EXPANSION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROPOSED

SALEM (AP) -- Proponents of Oregon's medical marijuana law filed an
initiative Friday to overhaul and expand the existing program, a move
opponents say is a backdoor attempt to legalize the drug.

Backers say they want to make it easier for patients to qualify, increase
the legal possession limit and create more places to get the drug.

"Qualified patients have nowhere to get their medicine," said John Sajo,
the lead petitioner. "And many are still getting arrested."

Since voters passed the law in 1998, Oregon has became one of nine states
to permit medicinal use of the plant. The law allows doctors to approve
marijuana for specific maladies like cancer, glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, severe
pain or nausea, seizures or muscle spasms.

Backers of the initiative will have until July 1, 2004, to get the
necessary 100,000 signatures to send it to voters in the general election.

Besides the traditional opposition from law enforcement, the measure may be
challenged by the Bush administration, proponents said.

More than 4,000 Oregonians have qualified to use the plant, which they must
grow themselves or get from a certified caregiver. By giving doctors more
leeway to prescribe it, proponents of the changes estimate that 50,000
people might be able to use the drug for medical reasons.

The measure would also create statewide pick-up points regulated by the
Health Department, and increase the possession limit from three ounces to a
pound at any one time. That possession limit would be six pounds for
patients who only grow one crop annually.

Opponents of the initiative say it reeks of drug abuse and ulterior motives.

"This is a dodge, an attempt to legalize marijuana," said Clatsop County
District Attorney Joshua Marquis.

Marquis says the current law is already too lenient. He says allowing
someone to possess six pounds of the drug, worth over $100,000 on the
street, will make policing it even more difficult.

"My cops already tell me that every time they bust a drug house, which has
drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine, everyone in there pulls out their
marijuana card" as justification, Marquis said.

Patients say the plant alleviates pain better than any other drug.

"It works within seconds," said Sherry Fentress, 50, who smokes marijuana
for muscle spasms in her legs. "And if you get too high, just eat some food
and you'll come down."

Fentress, from Portland, said she has had trouble getting adequate supplies
from designated community providers. For example, once her grower smoked
and sold the whole stash, leaving her without medication.

She said regulated dispensaries would solve the problem.

Backers say a majority of Oregonians support the existing law, but they
know convincing them to expand it won't be easy.

"If the public perceives that this will make it more accessible for
everybody, it will be tough politically," said Ken Kirkland, who uses the
drug for many afflictions that stem from breaking his neck 11 years ago.