FORUM STAY POSITIVE ON ISSUE OF MARIJUANA, WHETHER MEDICAL OR NOT

FARMINGTON -- About 50 people attended a forum on the legality of
marijuana Monday at the University of Maine at Farmington.

The six panelists from the Maine House, law enforcement agencies and a
drug legalization advocacy group touched on everything from medical
marijuana laws to state's rights.

Eric Friberg, who described himself as a medical marijuana advocate
from South Portland, said he was surprised by the views of the panelists.

"It's the first one-sided panel I've seen in favor of cannabis,
usually it's the opposite," said Friburg, 40.

While the panelists disagreed on some issues, they all showed support
for Maine's current medical marijuana law. Several called for further
de-criminalizing the drug so it can be regulated and taxed.

Rep. Lance Harvell, R-Farmington, said he supported recent bills to
de-criminalize marijuana that have failed to get out of the committee
in the Legislature.

He said he organized Monday night's forum in Farmington because he
believes something needed to change in the way Maine is fighting the
war on drugs.

"The war is over, the question is, 'how do we surrender without making
it worse than it is,'" Harvell said.

Harvell admitted he tried marijuana in high school.

"I did inhale and I didn't like it," he said.

Harvell said, however, it would be difficult for Maine to fight
federal laws that still consider marijuana illegal. The federal
government controls the "purse strings" and can make it tough for
Maine to fight for legalization, he said.

"We're not about to trade johnny's weed for grandma's Medicare,"
Harvell said.

Farmington Police Chief Jack Peck said his department doesn't consider
marijuana a "great priority."

The police department has handled an average of 22 marijuana
possession cases a year, and most were dismissed or the person was
fined between $100 to $300, according to Peck. There have been no
convictions in the past five years for cultivating marijuana or
trafficking, which involves selling the drug, he said.

He said he is against de-criminalizing opiates and other drugs because
he has seen the effect on families and communities.

"I've cried with the families," Peck said of handling overdose deaths
for heroin.

"I've never been to a marijuana overdose," he said.

Peck said other drugs lead to violence but marijuana users are
typically not violent.

"I have never fought anybody who was stoned," Peck
said.

"We should take a look at de-criminalizing marijuana," he said,
referring to the state regulating and taxing the drug.

Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland, said she co-sponsored the bills to
de-criminalize marijuana. She said she has written another
de-criminalization bill she hopes to present to the
Legislature.

Russell said she wants to see marijuana regulated and taxed to
generate revenues. She said her bill would allow people 21-years-old
and above to buy, grow and store certain amounts of marijuana.

She said she wanted to take the drug away from the illegal trade that
makes it more dangerous for users, and more accessible to young people.

Rep. Deborah Sanderson, R-Chelsea, said she supports the medical
marijuana bill that voters passed. She said she wants to enforce the
law as people wanted it, which would mean changes to how the law is
currently being enforced.

Caregivers supply marijuana to patients and both groups must register
with the state Department of Health and Human Services, she said.

Voters passed a version of the law that has voluntary registration for
patients and changes to the annual fees paid by caregivers and
patients to register with the state, she said.

Sanderson said she does not support de-criminalizing marijuana or
other drugs, but said politicians have a duty to uphold the will of
voters who passed the medical marijuana law.

Medical marijuana caregiver Michael Danforth said he supported the
views of the panelists. He said he has five patients he supplies with
marijuana.

"I think we've got to change some things because they did tear apart
what the people voted for," said Danforth, 42, of Farmington.

Maine Attorney General William J. Schneider and Peter Christ of Law
Enforcement Against Prohibition were the other panelists Monday.