MARIJUANA ADVOCATES SUBMIT SIGNATURES

Proponents of the Medical Marijuana Initiative yesterday submitted what
they said were about 40,000 petition signatures to the D.C. Board of
Elections and Ethics, the first step toward getting the issue on the ballot
in the November election.

Approval of the ballot initiative would allow doctors to give patients
permission to grow and use marijuana for medicinal purposes.

There will be a 10-day period during which opponents can challenge
signatures on the petition.

D.C. voters approved a similar measure in 1998, but Rep. Robert L. Barr Jr.
(R-Ga.) introduced an amendment in Congress to block its implementation. In
March, a federal court struck down Barr's amendment, but the Bush
administration plans to appeal the decision.

The Marijuana Policy Project, based in the District, estimates that more
than 1,000 patients with HIV, glaucoma, cancer and other medical problems
would benefit from legalized marijuana use. Nine states have legalized
marijuana for medical purposes.