MARIJUANA MEETING IN MOUNTAIN HOME

News Release: June 10, 2001

Fayetteville - "We're looking forward to this meeting in Mountain Home," states Denele Campbell, Executive Director for the Alliance for Reform of Drug Policy in Arkansas, Inc, an Arkansas non-profit corporation dedicated to political action. "Over the months that we have been working on our medical marijuana campaign, we have heard from a lot of folks in that part of the state. We decided it was time to have a public meeting."

Ms. Campbell will present a 2 pm program Saturday June 16 at the Mountain Home Public Library community meeting room. Featured in the program will be an 18-minute award-winning video entitled "Marijuana as Medicine."

"The unique thing about this video is that it summarizes some of the medical history of marijuana, but features five patients who are currently receiving 300 marijuana cigarettes per month from the federal government for medical use. Most folks have no idea that the same federal government that is arresting people and sending them to prison for marijuana use is also providing marijuana to people for medical use."

Ms. Campbell encourages those who are opposed to medical marijuana to attend this meeting.

"I will be happy to answer anybody's questions and argue their points. We know people have concerns. That's why we're coming out there. But the fact is that for some ailments, marijuana is better (and cheaper) medicine than anything else."

The Alliance is the sponsor of the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act, a citizens' initiative. The group hopes to gather 100,000 signatures by July 2002 in order to place the proposed law before the states' voters in the November 2002 general election. If passed by voters, the law would go into effect in early 2003. Provisions of the bill would include identification cards for qualified patients, allowing legal possession of specified amounts of marijuana. The law forbids public use and does not require employers to allow use at the workplace.

The meeting is free and will last approximately one hour. Literature will be available, including the group's published booklet "Patient Stories - Why Medical Marijuana is Critical to the Life and Health of Arkansas People."