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$ Betr.: Lungren 'Convicted' of 215 Crimes (fwd)

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The Sacramento Bee
Weds. Oct. 16, 1996

Page A-4


PROP. 215 BACKERS 'CONVICT' LUNGREN OF MISLEADING VOTERS

By Jon Matthews
Bee Capitol Bureau

        Shouting "guilty, guilty!," supporters of Proposition 215 staged a
mock trial of state Attorney General Dan Lungren on Tuesday and "convicted"
him of misleading voters in his vocal fight against the medical marijuana
measure.

        But Lungren promptly fired back, calling the initiative a
"deceptive" attempt to roll back drug laws. He denied claims that he is
misusing his official powers or that he is attacking the measure for
political gain.

        "The message has to be consistent that drugs are illegal, that they
are dangerous and they are wrong," Lungren told reporters.

        The November ballot measure, leading 56 percent to 35 percent in
the latest statewide Field Poll, would permit the cultivation and use of
marijuana for medicinal purposes when recommended by a doctor.

        The mock trial, held outside the Capitol, "charged" Lungren with
ignoring evidence about how marijuana can benefit cancer patients and other
seriously ill persons.

        Participants also said Lungren or his aides had wrongly claimed
that Proposition 215 would effectively legalize recreational use of
marijuana, and would allow even veterinarians to OK patients' marijuana
use.

        The said Lungren was pressing a high-profile criminal case against
the founder of the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers' Club as part of his
effort to derail Proposition 215.

        "We feel the attorney general is uniquely guilty of the crimes we
will charge him with today, because he has abused his police powers in an
effort to defeat Proposition 215," said Dave Fratello of Californians for
Medical Rights, which is leading the fight for Proposition 215.

        Helen Reading, an Oakland resident battling breast cancer who sat
on the mock trial's jury, said she also believed Lungren was motivated by
politics.

        "I think Dan Lungren wants to be governor, to follow in the
footsteps of (Gov.) Pete Wilson," she said. "... And I'd like to ask him a
question: Who am I hurting?"

        Reading added that she had used marijuana to counter side effects
of chemotherapy.

        After ending their mock trial, the group of about 30 Proposition
215 supporters marched to Lungren's downtown office building and delivered
their "verdicts" to a security officer who stood before the front door.

        Upstairs, Lungren then called a news conference to rebut the
claims.

        The attorney general conceded that one of his aides had been wrong
on the veterinarian claim and was "guilty as charged," but Lungren
otherwise stuck with his argument that Propostion 215 is full of loopholes
and would lead to widespread, uncontrolled use of marijuana by children and
others.

        He said physicians, whether or not they were in good standing or
actively practicing, would be able to recommend marijuana for children or
any other patient with headaches, stress or basically any other condition.

        Lungren said he could not discuss the criminal case involving the
cannabis club, but denied -- as he has in the past -- that he is using his
official powers to try to sink Proposition 215, or fighting the measure to
promote his own political future.