Dr. Bourne was asked by Representative Lester L. Wolff, Democrat of Nassau County, who is the committee chairman. whether the Administration contemplated decriminalization of cocaine possession.

Dr. Bourne said, “This is an extremely complicated issue and we are in the process now of very carefully re‐examining our position on that issue.” He said the re‐examination would be carried out over the next few weeks and would involve foreign as well as domestic policy.

Cocaine, like marijuana, is generally regarded as a nonaddictive drug.

Mr. Wolff said that the committee would hear from law enforcement officers and medical specialists during three days of hearings. Officials from Oregon and California, two of the six states that have decriminalized marijuana use, will testify.

Mr. Wolff said that the committee had no specific legislation before it but would consider “the effect on the states of any serious movement toward decriminalization by the Federal Government.”

The Carter Administration proposal would remove criminal penalties for possession of small quantities of marijuana for the owner's personal use. It would provide a civil fine, which would not result in a criminal record.