ACTIVISTS CHALLENGE FEDS ON MARIJUANA

Berkeley Group Wants U.S. Recognition of Medical Use of Pot

A Berkeley-based organization announced Monday it will file a petition
with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services charging the
agency with putting politics over science on the issue of medical marijuana.

Americans for Safe Access believes the department provides bad
information on marijuana's value as medicine, in violation of law that
requires federal agencies to rely on sound science.

ASA's goal is to force the department to admit publicly that marijuana
is routinely used for medical treatment, which they hope would help
clear the way for easing restrictions on access to medical marijuana.

"The science on medical marijuana is sound," said ASA Executive
Director Steph Sherer. "It's safe, effective medicine. For 30 years,
our government has denied the medical research, but now we have law
that requires them to use sound science."

ASA held a news conference Monday at the National Press Club in
Washington, D.C., announcing its new effort.

Health and Human Services in 2001 reached a conclusion, after a Food
and Drug Administration review, that "marijuana has no currently
accepted medical use in treatment in the United States." ASA's
petition claims established research, federal reports and patient
experience all show marijuana works for pain, nausea, loss of appetite
and spasticity.

Nine states including California now have laws letting patients
legally use marijuana with a doctor's recommendation; federal law
still bans all cultivation, possession and use of marijuana.

The U.S. Supreme Court in November will hear arguments on a case filed
in part by Angel McClary Raich of Oakland, in which she and another
patient claim the federal ban is an illegal overextension of
congressional power that violates their constitutional rights.