DEPUTY DRUG CZAR WILL BLAST MARIJUANA BALLOT ISSUE IN GRAND RAPIDS STOP MONDAY

The U.S. deputy drug czar will be in Grand Rapids Monday to campaign
against an initiative on the state's Nov. 4 ballot that would
legalize marijuana use for serious medical conditions such as cancer
and glaucoma.

Scott Burns, named by President Bush to head the nation's drug
control office in 2007, will speak at a 1:30 p.m. press conference at
the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. He will be joined by state Court of
Appeals Judge Schuette and members of the Michigan Sheriffs' Association.

The poll has strong support in recent polls. A late September poll
commissioned by the Detroit Free Press and Local 4 TV station showed
66 percent of likely voters favored the proposal with 25 percent
opposed and 9 percent undecided.

In previous appearances to campaign against medical marijuana
proposals in other states, Burns has argued that legalizing the drug
sends the wrong message to kids and that characterizing it as
medicine downplays he potentially harmful effects.