The medical marijuana initiative is a repeat of 1998, when city voters backed a similar ballot question by a wide margin but congressional Republicans blocked implementation. Advocates said shifting sentiments on Capitol Hill make the time right for another try.

The second initiative is new and would offer substance-abuse treatment to nonviolent drug offenders but not reduce criminal sanctions against possessing illegal drugs.

Both initiatives face hurdles before getting on the November ballot. If they go forward, the questions could put the city's drug policy at the center of a fall election season with few major battles.

The ballot questions are being pushed by separate groups but ones that share some of the same money donors, including international financier George Soros.

The Marijuana Policy Project, based in Washington, estimates that more than 1,000 patients suffering from HIV, glaucoma, cancer and other afflictions would benefit from legalized marijuana use. The ballot question would allow doctors to give patients permission to grow and use marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Nine states have legalized medical uses of marijuana by ballot initiative or through legislation. In 1998, District voters approved a similar measure, 69 percent to 31 percent, before U.S. Rep. Robert L. Barr Jr. (R-Ga.) successfully pushed an amendment blocking it.

A federal court struck down Barr's amendment in March, but the Bush administration has announced that it will appeal the decision. Barr praised the administration's position and said last week that he would continue to fight the medical marijuana movement in the District.

Backers of medical marijuana have started lobbying the Hill in anticipation of an affirmative vote in the District. Robert D. Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, said support has grown in the House.

"We believe that if we can win on the floor on the first House vote, we think we've won the whole thing," he said.

The other initiative is an effort by the D.C. Campaign for New Drug Policies, a city affiliate of the national Drug Policy Alliance. The group is debating whether to go forward with the initiative this year, said President William D. McColl, but its goal is to focus attention on treatment rather than incarceration.

"For an awful lot of people, the problem is the addiction itself," McColl said, "and when the problem is the addiction, the appropriate response is treatment."

Both groups need 17,000 people, 5 percent of city voters, to sign petitions by July 8. The petitions must include 5 percent of voters in at least five of the city's eight wards.

More daunting would be continued intervention by Barr, who has not backed down on his opposition to legalizing marijuana for any purpose. He called the medical marijuana argument a first step for those who seek to legalize all drugs.

"It is simply a wedge to allow those who want to legalize drugs generally to get their foot in the door," Barr said. "There is no legitimate benefit to smoked marijuana."

Barr said he might support an initiative encouraging treatment for drug offenders, depending on how the ballot question was written. "There are a number of ways that they could do it that would be appropriate," he said.

Note: Ballot Efforts Address Treatment, Medical Use of Marijuana.

Source: Washington Post (DC)
Author: Craig Timberg, Washington Post Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, May 16, 2002; Page DZ07
Copyright: 2002 The Washington Post Company
Contact: letterstoed@washpost.com
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com

Related Articles & Web Sites:

Marijuana Policy Project
http://www.mpp.org/

Drug Policy Alliance
http://www.drugpolicy.org/

Barr, Boortz Square Off
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12837.shtml

Medical Marijuana Ban Overturned in D.C.
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12422.shtml

Ruling May Put Marijuana Measure on Ballot
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12398.shtml

Law Overturned Barring Marijuana Vote in D.C.
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12387.shtml

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Enjoyed the tour! Would like to suggest a revamp of the drug awareness section though. Seems it contains alotta old myths and propaganda about drugs (especially cannabis) and it seems to me that reading it would lead a youth to using drugs. More so than it serves to steer him clear of using, which is or goal. Our goal of reducing irresponsible adults and minors drug usage. Just an informed thought. Have you updated this section lately? Other than that,...excellent site and lets keep fightin crime!

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Other than that,...excellent site and lets keep fightin crime!

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http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Gold/9912/drugs.html

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The IOM and other comissions would disagree with this statement. However, might Rep. Barr admit that there is benefit to vaporized cannabis? Be careful what you say!

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