FED MEMO RENEWS MEDICAL MARIJUANA PUSH ON BEACON HILL

Medical marijuana proponents are citing a U.S. Justice Department
memo released this week in their effort to convince the Massachusetts
Legislature to become the 14th state to pass a law legalizing the use
of marijuana for medical purposes.

The October 19 memo generally discourages federal prosecutors from
expending resources pursuing individuals who are in compliance with
state medical marijuana laws.

The memo, which describes prosecution of significant traffickers of
illegal drugs and the disruption of drug manufacturing networks as
"core priorities," was signed by Justice Department Criminal Division
Assistant Attorney Lanny A. Breuer and top officials at the FBI and
the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The Capitol Hill-based Medical Marijuana Project seized on the
ruling, saying it "gives new impetus to the drive to pass a medical
marijuana bill in Massachusetts." Such legislation (H 2160) was heard
in May by the Public Health Committee but has not emerged for a vote.
It is sponsored by Rep. Frank Smizik (D-Brookline) and its cosponsors
include Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Charles Murphy
(D-Burlington), Sen. Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth), Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Committee Chair Rep. Liz Malia, Elder Affairs
Committee Chair Rep. Alice Wolf (D-Cambridge) and House floor
division chair Rep. Ellen Story (D-Amherst).

A Suffolk University poll released last month found 81 percent of
Massachusetts voters support medical marijuana legislation.

In a statement released by the Medical Marijuana Project, Marcy Duda
of Ware, who suffers from chronic pain and nerve damage due to brain
surgery, said, "I hope this sends a signal to our legislators that
there is no reason not to move ahead with legislation to help
seriously ill patients. I've tried prescription painkillers that are
very addictive and just knock me out. Medical marijuana helps me get by."

Rhode Island passed a medical marijuana law in 2006.