MEDICAL MARIJUANA INITITIATIVE PETITION READY FOR SIGNATURES

HELENA (AP) - Supporters of a proposed initiative to allow Montanans
to grow, possess and use marijuana for medical purposes can begin
gathering petition signatures to qualify the measure for the November
ballot.

The secretary of state and attorney general offices have approved the
format of the petition used to collect voter signatures, the final
step before backers can begin circulating the petitions.

Initiative 148 would permit the production, ownership and use of
marijuana, in limited amounts, for people with a "debilitating
medical condition" or "chronic or debilitating disease" for which
marijuana can ease symptoms, such as nausea, severe pain, seizures or
muscle spasms.

Patients could use marijuana, under medical supervision, to alleviate
the symptoms related to such diseases as cancer, glaucoma and AIDS.

The proposed law would require a qualified patient or the patient's
caregiver to register with the state in order to legally have and use
marijuana. I-148 limits an eligible person to no more than six plants
and one ounce of usable marijuana.

Paul Befumo submitted the proposal on behalf of a Missoula
organization called the Medical Marijuana Policy Project.

Befumo said Wednesday he does not expect people to oppose the measure
for fear it will lead to broader legalization of marijuana.

"That's a logical criticism until someone reads it," he said. "My
job is to educate people about what the initiative does. It's very
narrowly drafted. It affects only people with debilitating medical
conditions."

Befumo said he knows of nine other states with similar
laws.

To qualify for the Nov. 2 general election ballot, I-148 must have at
least 20,510 petition signatures that represent a minimum of 5 percent
of the votes cast in the 2000 governor's race in at least half of the
56 counties. June 18 is the deadline for submitting signed petitions
to county election officials.

Five other potential ballot measures are in the signature-gathering
process.

One would increase taxes on tobacco products by $47 million a year and
another would repeal the ban on use of cyanide in new gold mines.
Three others would enact a statewide sales tax; cap the motor fuel tax
at 18 cents per gallon and eliminate taxes and fees on most passenger
vehicles; and create a state-administered vehicle liability insurance
program.