[420 Girl]

Longtime medical-marijuana advocate Donald Christen says it is time to take the marijuana issue to its natural conclusion: Legalize it for everybody older than 19.

Christen and his group, Maine Vocals, have launched two petitions: one to loosen regulations on possession and cultivation of marijuana for medical use; the other to end cannabis prohibition altogether. The measures would prohibit public use of "marijuana intoxicating products," but would allow physicians to prescribe cannabis for patients of any age.

Some police officers and prosecutors consider marijuana a "gateway drug" that can lead to substance abuse.

Christen's petition would require more than 55,000 certified signatures. If it fails to pass in the Legislature, the measure then would go to referendum.

Christen was acquitted in December 2008 on marijuana cultivation and furnishing charges.

convincing a jury that his pot was for medical purposes.

He said legalized marijuana would be good for the economy, by providing jobs in a new hemp-farming industry.

District Attorney Evert Fowle has said he questions the viability of medical marijuana.

"We have two petitions, one is for the medical use and one is to just legalize marijuana," Christen said. "The legalization petition to end prohibition is maybe a little bit of a long shot, but because of all the input we've had with the medical bill, people are saying why don't they just legalize it."

Medical-marijuana advocates in a different group have collected the necessary 55,000 signatures to place a question on the November ballot that would ease access to medical marijuana for qualified patients.

Maine has had a medical-marijuana law on the books for 10 years, but medical patients say there's no practical way for them to legally obtain marijuana.

The Maine Medical Marijuana Act, which did not make it through committee in the Legislature and so goes to referendum this fall, would create sites licensed by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services where marijuana could be dispensed.

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