Pubdate: Thu, 28 Oct,1999 Source: Orange County Register (CA) Copyright: 1999 The Orange County Register Contact: http://www.ocregister.com/ Section: News, page 4 JUSTICE ASKS COURT TO REVIEW POT RULING The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday asked a federal appeals court to reconsider a ruling that could allow seriously ill individuals to use marijuana without being prosecuted. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last month told a federal judge to rethink his order last year that closed down some Northern California medical marijuana clubs,and consider an exemption for those who face imminent harm without the drug. California Attorney General Bill Lockyer,who has vowed to uphold a successful state initiative allowing seriously ill persons to use marijuana, had asked the Justice Department not to appeal the ruling. Federal Prosecutors have repeatedly argued that Congress has declared marijuana to be a dangerous controlled substance that has no medical purpose. - --- MAP posted-by: Thunder