Date: Mon, 21 Oct 1996 18:11:32 -0500
To: [iowanor m l] at [commonlink.com]
From: "Carl E. Olsen" <[c--l] at [dsmnet.com]>
Subject: Republicans Support Medical Marijuana

Republicans for Proposition 215
http://www.majority.com

For Immediate Release:  October 21, 1996
Contact:  Eric Garris (408) 733-4350

Republicans Endorse Proposition 215 for Medical Marijuana
George Schultz, Milton Friedman, Fullerton Mayor Among Supporters

Richard Brookhiser's motives for supporting Proposition 215, the medical
marijuana measure, are not strictly political.   As Senior Editor of the
conservative magazine National Review, Brookhiser believes that politicians
and police should not interfere with the medical decisions reached by
doctors and patients.  But as a recovering cancer patient, Brookhiser found
medical marijuana to be a lifesaver.

"I support the use of medical marijuana because of my politics, but I'm also
for it because I've had to use it," said Brookhiser.  He turned to marijuana
to fight the nausea caused by chemotherapy.  "None of my doctors or nurses
at New York University Medical Center or Memorial Sloan-Kettering
discouraged me from doing this. They had all had patients who had used
marijuana to fight nausea and who had reported good results.  I had good
results too.  Because of the marijuana, my last two courses of chemotherapy
were almost nausea-free."

Brookhiser is urging his fellow Republicans to support Proposition 215.
"God forbid that anyone should ever need chemotherapy, but statistics tell
us that many of us will.  Let me assure you that however you vote, if that
moment comes to you, you will turn to marijuana. Extend that liberty to your
fellow citizens."

Brookhiser joins a growing list of notable Republicans who have defied their
party's leadership by supporting Prop. 215.  Recent endorsements for the
measure include former U.S. Secretary of State George Schultz, Nobel
prize-winning economist Milton Friedman, Fullerton Mayor Chris Norby, and
former gubernatorial hopeful Ron Unz.  The conservative daily newspaper, the
Orange County Register, was an early endorser of the intiative before it
even qualified for the ballot.

Schultz, former Secretary of State under President Reagan, endorsed
Proposition 215 and gave a $1000 contribution to the committee supporting
what he termed, "this important measure."  Friedman, an economic advisor to
several Republican presidents, said he "strongly supported the proposal."

Silicon Valley entrepreneur Unz said, "It seems absurd and ridiculous that
currently such doctors can freely prescribe far more dangerous and
addictive, while being unable to provide their patients with marijuana."
Fullerton Mayor Chris Norby said he was "surprised" that more of his GOP
colleagues had retreated from this popular issue.

The Orange County Register, flagship newspaper for the conservative county's
Republicans, editorialized in June, "the evidence is quite strong that at
least some patients with cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and
other diseases can receive benefits from marijuana that are not available
from other medications. It is only humane to allow them -- in consultation
with their physicians -- to use it legally."

Several Republican candidates for office and local Republican clubs have
endorsed the medical marijuana measure.  But the number of elected officials
of either party supporting Prop. 215 is small.  Despite polls showing it
leading by 20 or more points, most politicians have retreated from taking a
stand on the measure either way.

"Several Republican office-holders and candidates have told me privately
that they support the measure, but will not publicly endorse it," said Eric
Garris, director of Republicans for Proposition 215.  "There has been
intense pressure brought to bear on GOP candidates to not support the
proposition by Governor Wilson, Attorney General Lungren, and Assembly
Speaker Curt Pringle.  These candidates and officials have been warned that
they can expect to have their supply of campaign money cut off if they
support 215."  The biggest contributors against Prop. 215 are police union
PACs, who are also among the biggest supporters of Republican candidates.

"I was told that there was no way I could count on national Republican Party
funding if I openly support Prop. 215," said Justin Raimondo, GOP nominee
for Congress from San Francisco.  "I have rarely seen such intense pressure
regarding a ballot measure on the part of the party leadership.  However, I
did not feel I could abandon my principles on this important issue.  I
strongly urge everyone to support 215, regardless of the political
consequences," Raimondo said.

The World Wide Web address for Republicans for Proposition 215 is
http://www.majority.com.

###

Eric Garris
[e--r--s] at [majority.com]


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