Pubdate: Thu, 09 Jun 2005
Source: USA Today (US)
Copyright: 2005 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc
Contact:  http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/index.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/466
Author: Gregory Goldmakher, M.D., Ph.D
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n896/a03.html

COURT'S MARIJUANA RULING TRESPASSES ON DOCTOR-PATIENT TERRITORY

USA TODAY's coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on medical marijuana did 
not mention the outrage many physicians feel when the federal government 
interferes in medical decision-making ("Patients who use marijuana fear 
worst if forced to stop," Cover story, News, Tuesday).

While I understand that the ruling in this case is about the application of 
the commerce clause, I am saddened that the justices paid little attention 
to states' rights and still less to the rights of patients.

Whether to use cannabis in a given case should be decided by a patient and 
his or her physician.

This ruling implies that one's individual choice of personal hygiene 
products or hypertensive medication can be regulated by the federal 
government because it might, in theory, affect interstate commerce. The 
court's statement that patients should work to change the federal law if 
they want to use the medication they need without fear of federal 
prosecution is heartless and irresponsible.

Gregory Goldmakher, M.D., Ph.D.

Springfield, Mass.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom