PICKING UP THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA TORCH?

Legalizing the use of medicinal marijuana was one of the late State Sen.
Ronnie DePasco's final causes in the Missouri General Assembly.

So far, though, only one candidate for the late senator's seat has said she
will take up the torch.

Sharon Kelley, the write-in candidate who says she will vote with the
Democrats, enthusiastically endorsed the legislation at a candidate forum
Wednesday night.

"I would definitely support it," she said. "It could be beneficial for some
people."

Victor Callahan, the Democratic nominee for the seat, said he opposed such
legislation.

"There's a lot of research that suggests it is a drug," he said. He would
have to wait until the medical community found more consensus on the subject.

DePasco, who died of lung cancer in May, began promoting legalization of
the drug last summer. Some medical authorities maintain that marijuana
helps reduce nausea related to chemotherapy and other treatments.

DePasco served District 11, which formerly served some of Independence and
much of east Kansas City. Under its recently redrawn boundaries, the
district will cover much of central Jackson County.

Voters in the former district's boundaries will choose DePasco's
replacement Tuesday.