Under current state law, it is a crime to grow or possess marijuana,regardless of whether the marijuana is used to ease pain or other symptomsassociated with illness. Criminal penalties vary, depending on the amountof marijuana involved. It is also a crime to transport, import into thestate, sell, or give away marijuana.

Licensed physicians and certain other health care providers routinelyprescribe drugs for medical purposes, including relieving pain and easingsymptoms accompanying illness. These drugs are dispensed by pharmacists.Both the physician and pharmacist are required to keep written recordsand the prescriptions.

This measure amends state law to allow persons to grow or possess marijuanafor medical use when recommended by a physician. The measure provides forthe use of marijuana when a physician has determined that the person'shealth would benefit from its use in the treatment of cancer, anorexia,AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or anyother illness for which marijuana provides relief." The physician'srecommendation may be oral or written. No prescriptions or other record-keepingis required by the measure.

The measure states that no physician shall be punished for having recommendedmarijuana for medical purposes. Furthermore, the measure specifies thatis is not intended to overrule any law that prohibits the use of marijuanafor non-medical purposes.

by Richard J. Cohen, M.D., Consulting Medical Oncologist, California-PacificMedical Center, San Francisco; Ivan Silverberg, M.D., Medical Oncologist,San Francisco; and Anna T. Boyce, Registered Nurse, Orange County

Proposition 215 will allow serious and terminally ill patients to legallyuse marijuana, if, and only if, they have he approval of a licensed physician.We are physicians and nurses who have witnessed firsthand the medical benefitsof marijuana. Yet today in California, medical use of marijuana is illegal.Doctors cannot prescribe marijuana, and terminally ill patients must breakthe law to use it.

Marijuana is not a cure, but it can help cancer patients. Most havesevere reactions to the disease and chemotherapy--commonly, severe nauseaand vomiting. One in three patients discontinues treatment despite a 50%chance of improvement. When standard anti-nausea drugs fail, marijuanaoften eases patients' and permits continued treatment. It can be eithersmoked or baked into foods.

University doctors and researchers have found that marijuana is alsoeffective in: lowering internal eye pressure associated with glaucoma,slowing the onset of blindness; reducing the pain of AIDS patients, andstimulating the appetites of those suffering malnutrition because of AIDSwasting syndrome; and alleviating muscle spasticity and chronic pain dueto multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and spinal cord injuries.

When one in five Americans will have cancer, and 20 million may developglaucoma, shouldn't our government let physicians prescribe any medicinecapable of relieving suffering?

The federal government stopped supplying marijuana to patients in 1991.Now it tells patients to take Marinol, a synthetic substitute for marijuanathat can cost $30,000 a year and is often less reliable and less effective.

Marijuana is not magic. But often it is the only way to get relief.A Harvard University survey found that almost one-half of cancer doctorssurveyed would prescribe marijuana to some of their patients if it werelegal.

Today, physicians are allowed to prescribe powerful drugs like morphineand codeine. It doesn't make sense that they can prescribe marijuana, too.

Proposition 215 allows physicians to recommend marijuana in writingor verbally, but if the recommendation is verbal, the doctor can be requiredto verify it under oath. Proposition 215 would also protect patients fromcriminal penalties for marijuana, but ONLY if they have a doctor's recommendationfor its use.

Proposition 215 does not permit non-medical use of marijuana. Recreationaluse would still be against the law. Proposition 215 does not permit anyoneto drive under the influence of marijuana.

Proposition 215 allows patients to cultivate their own marijuana simplybecause federal laws prevent the sale of marijuana, and a state initiativecannot overrule those laws.

Proposition 215 is based on legislation passed twice by both housesof the California Legislature with support from Democrats and Republicans.Each time, the legislation was vetoed by Governor Wilson.

Polls show that majority of Californians support Proposition 215. Pleasejoin us to relieve suffering and protect your rights. VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION215.

Clara Lucca, 101, knows the importance of voting. She was alive whenwomen first got the right to do it in 1919. And she hasn't missed a Novembercontest since.

"Always vote," the Buffalo, N.Y., resident said Tuesdayas she made her way to the polls. "We want the best people forthe positions."

Pray For Peace Foundation was founded to spread awareness, educationand devotion to the Great and Holy Mystery that is God. We accept all pathsas true; all religions are but branches of the same tree. We promote interfaithdialogue and exchange programs to develop tolerance between religions.

Pray For Peace Foundation is dedicated to nonviolence (vegetarian diet)and daily meditation. Pray For Peace members are committed to the legalizationof sacred natural medicines for spiritual healing, for all people.