Pubdate: Wed, 27 Oct 1999
Source: Lewiston Sun Journal
Copyright: 1999 Lewiston Sun Journal
Contact:  P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, Maine 04243-4400
Fax: 207-777-3436
Website: http://www.sunjournal.com/
Author: Bonnie Washuk, Staff Writer
See: Mainers for Medical Rights http://www.mainers.org/

MEDICAL MARIJUANA STANCE HAS SHERIFF UNDER FIRE

Reacting to one of their own breaking ranks, Portland Police Chief Mike
Chitwood and two organizations that represent Maine police officials are
speaking out against legalizing marijuana for patients as proposed in a
Nov. 2 referendum.

On Oct. 21, Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion, a native of Lewiston,
announced he is supporting the referendum that, if passed, would allow
patients to grow and use small amounts of marijuana for treatment if
approved by their doctor. On Oct. 25, radio ads with Dion's voice urging
passage began airing.

Pointing to out-of-state money being raised in support of passing the
question, Chitwood said Monday the referendum is nothing more than a thinly
disguised attempt to legalize marijuana. "This is about legalizing drugs,
not medical use," Chitwood said. "When they've raised $340,000 and $300,000
of it comes from California, you know there's something wrong."

According to the Secretary of State's Office, $437,000 was raised to pass
the referendum. Virtually all of the money came from the California-based
Americans for Medical Rights.

If the referendum is passed "that will send the wrong message," Chitwood
said. "Right now we're telling kids, 'Smoking is bad. Alcohol is bad. Drugs
are bad.' Here we are legalizing a drug that we've constantly fought to
keep off the streets."

Chitwood and other high ranking police officers were surprised to hear Dion
- -- who used to work for Chitwood -- speak in favor of legalizing patient
marijuana. Because of Dion's reputation and position, he can convince many
Mainers to vote yes.

"That's why he's doing what he's doing," Chitwood said.

There's no organized objection, no formal opposition to the referendum. No
one from California or Maine is spending thousands to defeat the question.

"If there were I'd be more happy to speak up," Chitwood said. The yes side
"is at a big advantage financially."

Pointing to the Maine Medical Association's rejection of the referendum,
the Maine Chiefs of Police Association as well as the Maine Sheriff's
Association have taken stands against the referendum. In general, though,
police organizations "are being awful quiet about it," Chitwood said.

With Dion endorsing the referendum things got a little more vocal.

Lewiston Police Chief William Welch said Monday he too opposes legalizing
marijuana for patients. "I still believe it's the gateway to harder drugs."

The way the law would be worded would make it vague and tough to enforce,
he said. "It would put the officer on the street at an extreme disability."

It doesn't matter, Dion said, "what the other chiefs think. My conscience
says otherwise." But it is tough, he admitted, to take a position so out of
step. "This is a moral decision. I just felt it is right for people who
cannot speak for themselves."

He spoke of a 60-year-old man suffering with cancer who confided in Dion
that he used marijuana to ease his nausea. "His eyes were welled up with
tears," Dion said. "He apologized to me for breaking the law."

Seen AIDS, Cancer

The man told the sheriff he was sorry that his family members broke the law
by helping him get marijuana. "I put my hand on his shoulder and said, 'You
had to do what you had to do,' Dion said. "In other aspects he was like my
father or grandfather. Do we want to turn those people into criminals?"

Serving as sheriff, he said, is more than enforcing the law. It's about
providing support and service to the community. "I've personally seen the
ravages of AIDS and the great sadness and pain of terminal cancer. For
individuals in those families, I felt duty-bound to raise the questions
that needed to be raised."

If marijuana provides some possible relief for patients, "then the police
service profession needs to say that."

What makes it hard, Dion said, is there's a huge wall between law
enforcement and drugs. It's not black and white.

If the referendum passes, Dion said police are sophisticated enough to set
up a system to help the law work. Police can tell the difference between
someone growing four plants who appears to be suffering a terminal sickness
and someone with no proof of a disease growing hundreds of plants. "If
they've got 600 plants and no doctor's permission, it looks like we're
going to criminal court," Dion said.

If the referendum does not pass, Dion said he'll do what he's doing now:
make the arrests and pass on the case to the prosecution.
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