MEDICAL MARIJUANA EFFORT GAINS CLOUT

Proponents of legalizing marijuana for pain relief in Maryland have won
their strongest support yet with at least three proposals pending in the
House, including one backed by several legislative leaders.

Del. Donald E. Murphy (R-Baltimore County) introduced legislation yesterday
to legalize the use of marijuana for patients who get a written
recommendation from their doctors and a special identification card from
the state health department.

His co-sponsors include House Majority Leader Maggie L. McIntosh
(D-Baltimore) and the GOP House leadership. Proponents said that Murphy,
with 47 co-sponsors, has set a national record for most co-sponsors of a
medical marijuana bill.

Another proposal, sponsored by Del. Dana Lee Dembrow (D-Montgomery), would
not legalize medicinal marijuana but would allow people criminally charged
with smoking the drug to offer medical treatment as a defense at their
trials. Still another proposal, from Del. Thomas E. Hutchins (R-Charles),
who is a retired Maryland State Police trooper, would not legalize
medicinal marijuana but would require judges to take into account at
sentencing if a person was using it as a painkiller.

Politicians have typically shied away from endorsing medical marijuana, but
Murphy said, "It's an election year, and nobody's bailed out on me."

He said an Arscott/Gonzales Research and Communications poll released last
month was influential in gathering support. The poll found that 37 percent
of voters statewide would be more likely to support a candidate who favors
medical marijuana while 18 percent said they would not support such a
candidate.

Eight states allow marijuana to be used for medical treatment, according to
the Marijuana Policy Project. They are Alaska, California, Colorado,
Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.