Pubdate: Thu, 17 May 2001
Source: Daily Aztec, The (US CA Edu)
Copyright: 2001 The Daily Aztec
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/1420
Website: http://www.dailyaztec.com/
Author: Reed Albergotti
Note: Reed Albergotti is a journalism junior and assistant opinion editor 
for The Daily Aztec.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/ocbc.htm (Oakland Cannabis Court Case)

AMERICA'S LAST DANCE WITH MARY JANE?

The Supreme Court ruled Monday against the Oakland Cannabis Buyer's 
Cooperative, setting a national precedent against the medicinal 
distribution of marijuana. In its unanimous decision, the high court went 
against the American grain. Public opinion has shifted dramatically to the 
left of the "just say no" era because of the growing volume of 
anti-war-on-drugs rhetoric. The medical community has embraced the use of 
the drug since 1996, when California became the first state to legalize the 
medicinal use of marijuana.

But Clarence Thomas, when defending the court's opinion, said the drug had 
"no accepted medical use at all." It would be interesting to see Thomas 
attempt to explain that opinion to a dying cancer patient or someone 
suffering from AIDS. Marijuana has been the only relief for many suffering 
from these afflictions. Now, it will be much more difficult to alleviate 
the pain.

The Supreme Court ruled on very narrow grounds -- the Oakland Cannabis 
Buyer's Cooperative had to prove that marijuana had a definite medical 
benefit. This is a difficult feat because the government will not dole out 
enough of the drug for significant tests to be conducted. Could this action 
be politically motivated?

The government doesn't want tests done on marijuana because the results 
could lead to a wider acceptance -- possibly even a shift of public opinion 
against the prohibition of the drug. If marijuana is legalized, a large 
chunk of a multi-billion dollar government industry is erased and thousands 
of DEA and FBI agents are out of work. The prohibition of the medicinal use 
of marijuana has as much to do with the loss of government jobs as it does 
with the treatment of dying patients.

Barry McCaffrey, the 'Drug Czar' of the Clinton Administration, commented 
on the ruling: He likened smoking marijuana to drinking a couple of glasses 
of vodka. Why is it that the people in charge of America's drug policy know 
nothing about the drugs they preside over? If vodka and marijuana provided 
equal relief for cancer patients, it is doubtful they would go through the 
trouble of obtaining marijuana. It is doubtful that so many doctors would 
endorse the medicinal use of marijuana.

If America is a representative democracy, why are Congress and the Supreme 
Court so unrepresentative of the will of the people? What will it take for 
people inflicted with cancer and AIDS to have a voice in this country? Does 
Congress have to oust a couple of relics that still believe in the war on 
drugs and replace their seats with those in need of medicinal marijuana?

Until that happens, it looks like cancer patients will be growing their own 
- -- hopefully the DEA doesn't bust down their doors and push their 
wheelchairs directly into federal work camps. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake