Doctors oppose drug plan

Yakima

The state's largest physician group has opposed a ballot initiative to
legalize marijuana for medicinal use but endorsed a proposed
handguncontrol measure.

The votes, which were expected, came Saturday at the Washington State
Medical Association's House of Delegates annual meeting at the Yakima
Convention Center. The voice votes reflected recommendations made earlier
this week by committees studying the issues.

Initiative 685, the medicinaldrug measure, is sponsored by Dr. Rob
Killian, a Tacoma physician, but has lacked general support within the
medical association.

The handgun measure, Initiative 676, was drafted by physicians who want to
decrease the number of firearmrelated injuries and deaths statewide.

The initiative would require all pistols to be equipped with
triggerlocks, and all handgun owners to pass a safety test.

"This initiative, and the WSMA's endorsement of it, are not 'antigun,'"
said Seattle physician Roy Farrell. "It is proresponsible gun ownership."