Pubdate: Fri, 18 Feb 2005
Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Copyright: 2005 The Sun-Times Co.
Contact:  http://www.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81
Author: Dave McKinney, Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief
Note: Item excerpted from longer column
Cited: Office of National Drug Control Policy ( www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov )
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/walters.htm (Walters, John)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Larry+McKeon

MEDICAL MARIJUANA DEFEATED

Elsewhere in the Legislature, a House panel defeated an attempt to
legalize marijuana for medical purposes after hearing President Bush's
drug czar rail against the plan.

Accompanied by a bevy of security officers and handlers, John Walters,
the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, testified
for nearly 45 minutes against the bill to allow seriously ill patients
to possess small amounts of marijuana if a doctor signs off.

In response to the Bush administration's full-court press toward
defeating the proposal, the bill's top sponsor, Rep. Larry McKeon
(D-Chicago), said: "I'm honored. I'm honored. I think it points out
the importance of this issue."

In another House panel, anti-smoking advocates were handed a victory
with approval of a plan to expand local governments' power to enact
their own indoor-smoking laws. The measure now moves to the full
House. All municipalities in the state could restrict or even
completely ban smoking in public places like restaurants and bars if
the measure becomes law. Currently, only 21 governments, including
Chicago and many suburbs, have that power. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake