Pubdate: Thu, 21 Oct 1999 Source: Associated Press Copyright: 1999 Associated Press Related: Mainers for Medical Rights http://www.mainers.org/ SHERIFF BACKS BALLOT QUESTION TO LEGALIZE SOME MARIJUANA USE Portland, Maine - Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion endorsed a state referendum proposal Thursday to allow the use of marijuana for specified medicinal purposes. Dion, whose declaration was trumpeted by the organization pushing for passage of the ballot proposal, said he had not turned his back on the war against drugs. He said he wanted, instead, ''a ceasefire so that we can treat the wounded in our society.'' Dion said his oath to uphold the law was matched by ''an equally important duty to seek justice.'' Advocates of the proposal, which will be listed as Question 2 on the Nov. 2 ballot, say authorizing marijuana for specific medical conditions would protect patients who are advised by a doctor they might benefit from the drug. The list of qualifying ailments includes persistent nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite from AIDS or cancer treatments, glaucoma, and seizures or muscle spasms from chronic diseases, such as epilepsy or multiple sclerosis. Critics of the initiative challenge the medicinal value of privately obtained marijuana with no standardized source or preparation, as well as at least some of the claims by proponents that it would be beneficial in the cases outlined in the proposal. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake