MARIJUANA POLICY PROJECT ACCEPTS CHALLENGE TO DEBATE DRUG CZAR

The Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project accepted a challenge
Wednesday from federal drug czar John Walters to debate national marijuana
policy, the project announced in a press release.

MPP is working to reform national marijuana laws, particularly those that
prohibit seriously ill people, including AIDS and cancer patients, from
using the drug to ease the symptoms of their conditions. Walters issued the
debate challenge during a September 10 press conference in Seattle, during
which he denounced Initiative 75, a local ballot measure that would make
the arrest and prosecution of personal marijuana possession the lowest
priority for Seattle police and prosecutors. (Seattle voters approved the
measure.)

"We have been trying to debate John Walters since he took office, and he's
refused every time," said MPP executive director Rob Kampia. "If our
nation's drug czar is finally ready for an honest debate about marijuana
prohibition, I'm ready to meet him anywhere, anytime."