Pubdate: Tue, 23 Nov, 1999
Source: Oregonian, The (OR)
Copyright: 1999 The Oregonian
Contact:  1320 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
Fax: 503-294-4193
Website: http://www.oregonlive.com/
Forum: http://forums.oregonlive.com/
Author: John Sajo
Note: Mr. Sajo is Director of Voter Power in Milwaukie, OR
Resource: additional articles on medicinal cannabis are available at 
http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm

LET PATIENTS USE MARIJUANA

Your Nov. 7 article, "Court bars medical-necessity defense," highlights the 
federal government's ridiculous position on medical marijuana.

The only way the government can convict Todd McCormick and Peter McWilliams 
of marijuana charges is to deny them any ability to discuss their medical 
use. Both men benefit from their marijuana use and have the support of 
their physicians.

How can U.S. District Judge George King prohibit the defendants from 
referring to Proposition 215 or any mention of the medical use of 
marijuana? I guess the same way that Congress refused to allow the counting 
of a Washington, D.C. medical marijuana initiative that 69 percent of 
voters supported.

Or the same way that the Clinton administration and the Drug Enforcement 
Administration ignore the fact that voters in all seven states that have 
considered marijuana as medicine have approved it.

Let the patients have their medicine. It's time to admit that making 
patients suffer is not a justifiable strategy to win the drug war.

John Sajo

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