RESOLUTION BACKING MEDICAL MARIJUANA SET TO GO BEFORE JPS

Watching a close friend struggle with the debilitating aftermath of
post-polio syndrome motivated Pulaski County Justice of the Peace Wilandra
Dean to sponsor a Quorum Court resolution endorsing the Arkansas Medical
Marijuana Act.

"I think it a civil rights issue that allows these people one more medical
choice," she said, adding that she opposes recreational marijuana use.

If the quorum court approved the resolution, it will become the first
Arkansas governmental body to publicly support the act. Two Quorum Court
committees will consider the resolution today.

"Because there is so much danger of misunderstanding, I had to think about
this very carefully," Dean said. "But I also think it's very important. "

Two petitions for ballot measures seeking to legalize marijuana for
medicinal use are circulating in Arkansas. Another petition is circulating
for a measure backed by the local chapter of the National Organization for
the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML, that would reduce fines for
marijuana possession.

The Alliance for Reform of Drug Policy in Arkansas is pushing the Arkansas
Medical Marijuana Act, a proposal similar to an Oregon law that allows
patients suffering from specific debilitating illnesses, such as cancer and
Multiple Sclerosis, to grow and smoke marijuana. The group needs at least
56,421 petition signatures by July to get the issue placed on the November
ballot.

Dean has spoken with alliance members who encouraged her support of the act.
Some members may speak at tonight's committee meetings.

"I believe that physicians should be able to prescribe medication they feel
is in the best interest of the patient and not be criminally liable," Dean
said.

She said she decided to bring the resolution to the Quorum Court for its
consideration to get her colleagues to think about the issue but realizes it
may be met with some opposition.

Denele Campbell, Alliance president, said supporters of medical marijuana
often have to overcome a "fear factor before they can openly support the
issue. "

"I was terrified" said Campbell, a West Fork piano teacher. "I have a
business, parents and kids in this community. It was a risk [to publicly
support legalizing medical marijuana]. Over the past year, I've found that
people when I'm talking to people, their eyes get real big and they usually
say, "What did you say? Did you just say that word?"

Campbell said the Alliance isn't approaching quorum courts and city councils
and asking them to endorse the resolution because the group's first priority
is education.

"When you educate people in leadership roles, they usually decide to take
action on their own," Campbell said. "That's what happened with Wilandra.

"She said the group has collected between 5000 and 6000 thousand signatures
and plans to place volunteers near primary voting booths on May 23 and at
Riverfest.

The ordinance before the quorum court does not ask justices of the peace to
sign the petition. Dean said, however, that petitions would be available
for quorum court members who wish to sign the document.