June 5, 1997

H.B. 1782 -- The Federal Medical Marijuana Bill -- Introduced In Congress

June 5, 1997, Washington, D.C.: Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass) introduced

legislation in Congress on June 3, 1997, to provide for the medical use

of marijuana. The bill is cited as House Bill 1782, the "Medical Use of

Marijuana Act." The bill is expected to be referred to the House

Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Crime. That committee is chaired by

Rep. Bill McCollum (R-Fla.), a two-time former co-sponsor of medical

marijuana legislation.

House Bill 1782 reschedules marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II

under federal law, thereby making it legal to prescribe. Rescheduling

marijuana allows states to legally implement different systems for

growing and distributing medical marijuana on a state-by-state basis. It

also removes the threat of federal prosecution physicians currently face

in states that already allow doctors to prescribe or recommend marijuana

under state law. Presently, 24 states including the District of Columbia

have laws endorsing the use of medical marijuana.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) signed on to the legislation yesterday.

For more information, please contact either Keith Stroup or Paul

Armentano of NORML @ (202) 483-5500. Rep. Barney Frank's office may be

contacted @ (202) 225-5931.

California Senate Overwhelmingly Approves Medical Marijuana Research Bill

June 5, 1997, Sacramento, CA: The California State Senate voted 27-8 to

approve bi-partisan legislation that would establish a state medical

marijuana research program at the University of California to study the

safety and efficacy of medical marijuana.

The margin of approval was enough to qualify the bill as an "urgency

measure," mandating that it will take effect immediately if passed into

law. The measure now stands before the full Assembly.

"The sooner S.B. 535 becomes law, the sooner we will have the research

needed to formulate intelligent rules and regulations for a legal

pharmaceutical cannabis market," said California NORML coordinator Dale

Gieringer, who supports the bill. Gieringer said that the Senate was

likely persuaded by the California Medical Association's (CMA) recent

endorsement of S.B. 535.

Under the bill, research would be conducted under controlled, scientific

conditions on patients suffering from AIDS wasting syndrome, glaucoma,

cancer, multiple sclerosis, seizure disorders, and from nausea associated

with cancer chemotherapy.

For more information, please contact either Dave Fratello of Americans

for Medical Rights @ (310) 394-2952 or the office of Sen. John

Vasconcellos @ (916) 445-9740.

Florida Medical Association Endorses Medical Use of Marijuana

June 4, 1997, Fort Lauderdale, FL: One of the nation's largest state

medical associations favors the use of marijuana as a medicine and is

urging the federal government to permit controlled clinical trials to

further evaluate the drug's therapeutic potential.

The Florida Medical Association (FMA) passed resolution #97-61 on June

1, 1997, which pronounces the following:

* The FMA urges the state and federal governments and the U.S. Public

Health Service to allow limited access to medical marijuana.

* The FMA urges Congress, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the Drug Enforcement

Administration (DEA) to expedite unimpeded research into the therapeutic

potential of smokable marijuana.

* The FMA shall present this resolution to the American Medical

Association.

Dr. Mark LaPorta, Treasurer of the Dade County Medical Association,

praised the FMA's decision to endorse the use of medical marijuana.

"Thousands of patients and doctors have found that marijuana is

therapeutically beneficial. It is unconscionable for our government to

tell us we cannot even discuss marijuana in our offices," he explained.

Toni Leeman, President of the Florida-based Coalition Advocating Medical

Marijuana (CAMM), said that the FMA resolution could be a pivotal first

step legalizing marijuana for medical use in Florida. "We trust that by

1998 the patients in Florida will no longer have to suffer needlessly or

risk incarceration" for using an effective medicine, she said. "With the

support of the FMA, we are that much closer to rational legalization in

Florida."

Florida case law already exempts some seriously ill patients who use

marijuana as a medicine.

For more information, please contact Toni Leeman of CAMM @ (305)

576-2337 or Allen St. Pierre of The NORML Foundation @ (202) 483-8751.

Oakland City Council Passes Resolution Protecting Medical Marijuana Users

June 5, 1997, Oakland, CA: The Oakland City Council unanimously passed

a resolution urging law enforcement not to arrest and prosecute

individuals involved with the "possession, purchase, distribution,

cultivation, manufacture, or transportation of marijuana or cannabis

products for medical use." The new resolution is the latest in a series

of official policy pronouncements from the City of Oakland expressing a

tolerant attitude toward medical marijuana activities.

"A sensible marijuana policy is good for patients and good for the City

of Oakland, and our elected representatives recognize that fact," said

Robert Raich, Esq. of Oakland, who lobbied for the legislation.

Resolution #73555 gives an official green light not only to the

cultivation of marijuana for medical use, but also to the manufacture of

products such as hashish, hash oil, tinctures, and all manner of baked

goods and other edible preparations.

For more information, please contact attorney Robert Raich @ (510)

338-0700 or Dale Gieringer of California NORML @ (415) 563-5858.

Connecticut To Emerge As One Of Few States Willing To Extend Welfare

Benefits

To Marijuana Felons

June 5, 1997, Hartford, CT: Legislative leaders proposed that

individuals convicted of marijuana felonies should remain eligible for

entitlements such as welfare and food-stamps, despite a federal law

passed last year allowing states to deny assistance-based benefits.

"There's no reason to single out drug offenses from all others," state

legislator Ellen Scalettar told the New York Times on May 29.

"Punishment [for drug offenses] shouldn't go on forever." The newspaper

reported that conservative governor John Rowland also supports the effort.

Senate Amendment 4935, introduced by Sen. Phil Gramm on July 23, 1996,

allows states to deny federal cash aid and food stamps to anyone

convicted of felony drug charges, including most individuals found guilty

of marijuana cultivation or sale. The bill is not retroactive and only

applies to future convictions. President Bill Clinton signed the bill

into law on August 22, 1996..

NORML Executive Director R. Keith Stroup stated that Gramm's provision

inappropriately targets marijuana smokers and applauded Connecticut's

decision to extend federal benefits. "Under current federal law, a

murderer, rapist, or robber could receive federal funds and benefits, but

not most individuals convicted of cultivating marijuana -- including

those who do so for a legitimate medical need. It is commendable that

the Connecticut legislature is injecting some common sense to an

irrational federal policy."

Connecticut's decision to offer the benefits would set it apart from 24

other states that have proclaimed they will no longer offer entitlements

to drug felons, a recent survey by the National Governor's Association

found. Five states -- Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Oregon, and Rhode

Island -- plan to continue the benefits to drug offenders who qualify for

family welfare, the survey reported.

The Connecticut General Assembly is expected to approve the language as

part of a major welfare-reform bill in a special legislative session this

summer.

For more information, please contact either R. Keith Stroup or Paul

Armentano of NORML @ (202) 483-5500.

-END-

MORE THAN 10 MILLION MARIJUANA ARRESTS SINCE 1965 . . . ANOTHER EVERY

54 SECONDS!