Pubdate: Tue, 10 Apr 2001
Source: Lewiston Sun Journal (ME)
Copyright: 2001 Lewiston Sun Journal
Contact:  http://www.sunjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/743

MAINE VOCALS AIM FOR TWO BALLOT QUESTIONS WITH PETITION DRIVE

SKOWHEGAN (AP) - The Maine Vocals are planning to start petition drives 
aimed at revamping Maine's medical marijuana law and legalizing the 
cultivation of industrial-grade hemp.

Donald Christen, president of the marijuana-legalization group, said they 
will try to collect 42,000 signatures for each of the petitions to get the 
issues on the November 2002 ballot.

The Secretary of State's office has already approved the wording of the 
petition on the medical marijuana law, he said.

He criticized Maine's current medical marijuana law as unworkable, saying 
it doesn't allow patients to grow or possess enough marijuana.

The Legislature, meanwhile, has been unable to come up with a way to assure 
patients an adequate supply, Christen said. The law allows patients to grow 
six plants at a time, but his group wants to let voters decide whether 
patients should be able to grow up to 99 plants, Christen said.

Hemp is the non-halluciogenic relative of marijuana whose fibers can be 
used for clothing, food and other products. It was widely grown in the 
United States until the late 1930s.

Some states have taken steps toward legalizing its cultivation, such as 
approving research into the crop.

Christen said he expects approval on the wording of the hemp petition this 
week.
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