Pubdate: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 Source: United Press International Copyright: 1999 United Press International Author: Ellen Beck HOT-BUTTONS...TALK SHOW TOPICS Medicinal Purposes Only? Alaska has joined the small but growing list of states which have legalized medical use of marijuana. Minnesota lawmakers are considering the issue. Colorado and Maine may put the question to voters next year. Nevada voters have approved a medicinal marijuana law, as have voters in California, Arizona, Washington State and Oregon. The states generally limit the use of pot to a short list of medical conditions - glaucoma, chronic pain, seizures and spasms, AIDS and nausea from chemotherapy. But people who wish to put the weed to therapeutic use have a problem. Federal law - which trumps state law - prohibits the the growth, use or distribution of marijuana for any purpose. Many of the states with medicinal pot laws are trying to work out legal ways for patients to get pot and smoke it. After last year's elections, federal prosecutors made it clear they will keep enforcing the pot laws, but some are encouraging research on the issue. A White House spokesman says President Clinton still opposes legalized medical marijuana until there is convincing scientific evidence to recommend it. Should the federal government call the shots on this? Or should the voters get what they want in states where they say ``yes'' to medical marijuana? If serious research indicates pot has legitimate medical uses, should Washington concede the point, or continue to resist the medicinal marijuana trend? - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea