HIGH TIMES

Did you catch the full-page ad in The New York Times on March 6, the open
letter arguing that "seriously ill people should not be subject to arrest
and imprisonment for using medical marijuana with their doctors' approval"?
(Next to a picture of a gaunt elderly gentleman, a caption reads: "Walt
could spend his final days in prison instead of a hospital.") Impressively,
the letter, viewable at www.CompassionateAccess.org, is signed by
celebrities and dignitaries ? names as disparate as those of William
Buckley, Walter Cronkite, Oliver Stone and Joycelyn Elders ? and by more
than 300 elected officials from 42 states.

And yes, Ohio is represented by four state legislators, including local
figures Peter Lawson Jones, the new county commissioner (until last month a
House member), and House assistant minority whip Dale Miller, a West Side
rep. While our showing is relatively small ? tiny New Hampshire boasts 45
political signatories ? it proves that at least some Ohio pols have found
the courage to stand up for whatis right, especially now that around 70
percent of the American public agrees with their stance.

Or does it? Contacted by Chatter, Miller expressed no knowledge of the
Times ad, and says he "did not sign" such a letter. He claims to being
"pretty sympathetic" to the medical marijuana issue, in the sense that he
hasn't taken a "final position" on it but wants to see it "fully debated."
And he boldly asserts that, having been approached to co-sponsor such
legislation at the state level, "I haven't offered to do so." An egregious
error by the Washington-based Marijuana Policy Project, which shelled out
$38,000 for the one-off public missive?

Hardly. An MPP rep assures Chatter that the organization has full
documentation of Miller signing on, last August 18 to be exact.

So, is Dale running a little scared now that heis been outed for his support?

Or is he just having trouble remembering things?

We all know what may cause memory loss.

[non-marijuana content omitted by newshawk]