Pubdate: Thu, 05 Apr 2001
Source: Bergen Record (NJ)
Copyright: 2001 Bergen Record Corp.
Contact:  http://www.bergen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/44

VENTURA BACKS MEDICINAL POT

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Gov. Jesse Ventura said Wednesday that he supports 
legalizing marijuana for medical use.

"Medical marijuana? I fully support it, absolutely. Who is government 
to tell someone if they have AIDS or cancer, what they should be 
taking?" Ventura said in response to a question from a student at the 
University of St. Thomas.

"To me, you've got a kid here with cancer," he said. "I don't give a 
damn if he smokes a joint."

A bill before the Minnesota Legislature this year would appropriate 
$100,000 to study potential medicinal uses of marijuana.

California passed one of the nation's first medical marijuana laws in 
1996, but it has been held up by a court fight. Hawaii passed a 
similar law.

Voters in Arizona, Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and 
Washington have approved ballot initiatives allowing the use of 
medical marijuana.
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