MEDICAL MARIJUANA GETS NOD OF EHRLICH

Governor says he's likely to back decriminalization; Would be for use by
terminally ill; Announcement gives impetus to Assembly bills

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. announced yesterday that he would likely back
decriminalizing marijuana for terminally ill patients, a stance that is
expected to give momentum to the issue this year in the General Assembly.

Ehrlich said he has been a longtime supporter of so-called medical
marijuana, including co-sponsoring a bill last year in Congress that would
have allowed states to liberalize drug laws so terminally ill patients could
use the drug.

"I am predisposed to support it. It gets personal" for himself and his wife,
Ehrlich said in an interview. "We saw a very, very strong person taken down
inch by inch" by cancer, referring to a relative whom he declined to
identify.

The governor said he will not make medical marijuana one of his legislative
priorities this year, but several lawmakers say they plan to push the issue.

Last year, the House of Delegates easily approved a bill that would have
all-but decriminalized medical marijuana by establishing a maximum $100 fine
and no jail time for terminal patients caught with marijuana.

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee rejected it by one vote.

This year, several legislators are preparing to introduce at least two bills
in hopes something will pass. Sen. David R. Brinkley - a Frederick County
Republican who won his seat last year after campaigning on his support for
medical marijuana - said he plans to introduce a bill similar to one
defeated last year in the Senate.

"It is not to mitigate or downplay the drug crisis in this country, but it
is rather odd physicians can prescribe medications that are addictive and
can kill people, but can't for marijuana," said Brinkley.

Del. Daniel K. Morheim, a Baltimore County Democrat and the only medical
doctor in the House of Delegates, said he also plans to introduce a bill
that would start a state "medical marijuana pilot program."

Under Morheim's proposal, patients who receive recommendations from two
doctors could use marijuana if they register with the state Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene.

The state, which would supply the marijuana, would keep data on patients'
medical progress.

Sen. Andrew P. Harris, a Baltimore County Republican and a medical doctor,
said he is inclined to oppose medical marijuana proposals.

He said the issue should be handled at the federal level, and that he has
yet to see evidence that terminally ill marijuana users are being jailed.
"This would send a message that would be an appropriate, that this is a good
drug," Harris said.

Yet, with Ehrlich's backing, and with a new chairman of the Senate Judicial
Proceedings, supporters of the proposal are hoping to advance the issue this
year.

The chairman, Sen. Brian E. Frosh, a Montgomery County Democrat, said
yesterday that he is "sympathetic" to the cause, but needs more information.

"I think we have reached a critical mass in Maryland, and as long as the new
legislators understand the science and politics of medical marijuana, one of
these bills will pass," said former Del. Donald E. Murphy, a Baltimore
County Republican who sponsored legislation on the issue for three years.

Paul Gessing, a legislative analyst with the Marijuana Policy Project in
Washington, said Maryland is one of five states the group has targeted this
year to pass medical marijuana bills.

Eight states have enacted such legislation, but the federal government is
trying to prevent many of the laws from being implemented.