cannabisnews.com: The Wrong War on Drugs The Wrong War on Drugs Posted by CN Staff on October 31, 2002 at 11:54:14 PT Editorial Source: San Jose Mercury News In the pitched battle between the federal government and the state of California over medical marijuana, Californians won an important skirmish this week. It couldn't have come at a better time.The U.S. Justice Department has been stepping up its mean-spirited campaign against the voter-approved state law permitting medical use of marijuana. Just weeks ago agents raided a marijuana farm in Santa Cruz County, even though it was run with the approval of the county sheriff. But the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has shut down the federal assault on another front. It has ruled that the Justice Department can't punish physicians for recommending marijuana to patients. The court says the federal policy of investigating and threatening to pull the licenses of doctors who recommend marijuana violates their First Amendment right to free speech and intrudes on the doctor-patient relationship.California is one of nine states that have enacted medical marijuana laws. Research has proven pot's ability to reduce nausea and otherwise help patients to cope with if not survive potentially deadly diseases. It is less addictive than many drugs -- morphine comes to mind -- that are perfectly legal to prescribe.Average people understand this. The Justice Department, first under Bill Clinton and now George Bush, continues a knee-jerk opposition to the enlightened laws that voters approve.Targeting physicians has been a key strategy by the feds not only to undermine state marijuana laws but also to crush Oregon's Death With Dignity law. In Oregon last April, a federal judge blocked the Justice Department from punishing doctors for prescribing lethal doses of drugs. That ruling has been appealed. With this week's marijuana ruling, the 9th Circuit may have signaled its attitude toward the Oregon case as well.The U.S. Supreme Court has held that federal drug laws take precedence over state law. That means Congress holds the ultimate authority to stop all this costly litigation and bring reason back into our national drug policy.Lawmakers should concentrate on fighting the drugs that are tearing apart our inner cities and feeding gang violence. Leave AIDS and cancer patients -- and the doctors trying to help them -- alone. Note: As Feds go after medical marijuana, ruling protecting Doctors who recommend it is a crucial victory.Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)Published: October 31, 2002Copyright: 2002 San Jose Mercury NewsContact: letters sjmercury.comWebsite: http://www.sjmercury.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:Conant vs. Walters in PDF http://freedomtoexhale.com/conant.pdfA Win for Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14612.shtmlMedical Marijuana Wins a Court Victory http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14594.shtmlCourt Protects Doctors' Pot Discussions http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14592.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by DdC on October 31, 2002 at 14:04:14 PT Anyone see the latest A.A.R.P. commercial? It starts with a TV set on and a antis commercial about how much it cost in $Billions to run the war on drugs. Then fades back from the TV into the living room of a senior couple and says something similar to isn't it about time the government started fighting the "other" war on drugs. The high cost of Pharmaceuticals and homecare expenses? Right On Grey Panthers!Peace, Love and Liberty or the aging D.E.A.th!DdCReagan Is The Dope http://www.subvertise.org/img_med/288.jpgHigh Times for Alzheimers http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread14254.shtmlSeniors Home Care! http://pub3.ezboard.com/fendingcannabisprohibitionstuff.showMessage?topicID=47.topic [ Post Comment ] Post Comment