MEDICAL MARIJUANA ISSUE RESURFACES

A House Bill Would Place Medical Drug Use On A State Ballot.

JEFFERSON CITY - A bill that would legalize marijuana for medical uses
has resurfaced this legislative session after being killed last year.

The House Health Care Policy Committee heard testimony Wednesday from
people both in favor of and against the bill.

After the hearing, bill sponsor Rep. Vicki Walker, D-Kansas City, said
she is much more hopeful this year after last year's contentious hearing.

According to the bill, the use of marijuana would be restricted to
patients suffering from cancer, glaucoma, HIV and AIDS. Walker
suggested to the committee that multiple sclerosis be included in that
list.

Citing her own father-in-law's serious medical condition when he was
suffering from lung cancer, Walker said the usage would go a long way
to alleviate pain, nauseated feeling and loss of appetite.

Supporters of the bill cited examples of the benefits of marijuana use
to relieve patients suffering from chronic pain. They added that
Missouri law currently allows doctors to authorize patients to use
cocaine and opium to treat some medical conditions.

"To authorize the same doctors to recommend marijuana is to ask for a
very small thing," said Dan Viets, an attorney from Columbia and a
long time advocate of legalization of marijuana use.

However, concerns about children and safety were raised by a few
members.

Opposing the bill, Rep. Bryan Pratt, R-Blue Springs, said he was
particularly concerned that legalizing marijuana would undermine
efforts to keep drugs away from children.

"If we as a member of this committee pass a bill decriminalizing a
certain drug for whatever purpose, I think that sends a terrible
message for the children," Pratt said.

John Mruzik, a family physician from Columbia, said the 1999 Institute
of Medicine Report had recommended the immediate clinical trial of
marijuana for a variety of illness.

"This is the same opinion that is shared by the American Medical
Association," Mruzik said.

He added that medical marijuana should not be a problem for law
enforcement, citing evidence from states that have legalized its
medical use.

Viets said it gives voters a chance to decide the issue.

"It is a referendum bill. It does not change the law but puts it up on
the ballot in November for the citizens to decide," Viets said.

But the bill's co-sponsor, Rep. Vicky Riback Wilson, D-Columbia, said
she doubts the committee will approve the legislation.

"In an election year particularly, legislators are afraid that people
will see them as either soft on crime or soft on drugs," Wilson said.
"So they are less likely to listen to the reasonable arguments about
alleviating pain."