LEGALIZING OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO BE ON AGENDA NEXT MONTH

TRENTON -- New Jersey would become the 12th state to legalize
marijuana for people with debilitating medical conditions under a
bill slated to be discussed next month by state lawmakers.

Sen. Joseph Vitale, chairman of a Senate health panel, said he's
scheduled a June 8 discussion to hear from experts on the bill
proposed by Sen. Nicholas Scutari. Vitale said he supports the
concept, but has questions.

"It's really an effort to provide some sort of relief for people and
some compassion," said Vitale, D-Middlesex.

The legislation has long been proposed by Scutari, D-Union, but has
never received a legislative hearing.

Though 11 states allow medical marijuana, in June 2005 the U.S.
Supreme Court ruled the federal government can prosecute people who
use marijuana no matter what a state law says.

Terrence P. Farley, an Ocean County assistant prosecutor and
spokesman for two state anti-drug law enforcement groups, said the
bill is a veiled attempt to legalize drugs.

"This is how they're trying to get marijuana legalized," said Farley,
who also is director of the county anti-narcotics force.

The Assembly hasn't scheduled any hearings on the bill, but Gov. Jon
S. Corzine said last year that he would sign a medical marijuana bill into law.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently reiterated its
opposition to medical marijuana. The American Medical Association,
National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society and National
Multiple Sclerosis Society reject its use. An April report by federal
Department of Human Services agencies found no data supported
marijuana for general medical use.

The National Academy of Sciences has found marijuana can help
patients with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and AIDS wasting.

Scutari's bill lists cancer, glaucoma, HIV and AIDS, wasting
syndrome, chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures and persistent muscle
spasms as among the conditions eligible for medical marijuana usage.