Backers of medicalpot study promise to give it another try

SACRAMENTO (AP) Supporters plan one more try this week to pass
legislation spending $1 million a year for three years to study the
medicinal uses of marijuana.

The bill by Sen. John Vasconcellos, DSanta Clara, fell six votes shy of
passage in the state Assembly late Wednesday evening, 4821, after
appearing likely to pass earlier in the evening.

Republican support for the measure wavered throughout the evening, despite
the endorsement of Republican Attorney General Dan Lungren.

The bill calls for a threeyear study by University of California
scientists, using National Institute of Health study procedures.
Researchers would try to determine how effective and safe marijuana may be
in treating certain diseases.

``The study, we hope, will once and for all settle the controversy of
Proposition 215, the medical marijuana initiative,'' said Assemblywoman
Carole Migden, DSan Francisco, a principal coauthor of the measure.

``It is not intended to condone the social or recreational use of
marijuana, but rather to conduct scientific research.''

The bill gained a 5416 majority on an early vote, the exact twothirds
margin needed in the 80seat Assembly. But Republicans held the roll open,
hoping to persuade some supporters to change their votes.

The measure lost seven ``aye'' votes on a second round of voting. Backers
used the same parliamentary maneuver to keep the roll open, hoping to
recover the lost support, but were unable to muster the necessary support.

Most of the ``no'' votes were cast by Republicans, but none of them spoke
against the measure during a floor debate filled with joking references to
the drug's effects.

Opposition to the marijuana study had been nearly solid among Assembly
Republicans until Lungren, the presumed GOP nominee for governor next year,
endorsed the bill two weeks ago.

Published Friday, September 12, 1997, in the San Jose Mercury News