Mayoral Candidate Opposes 'Pot' Plan

The City Council will consider second reading action tonight on a marijuana ordinance which would reduce the charge for possession from a felony to a misdemeanor. Expressing concern about the proposal, Jack Garris, Republican candidate for mayor, today issued the following statement: "A few weeks ago, Dr. Richard W. Deatrick of Ann Arbor informed the City Council that he was part of a United States Public Health Service Survey studying narcotics and dangerous drugs. At that time, Dr. Deatrick told the Council that the survey showed that the use of marijuana had harmful affects, even for the infrequent user. "This weekend, Dr. Wesley Hall, the president-elect of the American Medical Association, said that an American Medical Association study showed with very little doubt that smoking marijuana dulls the sex drive in both men and women, causes birth defects when used by women late in pregnancy. "He said that at least one out of every 10 children born to mothers who have used marijuana within three months of giving birth will be detective mentally. "I wonder if the Mayor would accuse the American Medical Association of using scare-tactics? "As mayor, I would heed the conclusions of the American Medical Association and would not pass an ordinance which tends to encourage the use of a known harmful drug."