POTLAW CRITICS CALL IN 'BIG GUNS';
LEGISLATORS TARGET PROP. 200 by By Kris Mayes and Hal Mattern, The
Arizona Republic Copyright (c) 1997, Phoenix Newspapers, Inc.

Critics of a new Arizona law legalizing marijuana for
medical use are mounting a fullcourt press at the
Legislature, enlisting the White House and former national
drug czar Bill Bennett to lobby legislators.

The push comes as a bill to make dramatic changes in the
law is foundering in the Senate. Republicans confirmed they
have asked retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey, President
Clinton's antinarcotics chief; U.S. Attorney for Arizona
Janet Napolitano; and Sen. Jon Kyl, RAriz., to lobby the
Legislature on the proposal to restrict the marijuana
for medicine law, approved by voters by a ratio of 21
in November.

Bennett, who served under President Bush, also plans to
join with Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley today to
denounce the new law.

Opponents even may attempt to enlist Clinton to lobby
wavering Democratic lawmakers.

"I've asked for those people who support the legislation
to call legislators everyone from elected officials to
antidrug organizations," said Sen. John Kaites,
RGlendale.

Kaites said Clinton's involvement depends on the need
for Democratic votes and suggested that if necessary, the
president would be willing to pick up the phone.

"It depends where the votes are," Kaites said. "If the
votes are with Democrats, clearly the (Clinton)
administration cares about this issue, and clearly they
have expressed a desire to help in any way that we think
may be helpful."

Democratic leaders seemed unimpressed, however, with
plans to roll out the federal guns.

House Minority Leader Art Hamilton, Dsouthwest Phoenix,
said that although Clinton took Arizona in the November
election, "he doesn't dictate Arizona policy."

"My bottom line remains the same: that the people of the
state spoke on this issue at the polls," Hamilton said.
"They understood clearly what they voted on."

Senate Democrats have not taken a formal position on the
bill, which would require the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration's approval of marijuana for medical use
before it would be legalized in Arizona. Critics say the
provision would effectively gut the marijuana law because
the FDA is notorious for taking years to approve drugs.

"It's one that people are all over the board on," said
Senate Minority Leader Jack Brown, DSt. Johns. "There is a
fine line we have to walk. People voted it in, so we've got
to pay them some attention."

Those trying to combat the marijuana law likely would
rely on their contacts with Napolitano for access to
Clinton. Napolitano, who once played a key role in the
Arizona Democratic Party, has strong ties to the White
House.

Dan Drake, an assistant U.S. attorney under Napolitano,
said his office already has been in contact with lawmakers
on the measure.

Meanwhile, Bennett and Romley plan to hold a 12:30 p.m.
news conference today to discuss the national implications
of passage of Proposition 200.

They'll be accompanied by Nelson Cooney, a
representative of a national antidrug coalition that is
fighting to weaken Arizona and California marijuana for
medicine laws.

Arizona's new law allows doctors to prescribe marijuana
to critically ill patients if two licensed physicians agree
on the use and offer research on its appropriateness. The
new law also permits patients to use other Schedule One
drugs, a category that includes PCP, heroin and LSD.
Attempts to alter the law have run into trouble in the
Senate, where several Republicans and Democrats have
expressed unease over what they consider to be an endrun
around voters.

Sen. Carol Springer, RPrescott, one of the GOP
lawmakers opposing the bill, labeled the measure and the
use of national political heavyweights in the debate "a
crock."

"To me, it's just trying to get more cover for those who
don't agree with Proposition 200 and who are trying to
undermine it," she said. "And I don't think it will work."

Ed Wren, a lobbyist for the original backers of
Proposition 200, said the bill's fortunes began to shift in
the Senate, when several Republicans and Democrats began to
listen to arguments that the measure is antipopulist.

"There are several senators who feel that this bill
does, in fact, thwart the will of the voters," he said.