Pubdate: Wed, 15 Jun 2005 Source: Post and Courier, The (Charleston, SC) Copyright: 2005 Evening Post Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.charleston.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/567 Author: Bruce Mirken MEDICAL MARIJUANA Two things stand out about the recent Supreme Court decision on the medical marijuana case, Gonzales v. Raich. First, the court did not strike down any state medical marijuana laws or take away any of the protections these laws provide to patients. It did, however, leave those patients vulnerable to federal prosecution. Second, the court explicitly recognized that "marijuana does have valid therapeutic purposes," and went out of its way to note that Congress can change federal law to address this reality. Congress will have the opportunity to do that soon when the appropriations bill funding the Department of Justice reaches the House floor. The Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment, to be proposed by a bipartisan coalition, would end Drug Enforcement Administration attacks on patients in states that permit medical use of marijuana. Passage would be a huge step for science, common sense and compassion. BRUCE MIRKEN Director of Communications Marijuana Policy Project 236 Massachusetts Ave. NE Washington, D.C.