MARIJUANA QUESTIONS ON BALLOT

WORCESTER-- Two nonbinding marijuana questions will be on the November
ballot in the 14th Worcester District, the result of a successful signature
drive by local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and the
Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition.

Voters can express their preference on the issue of legalizing marijuana
cultivation for medicinal purposes and decriminalizing possession of less
than an ounce of the drug.

Ronal C. Madnick, executive director of the Worcester County Chapter of the
American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, said marijuana has proven
effective in treating the symptoms of diseases such as cancer and leukemia
and should be allowed with a doctor's approval.

Criminal marijuana laws, said Mr. Madnick, "often impose arbitrary, harsh
and cruel penalties for private conduct for which no criminal penalty is
appropriate."

State Rep. James B. Leary, D-Worcester, who represents the 14th district,
was unavailable to comment last night. The district includes West Boylston
and Ward 1, Precinct 5; Ward 2; Ward 3, Precincts 1, 3, and 5 in Worcester.

Mayor Timothy R. Murray said he would be surprised if the ballot questions
passed, but even if they did, he questioned the validity of a vote in one
district.

"Until they can get a statewide question, it's not going to mean much," Mr.
Murray said.

William Breault, president and founder of the Main South Alliance and an
ardent opponent of medicinal marijuana and decriminalization, said
medicinal supporters failed to gather the 56,000 signatures needed to get
on a the statewide ballot a few years ago.

"They came up woefully short statewide, so now they're resorting to small,
feel-good ballot questions," Mr. Breault said. "I guess they can do that,
but I don't know what it proves."

He noted that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against medicinal marijuana
and that the state Department of Public Health, once investigating
medicinal uses, has been quiet on the subject.

"The DPH looked into it five or six years ago, and that went nowhere," he
said. "It should be a dead issue, but they keep trying to back-door it.
People around here will not go for legalization. They know marijuana is not
neighborhood friendly."

The question on medical marijuana reads: "Shall the state representative
from this district be instructed to vote for legislation that would allow
patients with certain diseases who have a written doctor's recommendation,
to possess and grow small amounts of cannabis (marijuana) for their
personal use until such time as the federal government puts into effect a
distribution system for these patients?"

The possession question reads: "Shall the state representative from this
district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would make the
possession of less than one ounce of marijuana a civil violation subject to
a maximum fine of $100 and not subject to any criminal penalties?"