ATTEMPT TO GIVE POT CREDIBILITY AFTER 215

Calilornia's Proposition 215which legalizes marijuana for medical
usecleared the way for longawaited laboratory testing of the benefits and
drawbacks of pot in treating a variety of illnesses.

While several legal challenges to the proposition are pending, even state
Attorney General Dan Lungren the law's most vocal critic is calling for
a three year study of the effectiveness and safety of medical marijuana use.

There is little common ground for opponents and proponents of the
initiative, passed into law by a 5644 percent margin in November 1996. But
one concern they generally agree on is the need for a more precise
definition of the "medical" in medical marijuana. Achieving that. they say.
will help set clear standards for carrying out the law.

Another concern is that despite Proposition 215's protections for
potprescribing doctors. Physicians remain unclear of their status. With
conclusive research results still years away and federal prohibitions on
marijuana still in effect, members of the Clinton administration have
hinted they may clamp down on doctors who recommend the drug

Much anecdotal evidence exists that marijuana relieves pain and restores
appetites, but the leafy drug had been caught in a Catch22. Researchers
long have been wary of testing a substance that was illegal and so
politicized, leaving a vacuum of proven scientific backing that potentially
could have legitimized and legalized its use.

That is changing in the wake of Proposition 215. The National Institutes of
Health pledged $1 million in October for doctors at San Francisco General
Hospital to study the effects of marijuana on patients using the latest
AIDS drugs.

Like other tests expected to follow. SF General researchers actually will
oversee the consumption of marijuana, comparing both its short and
longterm effects on people smoking and ingesting against those given a
placebo.

Stephen Goodin said he's already seen the results of marijuana's medicating
powers. The 38yearold network engineer, HIVpositive for more than a
decade, has smoked marijuana to relieve his nausea and help him sleep.

The Guerneville resident said he smokes four joints a day. In the past 20
months. Goodin has gone from 127 to 170 pounds.

One Bay Area psychiatrist believes marijuana can alleviate a depression to
chronic pain to seizure disorders. But Dr. Tod Mikuriya worries that his
recommendations of marijuana could prompt federal drug regulators to revoke
his right to prescribe any medicines and receive Medicare payments.

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MEDICAL MARIJUANA TEST CASES

Propostion 215 is being challenged on several fronts in the courts:

Distribution People vs. Dennis Peron (and other members of San Frarncisco
Cannabis suyers Club).

State Attorney General is prosecutinq two casescriminal and civilthat
will help determine whether medica marijuana clubs are considered a "pnma~
care giver under Rrop. 215's dehnition to distribute marijuana to patients
Peron is appealing a ruling that threatens to close such clubs.

Doctors recommendations: Conant, et al. vs McCaffrey, et aL

Several physicians filed a classaction lawsuit sut in U.S. District Court
to prevent federal agents from disciplining them for recommending use of
marijuana.

Use: Matter of Dunaway, Orange County employee.

Affer testing positive for marijuana, the employee was fired. Dunaway filed
a claim, saying he took the drug aher a doctor recommended it to alleviate
his glaucoma.

Cultivation: People vs. King.

Tulare County District Attorney is prosecuting a cancer patient for growing
30 full sized marijuana plants. Case will help determine what cultivation
for "personal use" means under Prop. 215.