Pubdate: Thu, 30 September 1999 Source: San Luis Obispo County Tribune (CA) Copyright: 1999 San Luis Obispo County Newspapers Contact: P.O. Box 112, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-0112 Website: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/ Author: Jo-D Dunbar Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n1046.a10.html EDITORIAL WRONG The 9th U.S. Court of Appeals did not "overturn" the lower court's decision on cannabis clubs, as The Tribune editorial suggested in last week's "Straight dope on marijuana." The appellate court remanded, or sent back, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer's injunction on, in particular, the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative. They suggested that Judge Breyer rethink his judgment while taking into consideration the possibility that there may be an important exception to federal drug laws that would allow the distribution of medicinal cannabis. The Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative presented ample "evidence that cannabis is the only effective treatment for a large group of seriously ill individuals," wrote the appellate court judges. The U.S. Justice Department presented no evidence as to how their continual resistance to this distribution is in the public's best interest. The ruling does negate the tired argument by law enforcement and others that Compassionate Use Act of 1996 is wrong since it "flies in the face of federal policy." It would take much more space than allowed for a letter to the editor to address the remaining inaccuracies in your recent editorial. I will continue to have faith in the compassionate Californian citizens who chose to place the decision in the hands of qualified physicians almost three years ago. Jo-D Dunbar, Arroyo Grande - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D