Source: Santa Rosa Press Democrat Contact: http://www.pressdemo.com/news.html Pubdate: Wed, 28 Jan 1998 Author: Mike Geniella, Press Democrat Staff Writer CONGRESS REVIEW OF LEGALIZING POT SOUGHT UKIAH -- Citing 30 years of failed state and federal anti-marijuana campaigns, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday became the first in California to call on Congress to conduct special hearings toward legalization of pot. "Government agencies have spent millions and millions of dollars trying to eradicate marijuana, with the only clear result being escalating prices that attract more and more growers,'' groused Board Chairman John Pinches. Before a unanimous vote, Pinches and other board members complained Tuesday that while government agencies bankroll their war against marijuana, they do little to combat escalating manufacture and use of dangerous drugs like methamphetamine. County drug officials told board members Tuesday that methamphetamine use on the North Coast is running more than 80 percent higher than the statewide average. The board-approved letter to Rep. Frank Riggs, R-Windsor, asks him to follow through on a past pledge to seek special congressional hearings on marijuana issues if county supervisors sought them. "Due to the millions of dollars spent on eradication efforts against marijuana, this board is urging your support to move forward and seek a congressional hearing on the issues surrounding legalization of marijuana,'' according to the letter. Riggs was unavailable for comment Tuesday on his willingness to seek the special congressional hearings the county board wants. Tuesday's vote was the first by a county board of supervisors in what's generally considered to be California's premium pot-growing region. Mendocino County consistently is among the state's top marijuana producers, despite years of state and federal campaigns against pot growers. One result has been escalating prices, leading some experts to estimate that the value of Mendocino's annual pot production could total nearly $1 billion. In a second unanimous vote relating to marijuana issues, board members also passed a resolution calling on local law enforcement and prosecutors to spend no more time or money on medical marijuana-related cases until state or federal agencies provide ""clear guidelines.'' It also expressed support for the Ukiah Cannabis Buyers Club as long as the club operates under guidelines of Proposition 215. The board acted in response to federal prosecutors' moves to obtain court orders shutting down cannabis clubs in California. Federal authorities contend that federal law supercedes Proposition 215, a statewide initiative approved by voters in 1996, allowing marijuana use for medicinal purposes. The board's Proposition 215 vote was endorsed by a group of cancer and HIV-related patients, who said smoking pot alleviates some of their suffering. "The people of this state have made their views known. Why can't the federal government accept that?'' asked Michael Hooper. Pinches, a Republican candidate for state Senate, was outspoken in his support for both actions. "We need to attack these issues at every level we can. The state and federal governments must come to recognize the incredible impacts of their marijuana policies on the local level,'' said Pinches. Copyright 1998, The Press Democrat