TOKIN UP

Capitol Police had to look the other way while Irvin Rosenfeld lit up
a fat doobie outside the Cannon House Office Building on Wednesday.
Rosenfeld is one of seven patients in the United States who is legally
exempt from federal law prohibiting possession of controlled
substances and, therefore, can toke up just about anytime, anywhere.

Rosenfeld, who has a debilitating bone condition, joined television
talk show host Montel Williams, who has multiple sclerosis, Rep. Dana
Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) and other Members at a news conference to
introduce the States Rights to Medical Marijuana Act. The event was
coordinated by the Marijuana Policy Project.

Bruce Mirken, a spokesman for MPP, said none of the police officers
bothered Rosenfeld while he smoked his joint. (Among other things, the
proposed legislation would protect medical marijuana patients from
arrest.)

But Rohrabacher wasn't taking any chances. He didn't want any of his
fingerprints on the pot. He even refused to hold a can of prescription
marijuana cigarettes for a photo op. "I can't accept a gift that may
be worth more than $50," he explained dryly to HOH.