Headline: PANEL HEARS PLEA FOR LAW ON MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

FORT LAUDERDALE Greg Scott, 35, starting smoking marijuana eight
years ago. He says it saved his life.

Now the AIDS patient wants to stop breaking the law. He wants Florida's
Constitution to change so the drug can be prescribed as medicine.

""I smoked pot every day,'' said Scott, of Fort Lauderdale. ""I am not a
scofflaw. I would not break the law unless I was compelled to by extreme
circumstances.''

On Thursday, Scott asked the panel reviewing Florida's Constitution
to consider his suggestion. The marijuana issue was one of several
compelling stories of human struggle heard this week during public
hearings in South Florida by the Constitution Revision Commission.

Two South Florida women told the panel about how their mothers died
abruptly in hospitals, and how they have no recourse under Florida's
wrongfuldeath law. State law forbids adult children of victims from suing
for pain and suffering, meaning in most cases survivors have no way to
punish the ones they believed were at fault.

The women suggested adding ""age'' to the state Constitution's list of
people who cannot be discriminated against. That would make the law, which
defines adults as people over age 25, unconstitutional.

Attempts to change the wrongfuldeath law failed this year in the
Legislature.

Supporters of medicinal marijuana acknowledge their cause is
unlikely to get support from Florida's Constitution Revision
Commission, which has the power to put amendments on the 1998 ballot.
But they plan to begin a petition drive on their own that could put
the issue to the voters next year. The amendment would not
necessarily mention marijuana, but would guarantee patients access to
drugs they need.

Supporters of medical marijuana say the drug can help with problems from
arthritis to nausea. Some believe it reduces eye pressure for glaucoma
sufferers, relieves arthritis pain, and even help save people with AIDS.

Scott said he was near death because he could not keep down food or
drugs. Marijuana soothed his stomach and, he said, kept him alive long
enough to be helped by new treatments.

On Thursday, he looked healthy and content. Scott, a writer who was
kicked out of the Navy in 1987 for being gay, said the idea could get
support from unexpected people.

""My conservative mother, when I was sick, would sit on the edge of the
bed and roll joints,'' he said, chuckling.

Copyright 1997, The St. Petersburg Times