MEDICAL-USE MARIJUANA HOT TOPIC

SPRINGFIELD - As a Chicago lawmaker pushes a proposal to legalize
medical-use marijuana, a former drug-policy adviser to President George W.
Bush is touring the state lecturing against the practice.

The conflict reached a head this week when Rep. Larry McKeon, D-Chicago,
challenged Dr. Andrea Barthwell to a public debate about medical marijuana.
Barthwell declined the challenge.

"I have no need to engage in street theater," Barthwell said.

McKeon charged that Barthwell's seminars appear to be a smear campaign
against his proposal. The lawmaker - who is living with AIDS - said House
Bill 407 attempts to improve the quality of life for terminally ill
patients struggling with the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy and
other treatments.

"This is about dealing with health problems that traditional medications
have failed at," McKeon said.

The proposal would allow individuals with a debilitating medical condition
or their caretakers to own up to 12 cannabis plants and 21/2 ounces of
usable cannabis.

Individuals would be registered confidentially with the Illinois Department
of Human Services and receive an identification card exempting them from
arrest, prosecution or penalty.

The measure also allows for the creation of not-for-profit organizations to
grow the limited amount of marijuana plants for registered patients.