POLS NIX ARIZ. MARIJUANA REFERENDUM

By MICHELLE RUSHLO
Associated Press Writer

PHOENIX (AP) Saying they must protect the public, lawmakers passed a
bill Tuesday setting aside a voter approved law that allows medical uses
for marijuana.

Doctors in Arizona cannot write prescriptions for marijuana unless the
Food and Drug Administration give the goahead for the medical use of
marijuana, the bill says.

Gov. Fife Symington has been pushing for the bill and plans to sign it,
his spokesman said. The voter initiative, approved 21 in November, has
not yet taken effect.

That law, Prop 200, allows terminally ill patients or those in
debilitating pain to receive legal prescriptions for marijuana and other
drugs, including heroin, LSD and methamphetamine.

Sam Vagenas, a key backer of Proposition 200, said the bill shows blatant
disregard for voters. He said he and other Proposition 200 backers plan to
sue the state when the bill becomes law.

Lawmakers who backed the bill said they have an obligation to protect the
public.

``Our constitutional duty is to protect not only the will of the people
but to protect the health, welfare and safety of the people of the
state,'' said Sen. Marc Spitzer, a Phoenix Republican.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. John Kaites, R Glendale, said FDA approval should
be required on the variety of drugs covered under the law.

Critics say the bill is a slap in the face of voters.

``It seems to me, we're saying to the voters that `you're smart when you
vote for us but we don't trust you when you vote on other important
issues,''' said Sen. Pete Rios, DHayden.

Arizona and California both passed initiatives last fall allowing medical
uses of marijuana, which is illegal under federal law.

In Washington, the vote was lauded by a spokesman for Barry McCaffrey, the
national drug policy director.

``The legislature of Arizona has taken a very responsible course of
action, requiring FDA approval of any drug before it is declared to be
medicine, as required by law,'' said Bob Weiner, spokesman for the White
House National Drug Policy Office.