Ex-drug czar, marijuana allies clash over pot's medical use

By Jim Leusner
of The Sentinel Staff

Published in The Orlando Sentinel, May 28, 1998

Former U.S. drug czar William Bennett found himself challenged Wednesday in Orlando on why he and others oppose legalizing marijuana for medical treatment.

``It has been used as medicine for 5,000 years,'' Al Krulick said. ``Why do you and your colleagues ignore published studies on the effects of marijuana?''

(Webmasters note: Nowhere in this article, as published, was Al Krulick identified as the Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in Florida's 8th CD, the district in which the meeting was held.)

Bennett countered that the studies were flawed.

``Cutting people's feet off, and using hot coals, has been used as medicine,'' Bennett said. ``That doesn't mean it's medicine.''

So went the first day of the Marijuana Education Summit, a seminar for 400 police, school and youth officials in Orlando.

The two-day event, sponsored by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Drug Free America Foundation and Save Our Society from Drugs, is aimed at fighting the legalization of pot for medical purposes.

Moments after the exchange between Krulick and Bennett, HIV patient Greg Scott told Bennett that marijuana had helped him keep his health.

``Should we put patients like myself in jail for smoking marijuana?'' asked Scott, 36, of Fort Lauderdale.

Bennett said he doubted there was reputable research showing that pot saved his life.

``I would just tell the gentleman who spoke that he has a lousy doctor,'' responded Dr. Gary Cohan, a Los Angeles internist who treats AIDS patients.

With battle lines clearly drawn, law enforcement officials painted the pro-pot movement as a prelude to legalizing all drugs. They contend pot is a stepping stone to the use of other drugs.

Marijuana advocates say legalization would be a compassionate move to improve the quality of life for cancer and AIDS patients, many of whose bodies and appetites waste away in the face of chemotherapy and other treatments.

U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum, R-Orlando, joined Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood, Florida Secretary of State Sandra Mortham, FDLE Commissioner Tim Moore and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration chief Tom Constantine in a high-powered kickoff to fight a proposed marijuana initiative in Florida.

Also appearing were Arizona and California law enforcement officials, who say they lost statewide referendums to well-financed, pro-marijuana forces.

Bennett said he is working with Congress to cut federal aid to states that pass such initiatives.

Meanwhile, a handful of opponents from the Coalition Advocating Medical Marijuana held a parking-lot news conference to counter what they described as law enforcement ``hysteria.''

(Webmasters note: The following was not published in the print edition, but was included in the online edition of the Sentinel.)

``The difference between us and the people inside is that we have a devastating disorder,'' Irvin Rosenfeld said while smoking a thick marijuana joint. The Boca Raton stockbroker, 45, is one of eight people nationwide who receives legally prescribed marijuana from the government as treatment for his bone tumors.

[Posted 05/27/98 10:18 PM EST]