In an interview broadcast on KGW-TV, Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry gave a backhanded endorsement to state medical marijuana initiatives.

The federal government shouldn't interfere with medical marijuana and assisted suicide laws crafted and approved by Oregonians, Kerry said. These laws have come under legal challenge by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.

"Individual states have the right to make a decision until the federal government has made an alternative one, and we don't have the information to make that, period," Kerry said.

Worth noting:

• Oregon has a medical marijuana ballot initiative this fall, and Kerry didn't speak specifically to it.


• George W. Bush said essentially the same thing in 2000.