-------------------------------------------------------------------

Medical Views Mixed On Marijuana (The Herald, in Everett, Washington,
finds more than a few doctors who recognize the medical utility of cannabis,
as well as others who repeat discredited drug warrior propaganda, even to
their patients. Focusing on Initiative 692, the Washington state medical
marijuana ballot measure, the article includes interesting summaries of very
recent reports about medical marijuana in scientific and medical journals.)

Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1998 14:40:26 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: US WA: MMJ: Medical Views Mixed On Marijuana
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: John Smith
Pubdate: 24 Oct 1998
Source: Herald, The (WA)
Contact: letters@heraldnet.com
Website: http://www.heraldnet.com/
Copyright: 1998 The Daily Herald Co.
Author: Sharon Salyer, Herald Writer

MEDICAL VIEWS MIXED ON MARIJUANA

Voters are faced with contradictory opinions on ballot initiative

Will marijuana, the unofficial poster child of the war on drugs, get
long-sought legal approval for some types of medical uses in Washington?

This is the issue voters will decide with Initiative 692, which would
allow doctors to recommend, not prescribe, marijuana to patients who
may benefit.

This includes patients with chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting,
AIDS wasting syndrome due to lack of appetite, anyone with severe
muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and other spasticity
disorders, epilepsy, acute or chronic glaucoma and some forms of
intractable pain.

Voters will have to sort through a tangle of emotional and often
contradictory arguments, with opponents arguing that more effective
medications are now available and proponents saying that although
marijuana may help only a small number of patients, those who can
benefit should have access.

The Washington ballot initiative is one of just several similar moves
across the nation this year to authorize use of marijuana in cigarette
form to combat medical problems.

Alaska, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada and voters in Washington, D.C., are
being asked to approve similar measures, said Allen St. Pierre,
executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws.

Arizona voters are being asked to affirm more far-reaching
applications of what are now illegal drugs for medical uses if
prescribed by two physicians, he added.

St. Pierre and other proponents, including some area physicians, said
that smoked marijuana is a cheap alternative to a prescription drug,
Marinol, with one of the active ingredients of marijuana. Each pill
can cost about $8.50, he said, and patients typically take it three to
four times a day.

Smoking marijuana also delivers the marijuana's active ingredient to
the bloodstream more quickly, he said.

"For the person who is very sick, smoking is the premier way to get
relief," St. Pierre added.

Dr. Bill Robertson, a former president of the Washington State Medical
Association and the head of the Seattle Poison Center, said that
anti-nausea drugs have a success rate of 80 percent, meaning they
don't work for everyone.

Approval of the initiative would introduce more choice in the
treatment of terminally ill or chronically debilitated patients, he
said.

"If somebody wants to do this, why should we stand in their way?" he
asked.

Dr. Jeffrey Ward, an Edmonds oncologist, said he objects to the
initiative because it is not needed.

Physicians now rarely use Marinol to treat nausea in chemotherapy
patients because more effective medications are available, Ward said.

"I don't have a vested interest in keeping marijuana illegal or
legal," he added. "I don't think using the argument that you need to
legalize it for medical purposes holds water."

Dr. Jonathan Gavrin, an assistant professor of anesthesiology at the
University of Washington who works at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center in Seattle, said that patients there are always
cautioned against using marijuana because of the aspergillus fungus
that grows in anything smokable.

All Hutchinson patients receive bone marrow transplants, which
requires patients' immune systems to be suppressed. Smoking marijuana
could allow the dangerous fungus to get into their sinuses or lungs
and spread to their blood and brain, he said.

But Gavrin said he could support its use for hospice patients "truly
at an end-of-life situation" to relieve symptoms.

Recent medical studies are mixed as area doctors on the issue. Here's
a few examples:

A February 1997 article in the Southern Medical Journal included a
national survey of oncologists, or cancer specialists, on patient use
of marijuana. Thirty percent said they supported reclassification of
marijuana for medical purposes.

An article in the June 1998 edition of the Western Journal of Medicine
said that while many medical studies suggest the "the medical utility"
of marijuana for some conditions, "the scientific evidence is weak,"
urging more research on the medical effects of marijuana.

A May 1997 article in the Annals of Internal Medicine said that the
most promising uses of marijuana are for counteracting the nausea
associated with cancer chemotherapy and stimulating appetite, but
added, "The evidence does not support the reclassification of crude
marijuana as a prescribable medicine."

An article in the March-April 1998 issue of the American
Pharmaceutical Association said that marijuana "shows clinical promise
for glaucoma, nausea, and vomiting, analgesia, spasticity, multiple
sclerosis and AIDS wasting syndrome" and should be available for
patients "who do not adequately respond to currently available therapies."

Lawrence Halpern, an associate professor of pharmacology at the
University of Washington, reflected on the degree to which experts
disagree on the issue.

"There are (medical) papers considering the legitimate use of
marijuana as an adjunct medicine going back 30-40 years," he said.
"Others say it's a poison. Somewhere in the middle is the truth."

You may Herald reporter Sharon Salyer at 425-339-3486 or you can send
e-mail to her at salyer@heraldnet.com .

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Measure 8 - Vote Yes For Medical Reform (A staff editorial
in The Anchorage Daily News endorses the Alaska medical marijuana initiative,
noting that sick people in 24 states can already smoke marijuana under
medical-necessity laws that allow such use for people with desperate needs.)

Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 07:59:17 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: AK: MMJ: Editorial: Measure 8: Vote Yes For Medical Reform
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: Dave Fratello (amr@lainet.com)
Pubdate: Sat, 24 Oct 1998
Source: Anchorage Daily News (AK)
Copyright: 1998 The Anchorage Daily News
Contact: letters@adn.com
Website: http://www.adn.com/

MEASURE 8: VOTE YES FOR MEDICAL REFORM

If Ballot Measure 8 passes, as expected, then very sick or dying
patients and conscientious physicians will be well-served by voters.
Measure 8 allows for marijuana to be used as medicine in controlled
circumstances and with a doctor's approval.

Medical marijuana initiatives are on the November ballot in five
states, including Alaska, and in the nation's capital. In 24 states,
sick people already can smoke marijuana under medical-necessity laws
that allow such use for people with desperate needs.

If adopted, Alaska's law would make possession legal for people with
specific conditions like cancer or AIDS, and whose debilitating
symptoms include chemotherapy-related nausea or muscle spasms.

As Ileen Self, who is a member of the Alaska Nurses Association, says
of Measure 8, "The bottom line is, it doesn't make the buying or
selling of marijuana legal. But what it means is that people who have
terminal (or chronic) illnesses will not be arrested and prosecuted
for possession of marijuana." Smoking marijuana for non-medical uses
will remain illegal.

While federal law says that possession of any amount of marijuana is
illegal, 8 supporters say they're forging ahead with this ballot
effort to legalize medical marijuana at the state level for two
reasons. First, it's the humane and practical solution for patients
with no other recourse, and second, they hope that overwhelming state
support will lead Congress to adopt a federal solution.

Right now, marijuana is federally classified with drugs like heroin
or LSD that, unlike marijuana, have no redeeming medical value. Thus,
doctors can't legally prescribe it, nor can more research on the
benefits and drawbacks of medical-marijuana usage go forward as it
should.

If Measure 8 passes, says initiative co-sponsor Jim Kentch, sick
people with a doctor's authorization will be permitted to grow their
own marijuana. While it makes better sense for the federal government
to work out uniform standards for how people can legally acquire the
drug, this intermediate step will have to do for now.

The concern here with the grow-your-own approach is that quality
control is lacking. When people don't know about a drug's potency, for
example, they are unsure about dosages. Given potential problems like
this, the Legislature ought not be reluctant to revisit Measure 8 if
it passes. (State law also allows the Legislature to amend
voter-sponsored laws at any time and repeal them after two years.)

Legalization will help people like Kevin Sampson, an Anchorage
resident who has AIDS. About 18 months ago, he became very sick and
began wasting away. Mr. Sampson was prescribed Marinol, pills with the
active ingredients found in marijuana, but he usually couldn't keep
even one down. When he did, he recounted recently, it took two hours
to kick in and the effects lasted for hours longer than needed.

Mr. Sampson now smokes daily a small amount of marijuana that he
obtains on his own. "I attribute smoking marijuana to the fact that
I'm even alive today. ... Nothing else seemed to work. Just the sight
of food, or the smell of food, makes me extremely nauseous," he said.

The added benefit of the plant form, for Mr. Sampson at least, is
financial. Marinol pills cost about $7 each, or 200 pills for $1,500.
"For the cost of three pills, I can get enough (plant) marijuana to
get me through a month or two," he says.

Some critics of Measure 8 say that sick people have other, legal drug
alternatives and don't need to resort to marijuana. Nurse Self of the
Alaska Nurses Association, which has endorsed Ballot Measure 8, disagrees.

"Our position as nurses is that we listen to what the patients tell
us," she says. "And patients tell us this works, at least for some
people. And to me, it's not a question of, 'Well, there's other drugs
available that work for 60 percent (of the people who try them).' If
there's something else available that works for the other 40 percent,
why not use it?"

If Measure 8 passes, then voters will have moved the state in the
right direction by allowing people to use marijuana for medical
reasons without being treated as criminals.

On Nov. 3, vote yes on 8.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Measure No. 8 - Voters Weigh In On Medicinal Marijuana (Five letters
to the editor of The Anchorage Daily News all support the Alaskan
ballot initiative.)

Date: Thu, 29 Oct 1998 18:27:36 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: US AK: 5 PUB LTE: MMJ: Measure No. 8: Voters Weigh In On
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: DrugSense
Source: Anchorage Daily News (AK)
Contact: letters@adn.com
Website: http://www.adn.com/
Copyright: 1998 The Anchorage Daily News
Author: See below
Pubdate: Sat, 24 Oct 1998

MEASURE NO. 8: VOTERS WEIGH IN ON MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

Pot May Be Better Than Pills

I believe in the legalization of marijuana for medical use. Patients are
already given THC pills to help counter the side effects of chemotherapy.
The pills can cause the patient to get sick and throw up. If THC helps
chemo patients feel better, how many more people could it help?

- Eric Quast
Anchorage

***

Please Vote For Healing

I urge voters to support the medical marijuana initiative. Scientific
research and experience clearly reveal medical marijuana to be the
treatment of choice for many patients suffering from glaucoma, epileptic
seizures and the adverse effects of chemotherapy.

Let compassion be our guide. Medical marijuana is good medicine. Please
vote for healing on Election Day. Thank you.

- David Grimes
Cordova

***

Vote Yes For Wonder Medicine

People who suffer pain that is untreatable by conventional methods get no
publicity or recognition, and the pain stays with them.

Treat this pain and suffering with marijuana, and the application destroys
the pain with no addictive consequences.

Heal the pain and do so by voting yes for the wonder medicine. Vote yes on
Ballot Measure No. 8.

- John M. (Jack) Anderson, past president
Anchorage Chamber of Commerce
Founder and first president
Alaska State Chamber of Commerce

***

Anything To Ease Cancer Pain

I, like many Alaskans, have watched too many people suffer from cancer.
There are no words to describe the suffering they go through. Anything to
ease that pain is worth any struggle. I support Ballot Measure No. 8 to
legalize marijuana for medicinal use.

- Victoria Anderson
Anchorage

***

How Would You Feel?

How would you feel if you had a painful, terminal or debilitating disease
for which there was medication but you were not allowed to have any? Angry?
Upset? Confused? Physicians should be allowed to prescribe medical
marijuana for specific conditions for which it is effective, just as they
prescribe other controlled medications. Vote yes on Ballot Measure No. 8 on
Nov. 3.

- George E. McLaughlin
Fairbanks

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Pot Backers Not Giving Up (The Denver Post says supporters of Amendment 19,
the Colorado medical marijuana initiative, asked the state supreme court
on Friday to order county clerks to tally the votes to be cast for and
against the controversial initiative on Nov. 3. Coloradans for Medical Rights
believes it will be able to show in court early next week that there are
enough valid petition signatures that the votes should be counted.)

Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1998 14:34:07 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: US CO: MMJ: Pot Backers Not Giving Up
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: Citizens for Compassionate Cannabis (cohip@levellers.org)
Pubdate: Sat, 24 Oct 1998
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Contact: letters@denverpost.com
Website: http://www.denverpost.com/
Copyright: 1998 The Denver Post
Author: Howard Pankratz

POT BACKERS NOT GIVING UP

Supporters of a measure that would legalize the medicinal use of marijuana
asked the Colorado Supreme Court on Friday to order county clerks to tally
the votes cast for and against the controversial initiative on Nov. 3.

The action came after Coloradans for Medical Rights said they had heard
that a number of county clerks around the state were "locking down'' voting
devices in their counties so they wouldn't record the votes cast for the
measure.

The group believes it will be able to show in court early next week that
there are enough valid petition signatures that the votes should be counted.

Luther Symons, spokesman for Coloradans for Medical Rights, the measure's
sponsor, said it would be tragic if the votes can't be tallied because the
voting machines have been programmed not to count the votes.

"The worst-case scenario is if it is finally determined that we deserve to
be on the ballot but the voting machines have been locked down'' and the
vote is not counted because of that, said Symons on Friday.

Symons said that after hearing the machines were being "locked down,'' the
group asked Secretary of State Vikki Buckley to order the county clerks to
tally the votes.

The group decided to ask the Supreme Court to intervene and force Buckley
to issue such an order only after Buckley refused the group's request, said
Symons.

Assistant Attorney General Maurice Knaizer, who represents Buckley, said
late Friday that Buckley is advising any of the 63 county clerks who ask
that they should not count the votes. Knaizer said that his understanding
is that the voting machines are being programmed by at least some of the
clerks so they will count the votes but not download them.

Knaizer said that he filed a response on behalf of Buckley with the Supreme
Court late Friday.

He said that the state's position is that the votes should not be tallied.
However, if another round of court proceedings determines there were
sufficient petition signatures, the matter should be placed on the ballot
in two years, he said.

Coloradans for Medical Rights has been in a running battle with Buckley
over whether the measure should be on the ballot.

On various occasions, Buckley has ruled that the sponsors didn't have
enough valid petition signatures to place the initiative on the ballot.
Denver District Judge Herbert Stern, however, eventually ordered the
measure on the ballot.

But later the Colorado Supreme Court told Buckley she should count the Nov.
3 votes only if a signature-by-signature recount of the 88,815 signatures
showed there were enough for it to be on the ballot.

A week ago, Buckley said she had completed the Supreme Court-ordered
recount.

The recount showed that the petitions submitted by supporters fell 2,338
signatures short of the 54,242 valid signatures needed for qualifying, said
Buckley.

But Coloradans for Medical Rights immediately began their own examination
of the approximately 36,000 signatures Buckley claimed were invalid, said
Symons.

And Symons said Friday that so far the group has found numerous errors by
the secretary of state's office. On the basis of the errors, Symons said
that the group believes it can go into court next week and show it has
found at least another 3,200 valid signatures. Armed with that, said
Symons, the group will ask that the ballots be counted.

The Supreme Court did not rule on the motion Friday, but could rule as
early as Monday, a court spokesman said.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Mayor's Distance From Oregon Issue Raising Questions (The Houston Chronicle
says Houston Mayor Lee Brown is receiving mixed reviews
from other city officials for his response to a grand jury letting six
prohibition agents off the hook after they broke into the home of an innocent
man, Pedro Oregon Navarro, without a warrant and shot him to death. Critics
of the one-time chief of police in Portland, Oregon, have questioned why
Brown has appeared slow to respond or to take charge on an issue so
potentially divisive.)

Date: Sat, 24 Oct 1998 12:52:41 -0700
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: US TX: Mayor's Distance From Oregon Issue Raising Questions
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: adbryan@onramp.net
Pubdate: Sat, 24 Oct 1998
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 1998 Houston Chronicle
Contact: viewpoints@chron.com
Website: http://www.chron.com/
Author: Julie Mason

MAYOR'S DISTANCE FROM OREGON ISSUE RAISING QUESTIONS

Amid the fallout from a grand jury decision in the death of Pedro
Oregon Navarro, Mayor Lee Brown is receiving mixed reviews from other
city officials for his leadership during the past several days.

While the rhetoric following the grand jury decision did not escalate
to violence as some feared, critics questioned why Brown appeared slow
to respond or take charge on an issue so potentially divisive for the
city.

"The mayor should be the father figure for this city," said Councilman
John Castillo. "There could have been a potential for disruption, and
I think he had an obligation to take a more aggressive and public role
in providing comfort to the community which, by and large, seems to be
hurt by what has happened."

A Harris County grand jury on Monday cleared six police officers
involved in the death of Oregon, 22, indicting only one on a
misdemeanor charge of criminal trespass. The officers had burst into
Oregon's apartment without a warrant and shot him July 12.

Although several officials offered a similar description of what
Brown's responsibilities are as city leader in such times, opinions
were divided on whether Brown fulfilled his obligations.

"I think his responsibilities were to be aware of the concerns in the
community in such a high profile incident, to stay in contact with the
affected community and do his best to see that tensions were defused,"
said Councilwoman Annise Parker. "I think he fulfilled them."

However, Parker -- who previously served on the Police Advisory
Committee and the Citizen Review Committee for the Houston Police
Department -- said Brown may have been experiencing divided loyalties
as former chief of police and a longtime law enforcement
professional.

"I am sure it had to be difficult, he is very identified with HPD,"
Parker said. "I think that when something like this happens, it's a
reflection on all of us. I think we all had feelings of outrage and
anger that it happened, but he must have had some divided loyalties."

On Monday, the day the grand jury returned its findings, numerous
civic leaders rushed to denounce the decision and to urge calm in the
community. City Council members immediately drafted a letter to
federal justice officials, calling for an investigation.

Brown, meanwhile, had already gone home by the time his office
released a brief written statement after 6:30 p.m., requesting an FBI
inquiry into Oregon's killing.

On Tuesday, Brown remained largely in the background, reiterating his
statement from the day before and sticking to his schedule, including
a lunch with the Houston Restaurant Association.

Several members of City Council called a press conference to detail
their call for a federal investigation. At that event, Councilman
Orlando Sanchez noted Brown's reticence in showing leadership on the
issue - leading to an angry phone call from the mayor for what Brown
considered a cheap shot.

For a mayor who recently convened a "Unity Breakfast" with Hispanic
officials and has otherwise tried to build bridges with that
community, the omission for some began to appear strange.

"It's been apparent to me that he has been pretty reserved about it
all," said Councilman Rob Todd. "I think he has a responsibility, and
that is to urge calm and to urge people to trust their
government."

Brown was trumped on Tuesday when U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee,
D-Houston, met with the Oregon family and appeared on the evening
news, surrounded by the family members and speaking with the U.S.
Department of Justice on her cellular phone.

Brown was to have met with the family that evening, but the event was
canceled when one of the members fell ill. Brown instead commended
community leaders in the Gulfton area, where many Hispanics live, and
said his staff had been active there.

By Wednesday the mayor's relative invisibility on the issue was
becoming a topic of conversation at City Hall. After two days of
obscurity, Brown's staff drafted an impassioned statement on the
Oregon case that the mayor delivered during a council meeting.

"This case has anguished many people in our city. Many people are
dismayed, even angry over what, to them, is an apparent miscarriage of
justice," Brown said. "I understand why they are angry. They want to
know the truth."

Later in the day, Brown attended a session in a nearby park with
Hispanic and other community leaders, aimed at reassuring residents
and continuing to call for peaceful discourse. His staff called the
mayor's efforts a success.

"The mayor showed tremendous leadership in dealing with a very
difficult situation," said Jay Aiyer, Brown's chief of staff. "Through
his own action, he set an example for the rest of us in terms of
understanding and respecting the process."

Aiyer contended that Brown's low-key approach to the situation showed
restrained dignity.

"The easy thing to do would be to grandstand or exploit the issue,"
Aiyer said. "He clearly did not do that."

Controller Sylvia Garcia, who lent her support to the council members
asking for a federal investigation, added her praise to Brown's
handling of the city in the wake of the Oregon case.

"I think the mayor acted very responsibly in asking for the Justice
Department review," Garcia said. "I think with his background, he
deserves a lot of credit for the level of professionalism we have at
HPD."

Garcia, who on Friday attended an event honoring Hispanic police
officers, called the Oregon incident an "aberration."

Harris County Constable Victor Trevino said the best thing city
officials can do now is be truthful and honest in disclosing all of
the facts in the case.

"It's not just about loyalty, you have to stand on the side of truth,"
Trevino said. "The public wants to know what happened, and I think
government is wrong when it starts being secretive. They keep telling
us to wait on judgment until we know the truth. When are we going to
know?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------

US Drug Interdiction Effort Receives $690 Million Boost (The Washington Post
says Congress has passed a last-minute bill boosting the United States'
budget for interdicting cocaine and heroin entering the country from
Colombia. An additional $2 billion for interdiction efforts has been
authorized, but not appropriated, in the omnibus spending bill, but the $690
million extra is included in an emergency supplemental appropriations bill
signed by President Clinton this week, and will greatly increase the aircraft
and ships used by Colombian prohibition agents.)

Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1998 22:10:54 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: US WP: US Drug Interdiction Effort Receives $690 Million Boost
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: Paul Wolf (paulwolf@icdc.com)
Pubdate: Sat, 24 Oct 1998
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Contact: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/edit/letters/letterform.htm
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Copyright: 1998 The Washington Post Company
Author: Douglas Farah

US DRUG INTERDICTION EFFORT RECEIVES $690 MILLION BOOST

Through a last-minute infusion of aid by Congress, the United States is
boosting its anti-drug budget by $ 690 million to interdict cocaine and
heroin entering the country from Latin America.

The money, included in the emergency supplemental appropriations bill signed
by President Clinton this week, will greatly increase the types and quantity
of aircraft and ships used in the drug war in Latin America. The new
equipment will include six UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters for the Colombian
police, purchased for $ 96 million; six sophisticated surveillance airplanes
for the Customs Service at a cost of $ 153 million; and $ 53 million worth
of new and remodeled ships for the Coast Guard.

The aid is expected to increase with an additional $ 2 billion for
interdiction efforts authorized, but not appropriated, in the omnibus
spending bill signed by Clinton.

Sponsors of the bill argued that the new money was necessary because the
Clinton administration had sharply reduced funds available to cut off the
flow of drugs. Administration officials said the White House, which had been
skeptical of the initiative, would not oppose it.

Rep. Bill McCollum (R-Fla.), a chief sponsor of the legislation, said the
spending is "a clear message to the drug traffickers who prey on our kids:
The pipeline of drugs pouring into the U.S. is shutting down."

The single biggest beneficiary of the aid is the Colombian National Police,
who will receive the Black Hawk helicopters as well as upgrades for the
aging fleet of Huey UH-1H helicopters.

Supporters argued that the more sophisticated helicopters were necessary to
eradicate poppy, used to make heroin and grown at high altitudes, and to
counter the increased firepower of leftist guerrillas active throughout the
countryside.

The move had been opposed by the White House, which said the Black Hawks
cost almost twice as much as the Vietnam-era Hueys to operate and need more
maintenance.

"The administration has fought the Congress tooth and nail over the last few
years to prevent the provision of badly needed high-performance helicopters
for the Colombian anti-drug police," said Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman (R-N.Y.).
"Our Republican drug task force finally prevailed, and none too early,
because the heroin crisis in America, most of which comes from Colombia, is
growing out of control."

Congressional sources said the increased aid to Colombia is both an effort
to halt the growth of Marxist guerrilla movements, which have handed the
military stinging defeats recently, and a vote of confidence in Gen. Jose
Serrano, commander of the police.

Congressional sources said that without the personal goodwill generated by
Serrano, who won widespread acclaim as his troops dismantled both the
Medellin and Cali cartels in Colombia, the push for aid would not have been
successful. The sources said none of the aid is going to the Colombian
military because of its poor human rights record.

Colombia's recently elected president, Andres Pastrana, has agreed to open
talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the oldest and
largest Marxist group in the hemisphere. Counting the smaller National
Liberation Army (ELN), insurgents now number about 20,000 and control about
half of the national territory, although they have captured none of the
major cities.

"It gives the security forces a much needed boost in morale," Andy Messing,
an expert on the Colombian conflict at the National Defense Council
Foundation, said of the increase in aid. "It will start to level out the
battle field so serious negotiations can begin to take place."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The Finnish Medical Association supports medical marijuana (A translation
of an excerpt from Hufvudstadsbladet, in Finland, about a press conference
called by the Finnish medical association)

Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 18:10:29 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: Finland: The Finnish Medical Association supports Medical
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/

Newshawk: John Yates
Source: Hufvudstadsbladet (Finland)
Pubdate: 24 Oct 1008
Copyright: Hufvudstadsbladet Ab 1998
Contact: http://www.hbl.fi/
Note: I wrote the headline. The newspaper is published in Finland in the
Swedish language. Our translator and newshawk writes: "Actually, it is a
section of a longer article about a press conference called by the Finnish
Medical Association who have taken a liberal position on drug policy in the
latest issue of their journal, Duodecim.... Here is the part about
cannabis.... There we have it. The Finnish Medical Association can be added
to the list of those who support medical cannabis and who say it is
relatively safe."

THE FINNISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS MEDICAL CANNABIS

Duodecim's theme issue presents a purely medical view of the narcotics
situation. This has never been done before, said Pekka Heinala, one of
those responsible for the special issue. He is a psychiatrist and
psychotherapist working for the Alchohol Research Authority. He asserts
it is high time for self criticism in the area of abuse treatment.

Matti O. Huttunen points out the double morality surrounding cannabis in
his article. A critical examination of the available research shows
that the negative effects of cannabis use have been greatly exaggerated.

If policy was determined purely according to health risks, it would perhaps
be tobacco and alcohol that were illegal, it was said at the press
conference yesterday.

The doctors are not encouraging cannabis use, but are presenting a more
nuanced picture. It was also said yesterday that cannabis has possible
therapeutic effects in the treatment of cancer and HIV - it can possibly
reduce pain and feelings of nausea.

Heinala said further that there is probably no connection between cannabis
use and schizophrenia, which has been the subject of research by Sweden and
other countries. On the other hand cannabis can lead to psychotic reactions
in sensitive persons and seems to give symptoms earlier to those who would
develop schizophrenia anyway.

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