NEWSBRIEFS

On November 10, Representative Barney Frank (D-Mass.) introduced a bill into the House of Representatives that would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana for the first time in over five decades. The bill, H.R. 2618, is modeled after a 1981 federal medical marijuana proposal that was sponsored by several members of Congress, including now-House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and three other Republicans.

Frank's bill would reclassify marijuana as a Schedule II drug, meaning its medical utility would be officially recognized. Schedule II currently includes such tightly regulated drugs as cocaine, morphine and certain amphetamines.

To solve the marijuana supply problem, H.R. 2618 would create an Office for the Supply of Internationally Controlled Drugs within the Department of Health and Human Services, which would be responsible for regulating, administering and supervising the domestic production of marijuana. The office would also handle distribution of the drug for medical, scientific and research purposes.

Marijuana prescriptions would be restricted to doctors registered to dispense Schedule II drugs. Frank's bill would allow marijuana to be used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including glaucoma, nausea caused by cancer chemotherapy or radiology, AIDS wasting syndrome, and muscle spasms from certain spastic disorders such as multiple sclerosis, paraplegia and quadriplegia.

Patients with other illnesses that could be treated with marijuana would have to apply for the drug through the "investigational new drug" program of the Food and Drug Administration.

Public opinion polls commissioned by the American Civil Liberties Union last year suggest that a majority of American voters supports making marijuana medically available. Eighty-five percent of the polled voters approved of the drug's use in cases where it had been found to be effective.

Despite the evidence of overwhelming popular support for medical marijuana, only six other representatives have agreed to co-sponsor H.R. 2618 as of this writing: Representatives Anthony Beilenson (D-Calif.) , Ron Dellums (D-Calif.) , Harry Johnston (D-Fla.), John Olver (D-Mass.), Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Gerry Studds (D-Mass.) .

For a copy of Representative Frank's bill, contact DPF. The bill can be found on the Internet at the Library of Congress's World Wide Web site located at Barney Frank's remarks are available by searching the bills introduced during the 104th Congress.

The bill and his remarks are also located at the Drug Reform Coordination Network's home page located at