Pubdate: Sun, 27 May 2001 Source: Sacramento Bee (CA) Copyright: 2001 The Sacramento Bee Contact: http://www.sacbee.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/376 Authors: Emily Roddy, Glenn Backes, Peter Keyes, Alan Archuleta, Kirby Vickery MEDICINAL MARIJUANA Re "Ruling hinders medical pot use," May 15: With this latest brilliantly unfair ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, not only are seriously ill people denied the drug that has been proven to help them live healthier lives, but the will of the people is ignored outright. On one hand, the federal government denies that marijuana has any medical import. On the other hand, they refuse to allow research on what has always been a highly controversial substance that has never been proven to cause addiction, overdose or short-or long-term medical problems. The federal government stands firm in its ignorance and prejudice. - --Emily Roddy, Sacramento - ---------------------------------------------------- I have read the ruling against the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative written by Justice Clarence Thomas. It does not outlaw the use of medical Marijuana; it only holds that there is no medical necessity exception to the federal Controlled Substances Act prohibition on the distribution of cannabis. The ruling is a narrow, legalistic reading of the United States drug war manifesto, and does nothing to limit the rights of Californians to rule themselves in regards to marijuana and its appropriate use as a medicine. Despite the fact that the justices were not swayed by medical necessity or medical evidence in this case, it does not impact California patients advised by a physician to try marijuana to treat symptoms. Even after the ruling, patients are protected by law from prosecution. The Legislature is considering SB 187 by Sen. John Vasconcellos, and supported by advocates of Proposition 215, the state attorney general and by associations representing law enforcement. SB 187 would create a voluntary registry of patients using marijuana, and should make it easier for cops and patients to live with the reform mandated by voters. - --Glenn Backes, Sacramento Director, Health and Harm Reduction The Lindesmith Center -- Drug Policy Foundation - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "There is no definitive science that the drug works or works better than conventional legal alternatives." Although repeated like a mantra by the U.S. government, this statement is simply not true. The 1998 National Institute on Drug Abuse Medical Marijuana Report, the Herbal Physician's Desk Reference, and the 1973 Medical Marijuana Papers all demonstrate marijuana's efficacy, and also show that smoking is often the most effective method of delivery. Nauseous cancer and AIDS patients usually cannot hold down a pill long enough for their stomachs to digest them. Now that the court has further gutted hopes of a medical necessity defense in federal cases, marijuana must be placed in a less restrictive category than schedule 1 (no known medical use, illegal to possess). Rep. Barney Frank has been trying to reschedule it for years. - --Peter Keyes, Sacramento - ---------------------------------------------- The U.S. Supreme Court has now officially lost all credibility. First, the majority of the justices greatly compromised the integrity of the court when they ruled to halt the Florida recount. This ruling in essence declared "every vote does not count". Now they have unanimously ruled that in federal court, medical necessity of a defendant's marijuana use cannot be considered as evidence for his or her defense. The court reached this unanimous decision even though medical doctors and voters in at least nine states have passed laws to defend doctor-recommended use of marijuana for patients with serious illnesses. Justice is supposed to be blind, holding the balance, weighing the evidence. The U.S. Supreme Court has now become a partisan tool for the right-wing agenda, turning a deaf ear to science, reason, and your vote. - --Alan Archuleta, Davis - -------------------------------------------- 'Resident Hate-Monger' The Bee should be ashamed for publishing resident hate-monger Rex Rabin's May 16 editorial cartoon. His portrayal of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas making smart-ass comments about marijuana such as "with its fruity nose ... hint of wild raspberry" was pathetic and racist. Why did The Bee single out the African American jurist for ridicule? Thomas should be honored for his accomplishments not made the butt of a racist, hate-mongering political cartoonist. The Bee's never-ending hatred of conservatism knows no bounds of decency. - --Kirby Vickery, Orangevale - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens