POT IS THE ANSWER, ADVOCATE SAYS

Even though he is facing trial on drug charges in Utah, Dennis Peron is
persistent in his campaign to legalize pot in the state.

Claiming the drug relieves the suffering of those afflicted with any one of
a variety of medical conditions, Peron was extolling the virtue of the
illicit weed Monday during an Earth Day celebration on the campus of
Southern Utah University in Cedar City.

Peron, 55, a San Francisco native who wrote the controversial initiative in
California legalizing medical use of the drug, and two other men face trial
in Cedar City's 5th District Court for possession of marijuana with intent
to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The trio was arrested last year after police allegedly found more than a
pound of pot in their motel room and car.

"Marijuana will be legalized one day," Peron said. "And from that one act
the world will be a better place."

He suggested that "pot heads" be elected to Congress and the Oval Office
because if they are stoned they will not want to "slug it out" or start a
war at the slightest provocation.

"Why don't we elect someone who smokes pot as president?" Peron asked, as
several in the crowd shouted in enthusiastic agreement. Peron also handed
out literature about marijuana and challenged students to write letters to
Gov. Mike Leavitt and sign a petition to put legalizing medical marijuana
on Utah's ballot.

Erin Jones, 22, of Salt Lake City, who was handing out pamphlets advocating
a vegetarian diet, said Peron added to the Earth Day celebration because he
was making others aware of marijuana's positive use.

"Marijuana is good for the Earth," she said. "And, Earth Day is about
awareness."

At least one student was not buying it.

"I don't see how pot fits into Earth Day," said Alicia DeLaRosa, a freshman
communications major from Cedar City. "Pot is definitely not the answer to
world peace. Pot is ridiculous."

DeLaRosa also scoffed at Peron's push to legalize the drug in Utah,
comparing it to the impossible task of an alchemist.

"That just doesn't work in Utah," she said. "It's like trying to make
lemonade out of bananas."