Pubdate: Wed, 30 May 2007 Source: International Herald-Tribune (International) Edition: Europe Copyright: International Herald Tribune 2007 Contact: http://www.iht.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/212 Author: Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Mikuriya (Dr. Mikuriya) DR. TOD MIKURIYA Dr. Tod Mikuriya, a California psychiatrist who was widely regarded as the grandfather of the medical marijuana movement in the United States, died May 20 at his home in Berkeley. He was 73. The cause was complications of cancer, his family told California news organizations. Mikuriya, who helped make the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes legal in California, spent the last four decades publicly advocating its use, researching its effects and publishing articles on the subject. He was an architect of Proposition 215, the state ballot measure that in 1996 made it legal for California doctors to recommend marijuana for seriously ill patients. He was also a founder of the California Cannabis Research Medical Group and its offshoot, the Society of Cannabis Clinicians. Sometimes Mikuriya's work found little favor. In 1996, General Barry McCaffrey, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy derided the doctor's medical philosophy as "the Cheech and Chong show," referring to two Hollywood movie characters known for their marijuana-themed humor. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake