Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 12:52:35 -0500 (EST)
From: David Borden <[b--rd--n] at [intr.net]>
Subject: Drug Czar Contradicts Himself, Stalls on Medical Marijuana

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            Drug Reform Coordination Network (DRCNet)
                          News Advisory
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Please copy and distribute.
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PRESS RELEASE FROM AMERICANS FOR MEDICAL RIGHTS
January 8, 1997


McCaffrey Orders Medical Marijuana Research Review, No New 
Studies -- Progress or Stalling Tactic?


SANTA MONICA, January 8 - Drug czar Barry McCaffrey has 
announced that the federal government will spend $1 million 
for the respected National Academy of Science's Institute of 
Medicine to conduct a review of existing research on the 
medical benefits of marijuana. The review will begin soon 
and conclude in about 18 months.

Advocates of California's medical marijuana law, Proposition 
215, welcomed the move but said it is not likely to prove as 
valuable as the approval or funding of new research on the 
drug's therapeutic uses.

"We welcome General McCaffrey's new openness to the evidence 
that marijuana is medically beneficial for some patients," 
said spokesman Dave Fratello. "We note, however, that this 
represents a significant shift in the drug czar's posture. 
McCaffrey has repeatedly claimed that there is no evidence 
to support marijuana's medical use. Such talk was 
politically expedient, but willfully ignorant of the dozens 
of studies that have been done on medical marijuana."

MCCAFFREY PREVIOUSLY DENIED EVIDENCE EXISTED

* On August 16, McCaffrey told the San Francisco Chronicle, 
"There is not a shred of scientific evidence that shows that 
smoked marijuana is useful or needed. This is not science. 
This is not medicine. This is a cruel hoax."

* Last week, on December 30, McCaffrey was asked by CNN's 
Carl Rochelle "is there any evidence ... that marijuana is 
useful in a medical situation?" McCaffrey's response: "No, 
none at all. There are hundreds of studies that indicate 
that it isn't."

* On January 2, McCaffrey assistant Pat Seitz, appearing on 
the CNN show "Burden of Proof," tried to retract the drug 
czar's mistaken statements, insisting, "He has not said 
there is no research. He has not said there is no research."

Fratello said, "This new research initiative represents the 
first evidence that drug czar McCaffrey and the Clinton 
administration understand what the voters of California were 
supporting when they approved Prop. 215. In that sense, it 
is a victory by and for California voters."

"But the announcement falls far short of a real commitment 
to research on medical marijuana," Fratello added. "To date, 
not a single study of marijuana's value for AIDS patients 
has been permitted - instead, such research has been 
blocked."

"The question this move poses is: Will the new review of 
existing evidence be used to justify blocking future moves 
forward in research on and access to medical marijuana? Only 
time will tell. What's certain is that the Clinton 
administration has yet to display good faith on the question 
of medical marijuana."

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