THE CANDIDATES ON "MM"

Of all the special interest groups so far involved in the primary campaign,
advocates of medical marijuana ("MM" for short) have been the most active
and most visible --to this point, at least.

We reported on Marijuana Policy Project's Granite State chapter about a
month ago, but since then, local coordinator Aaron Houston has been
everywhere, it seems, trying to get the candidates on the record.

A recent Houston press release was headlined, "Sen. Kerry Tells Seriously
Ill Patient, `I'm in favor of Medical Marijuana.' "

It talks about an exchange between Kerry and a seriously ill "MM" advocate,
in which Kerry allegedly said he favors legal access to medical marijuana
for seriously ill patients.

To the credit of the medical marijuana group, the Kerry camp did not dispute
the accuracy of the press release.

According to the Kerry camp's Judy Reardon, the candidate "supports the use
of real science to determine the effectiveness and safety and need for the
controlled use of marijuana to ease the suffering of the very ill. If it is
scientifically warranted, he believes the use of medical marijuana must be
closely restricted to prevent abuse and illegal trafficking. He does not
object to individual states making their own determination in allowing
medical marijuana in their borders so we can gain evidence on how a federal
law might work."

Kerry noted that Massachusetts passed a bill allowing the very ill to use
marijuana. But a spokesman for his state's public health department said
that the despite the law, the program "has never gotten off the ground
because we've never been able to obtain a federally approved source of
marijuana."

Houston, who says he tapes all conversations between candidates and himself
or other "MM" advocates, also reports that Joe Lieberman told him he would
"probably" sign legislation to allow seriously ill people to use medical
marijuana with their doctors' approval.

Houston says he approached Lieberman at a recent Concord Quarry Dogs game,
and his full answer was: "Probably, yeah. I mean, I don't want to give you .
. . an answer just standing on one foot, but I'm sympathetic."

Houston said that since Lieberman sponsored a 1998 U.S. Senate resolution
condemning state medical marijuana initiatives, his statement "represents a
possible shift from his staunch opposition."

A Lieberman spokesman said the press release "sounds about right. "He is
sympathetic to the situation and requested more information," said Kristen
Carvell. "But he has said in the past he opposes legalizing a drug that many
health professionals believe is associated with health risks that far exceed
any possible therapeutic benefits. And that still stands."

Houston also reports that at Edwards' Portsmouth town hall-style meeting on
Tuesday night, the candidate said "the government has a responsibility to
enforce the laws" when he was asked about Drug Enforcement Administration
raids in states that have reduced or eliminated penalties for seriously ill
people who use medical marijuana.

But Edwards called the raids "a distorted priority" and said that if he were
elected, "that would not be what I would be spending my time with." Edwards
spokesman Colin Van Ostern did not dispute the accuracy of the group's
report.