Pubdate: Wed, 20 Feb 2002
Source: Santa Cruz County Sentinel (CA)
Copyright: 2002 Santa Cruz County Sentinel Publishers Co.
Contact:  http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/394
Author: Donna Jones, Sentinel Staff Writer

`MARY JANE FOR PAIN' STUDENT POT PROJECT GETS SCHOOL'S OK

Mission Hill Junior High School officials will allow a seventh-grader to 
display her medical marijuana project when the school science fair opens 
today. School officials had questioned whether "Mary Jane For Pain," a 
project that included marijuana-laced props when the 13-year-old, who asked 
not to be identified, turned it in last Thursday, fit science fair guidelines.

But after reviewing the girl's research during the weekend, school 
officials concluded the project -- sans the marijuana-laced muffin and 
rubbing alcohol initially presented as props -- fits fair criteria under 
the category of social science.

"She had some good questions, and she did what she wanted to in terms of a 
project," Principal Cathy Stefanki-Iglesias said. "The value is in what the 
student learned from the scientific process."

Stefanki-Iglesias said the report, which includes the results from a survey 
the student conducted with five local women who use marijuana to combat 
symptoms of illnesses, was "well written" and brings people up to date on 
the issue.

The girl's father, Joe Morris, said he was pleased with the decision. He 
had been concerned after Stefanki-Iglesias said last week that the project 
might not be admissible.

His daughter was embarrassed by the negative reaction at school last week 
and didn't want to be interviewed, Morris said. But she worked hard on the 
project. In addition to the surveys, which she analyzed and graphed, she 
researched the history of medicinal marijuana through articles and books, 
some of which were specially ordered from the library. He questioned 
whether her free speech rights would be violated if the project was ruled 
unfit.

"I'm hoping to get off work tomorrow to go down and see it," Morris said 
Tuesday.

A substitute teacher gave the 13-year-old permission to pursue the issue 
about four months ago. The girl's regular teacher, who recently returned 
from maternity leave, discovered the topic Thursday.

The girl's interest was sparked by her aunt's volunteer work. The aunt 
serves as a caregiver for a family friend, who is seriously ill with 
cancer, and she produces a weekly batch of marijuana muffins for the 
Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, a Santa Cruz group that provides 
pot to patients with prescriptions.

Morris said his daughter's project didn't condone recreational use of the drug.

He acknowledged, however, that he made a "bad call" when he allowed his 
daughter to bring the contraband props to school. He said he was grateful 
school officials returned the items to him rather than calling police.

He said his daughter used the props to show that medical marijuana wasn't 
about smoking pot, and that she might bake a parsley muffin to replace the 
illegal prop.

The project has garnered national attention since an article about it 
appeared in Saturday's Sentinel. Morris said he received nearly 50 calls 
from media during the weekend. Stefanki-Iglesias said she has fielded calls 
from television stations and from The New York Times.

This isn't the first time medical marijuana has provoked controversy. The 
state's voters approved the drug for medicinal use when they passed 
Proposition 215 in 1996. But California officials, trying to implement 
their will, have clashed repeatedly with federal authorities, who maintain 
U.S. laws against the substance supersede the state initiative.

"I'm surprised at how many people are interested in this topic," 
Stefanki-Iglesias said. "It's on a lot of people's minds at the moment."

The science fair is open to the public from 7-8:30 p.m. today in the 
Mission Hill auditorium, 425 King St., Santa Cruz.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D