Pubdate: Mon, 06 Feb 2006
Source: Lawrence Journal-World (KS)
Copyright: 2006 The Lawrence Journal-World
Contact: http://www.ljworld.com/site/submit_letter
Website: http://www.ljworld.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1075
Author: Ron Knox
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

KANSAS READY FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA, SPEAKER SAYS

With medical marijuana locked in legal battles from California to the
U.S. Supreme Court, the head of a national marijuana policy group said
Sunday that Kansas may be ready to start the legalization process for
the embattled weed.

Rob Kampia, president of the Marijuana Policy Project, a Washington,
D.C.-based lobbying group, said at a forum Sunday that he was headed
to Topeka today to test the climate for a possible medical marijuana
legalization push.

"It's tricky business," Kampia said of passing and enforcing state
laws that decriminalize marijuana for medicinal uses, which has been
approved in 11 states to treat pain and nausea in cancer, AIDS and
multiple sclerosis patients.

Kampia said that the Supreme Court's decision last year to uphold
federal laws prohibiting pot possession, sale and trafficking stung
but that it wasn't the end of the road for the movement.

"It was a loss for us," Kampia said. "But it really wasn't that bad."

All the decision did, Kampia said, was uphold already existing laws
stating that federal regulations override state laws if federal
agencies choose to get involved in medical marijuana cases.

But that shouldn't stop states from pursuing medical legalization, he
said. Rhode Island just passed a law legalizing it, and other states
could follow suit without concern over federal punishment.

Kampia said that 99 percent of all pot arrests in the U.S. fall under
state jurisdiction. For people who use medical marijuana in states
with accommodating laws, they are typically safe from federal
prosecution.

"They receive effective protection under state law," he said.

Kampia said it might take four years to get a law passed in Kansas,
including time to lobby, introduce a bill and get it through the
Legislature.

To help, the Drug Policy Forum of Kansas, led by Laura Green, has
asked for people to lobby state health and medical organizations, and
legislators to make themselves aware of medical marijuana and similar
issues.

"We want to promote public health alternatives," she said.

After the forum, Green and Kampia were on their way to dinner with
Mayor Boog Highberger and Commissioner Mike Rundle.

The dinner would be causal, she said, although they probably would
discuss a proposal her group backed to lessen fines against first-time
marijuana offenders in Lawrence.

Rundle, who attended the forum, said he thought marijuana law reform
was something better handled at the state level, and that it would
take a citizen-backed movement to trigger any serious changes in Lawrence.

As for medical marijuana's chances on the state level, Rundle said
that four years may be a conservative estimate.

"More like six, maybe," Rundle said.
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MAP posted-by: Derek