GOVERNOR WILL BACK MEDICAL MARIJUANA

ANNAPOLIS -- Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) said Thursday that he would
sign legislation to legalize medical marijuana, giving new hope to
advocates who say the drug can help relieve nausea from chemotherapy and
other debilitating conditions.

At an unscheduled news conference on his first foray into the governor's
State House offices, Ehrlich pointed out that he has long supported
legalizing marijuana use for medicinal purposes, and said that "if the bill
makes sense," he would sign it into law.

With last year's chief medical marijuana advocate, Del. Donald E. Murphy
(R) of Catonsville, now out of the legislature, a doctor, a nurse and a
cancer survivor are among the lawmakers drafting marijuana bills.

Del. Dan K. Morhaim (D-Dist. 11) of Owings Mills, a physician, wants to
allow doctors to prescribe marijuana under strict controls. Two doctors
would have to sign off on the prescription and follow up to see how
patients are responding to treatment.

Morhaim envisions the state government eventually growing and distributing
marijuana to ensure consistent quality and control.

"It's not like you need a huge field," Morhaim said. "You don't need acres
and acres."

Morhaim said it would be helpful if Ehrlich can use his influence with
President George W. Bush (R) to relax federal prohibitions on marijuana
possession, provided that the use is in accordance with a state program.

"We prescribe drugs much more dangerous than marijuana," Morhaim said. "We
prescribe narcotics, we even prescribe cocaine on occasion. Like any
medical tool, it's going to help some people and not others."

Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Chairwoman Paula C.
Hollinger (D-Dist. 11) of Pikesville, meanwhile, is drafting a bill that
would allow patients to get an identity card from the state that would give
them immunity from prosecution for possessing small amounts of marijuana.
Physicians also would be protected from arrest, as would caregivers.

But Hollinger, who said she expects her bill to go to her committee, does
not see the state growing and distributing the drug; instead, patients
would be allowed to grow up to three mature marijuana plants and four
immature plants at any one time.

Under Hollinger's bill, the Board of Physician Quality Assurance would
oversee the process.

Sen. David R. Brinkley (R-Dist. 4) of New Market, a cancer survivor, is
drafting a bill similar to the compromise measure that passed the House
last year. That bill would have reduced penalties for the medical use of
marijuana to a maximum of $100.

Brinkley said he will coordinate his efforts with Hollinger, Morhaim and
Ehrlich.

"I never used it, but I feel that very sick people in the state shouldn't
be hassled," he said, adding that it does not make sense for the state to
incarcerate people who are dying and may benefit from the drug.

He noted that former Sen. Timothy R. Ferguson (R) tried to use the medical
marijuana issue against him during the September primary, to no avail.

"It didn't fly," Brinkley said.

Ferguson was responsible for killing last year's bill by a 6-5 margin in
the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee after telling Murphy he would
"shepherd" the bill in the committee. A furious Murphy, whose father died
from cancer, then campaigned over the summer for Ferguson's defeat.

Brinkley said if a bill passes and Ehrlich signs it, it will be nationally
significant, both because Ehrlich is a Republican and because Maryland
would be one of the first states on the East Coast to pass medical
marijuana legislation. It also would put the issue directly on Congress'
doorstep.

Advocates say people who suffer from cancer, glaucoma, nausea, multiple
sclerosis or epilepsy can benefit from using marijuana, which can relieve
some symptoms. But opponents worry that legalizing the drug's use -- in
however limited a fashion -- could open the door to complete legalization
and confuse young people who are being told not to use drugs.

Any medical marijuana bill still faces a tough time in the legislature.
House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Dist. 30) of Annapolis is cool to the
idea, and he voted against the House bill last year. Busch said the medical
community has not gotten behind the idea.

"I think the devil is in the details," he said. "I don't feel comfortable
all of a sudden legalizing a controlled dangerous substance."

House Judiciary Chairman Joseph F. Vallario Jr. (D-Dist. 27A) of Upper
Marlboro crafted last year's compromise but said he does not know how a
bill in his committee would fare this year, given that he has 14 new
members. Vallario said he would have a problem with any bill that runs
contrary to federal law, which makes marijuana illegal.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach
has kept an open mind on the issue, saying he planned to sit in on the
hearings.

Politically, the issue plays well into Ehrlich's image as a different kind
of Republican. The "Just Say No" crowd generally opposes any legalization
of drugs, but Ehrlich, a lawyer and former member of the Judiciary
Committee, has avoided doctrinaire positions.

In Congress, Ehrlich was one of a few Republicans to co-sponsor a medical
marijuana bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.).