Fayetteville, AR – Jan. 24, 2001 – The Alliance for Reform of Drug Policy in Arkansas, Inc.  (ARDPArk), a statewide public-interest organization, today endorsed proposed legislation that would allow the medical use of marijuana in the state. Similar legislation has been adopted in 9 states (Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Nevada, Maine, Hawaii, and Colorado) and is under consideration in several other states (Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming). Nationwide, 1999 polling showed an average of 70% public support.

The legislation, HB 1303, was introduced Monday by Rep. Jim Lendall, a Democrat from Mabelvale who works in private life as a registered nurse and serves as chairman of the House Legislative Council's Subcommittee on Public Health and Health Services.

 "This is a patient-friendly law, tolerating the medicinal use of marijuana and allowing doctors to practice medicine to the full extent of their capabilities and to the best benefit of the patient," said Denele Campbell, ARDPArk's executive director. "Medical decisions should be made by an individual with the help of his or her physician – not the government. We commend Rep. Lendall for leading this effort that could bring much needed medication and relief to thousands of sick Arkansans."

 Marijuana has proven to be an effective treatment for severe and intractable pain, nausea, wasting, glaucoma, migraine, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, muscle spasm and several other ailments. Until 1937, when it was criminalized in the U.S., it was prescribed as a leading treatment for over 100 illnesses. At the 1937 federal legislative hearings, representatives of the American Medical Association testified in support of keeping marijuana available for medical use.

Between 1842 and 1890, the extracts and derivatives of marijuana were the second and third most prescribed medicines in the U.S., with various medications made by Eli Lilly, Parke-Davis, Squibb and other pharmacological manufacturing firms. The use of marijuana as medicine has been documented as early as 3000 years before the time of Christ. "In all this time, marijuana has never been shown to cause death or serious illness," said Campbell. "That's a stark and telling contrast to the reports of 140,000 deaths each year from prescription drugs."

 In the January, 1997, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Jerome Kassirer, the journal's editor, wrote "…authorities should rescind their prohibition of the medical use of marijuana for seriously ill patients and allow physicians to decide which patients to treat."

 Arkansas physicians currently risk censure and loss of license for advising their patients about marijuana and the proposed legislation would provide safeguards for these physicians. The proposed legislation would also provide legal protection for individuals who have been licensed to use marijuana as medicine. The legislation would not permit individuals to drive under the influence of marijuana or use it in a public place. Employers would not be required to allow the use of medical marijuana in the workplace. Government medical assistance programs and private health insurers would not be required to reimburse a person for costs associated with the medical use of marijuana.

 ARDPArk, headquartered in Fayetteville, was formed in an effort to change medical marijuana laws in Arkansas. The board, executive and advisory committees of the organization include numerous health care professionals. The organization has been circulating petitions to have a medical marijuana law put on the ballot for public vote. ARDPArk has promoted an 18-minute video on the use of marijuana as medicine and offers it free to interested groups.

For more information about ARDPArk and medical marijuana, please visit www.ardpark.org or contact Alliance for Reform of Drug Policy in Arkansas, Inc.  – ARDPArk – 1155 West 6th Street PMB A17, Fayetteville, AR 72701, 479-839-2475; contact Denele Campbell, Executive Director. Cell: 466-2282, Alliance@ardpark.org

Taking action on failed drug policies. Sponsor of the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act, a citizens initiative.