From: NORML California <[canor m l] at [igc.apc.org]>
Newsgroups: talk.politics.drugs
Date: 30 Sep 94 20:53 PDT
Subject: Wilson Vetoes Med MJ

                                                                     

Gov. Wilson Vetoes Medical Marijuana Bill



       Sacramento, Sept. 30:  Gov. Wilson vetoed a bill that would have 
classified marijuana as a legal prescription drug in California.
       The Governor's veto came as no suprise, even though the bill had 
enjoyed widespread support from the public, the press, the legislature, and 
even the Young Republicans.  The bill, SB 1364 by Sen. Milton Marks (D-SF) 
had been passed 21-14 by the State Senate and 45-21 by the Assembly.
       Wilson also vetoed a bill to legalize county needle exchange programs to 
prevent spread of AIDS among intravenous drug user.
       "Pete Wilson has made it clear that he has no intention of relieving even 
the most heartless excesses of the war on drugs," commented California 
NORML coordinator Dale Gieringer. "After all, this is a job-creation program 
for his most faithful political constituency, our bloated narcotics enforcement 
establishment."
        Earlier this week, Wilson signed another bill to penalize simple 
possession of pot with a mandatory six-month driver's license suspension.  A 
radio poll by KGO showed that 83% of callers opposed the new bill.
       Drug reform activists have vowed to overturn the government ban on 
medical marijuana by organizing a statewide initiative for the 1996 ballot.  
       Organizers are confident that California voters will support medicinal 
access to marijuana.  Voters in San Francisco and Santa Cruz approved 
medical marijuana resolutions by nearly 80%, and similar resolutions have 
been endorsed by the boards of supervisors of Alameda, San Diego, Sonoma, 
Marin and San Luis Obispo counties.  
       "The people are bigger than the Governor," said medical marijuana 
leader Dennis Peron. 
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