetoed legislation that would legalize the medical use of
marijuana, prompting advocates of the drug to sponsor Proposition
215.
"We believe if the base of support for the bill is broad, the
governor will recognize that this is not a fringe issue," said Rand
Martin, Vasconcellos' chief of staff. "This is a mainstream issue. This
is a goodforCalifornians issue."
But a spokesman for Wilson said it remains doubtful that the
governor will change his mind.
"We're very skeptical that any bill on the use of medicinal
marijuana would be acceptable, given that doctors can prescribe
the pill form of marijuana as a substitute for smoking pot," said Sean
Walsh, Wilson's spokesman. "That is certainly a more manageable
way to deal with the issueand certainly sends a better message to
California youth as well."
Vasconcellos' bill would create a 12member task force to
design a distribution network making marijuana available to those in
need. It would also allocate $2 million annually over the next three
years for the University of California to conduct research into the
potential therapeutic uses and health risks of pot.
Officials at the medical group, which represents more than
38,000 physicians in the state, said their support was based largely
on the need for research. The group has long advocated broad
clinical trials to determine if marijuana helps certain patients.
"We are really committed to beginning the appropriate
research," said Steve Thompson, the medical group's government
affairs chief. "Until it's done, there's going to be this damnable
debate as to its effectiveness."
Officials at Americans for Medical Rights, which helped push
Proposition 215, said the state must take the lead because the
federal government is moving too slowly.
"Foot dragging is the rule of the day at the federal level, so we
need to give it a spark," said Dave Fratello, the group's spokesman.
"CMA agrees with us it's going to take political pressure and state
funding to make that happen."

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