cannabisnews.com: Assisted-Suicide Ruling May Affect Marijuana Use Assisted-Suicide Ruling May Affect Marijuana Use Posted by CN Staff on May 30, 2004 at 11:02:55 PT By Peter Wong, Statesman Journal Source: Statesman Journal The decision by a federal appeals court on Oregon’s assisted-suicide law last week could have implications for other medical-practice issues, particularly medicinal use of marijuana.In 2002, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the federal government and for doctors in California, who were threatened with punishment and potential loss of their licenses to prescribe medication if they recommended medical marijuana to their patients. The court ruled that doctors had a right under the First Amendment to the Constitution to discuss the issue with patients.Oregon and California are among the 10 states — mostly in the West — with medical-marijuana laws. Vermont’s Legislature cleared its bill last week, and the governor will let it become law without his signature.The others are Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada and Washington. Maryland allows a legal defense of health reasons for patients who use marijuana, lessening penalties for its possession.The laws are at odds with the federal government.Kevin Neely, Oregon Justice Department spokesman, said the federal government classifies marijuana in one category of controlled substances — and the drugs that doctors may prescribe for terminally ill patients in another category.“The advocates for medical marijuana may take a closer look at this week’s decision,” Neely said. “But our position is that we’re talking about apples and oranges here.”Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/use.htmSource: Statesman Journal (OR)Author: Peter Wong, Statesman JournalPublished: May 30, 2004Copyright: 2004 Statesman JournalContact: letters statesmanjournal.comWebsite: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Green Cross Patient Co-ophttp://www.hemp.net/greencross/Marijuana Grower Hurries To Replant After Raidhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18916.shtmlRuling Upholds Oregon Law - Assisted Suicide http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18908.shtmlEuthanizing The CSAhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18907.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by mayan on May 30, 2004 at 23:50:06 PT Power Struggle If the CSA is gutted the cannabis plant will soon be free! The ban on cannabis is the foundation of the entire drug war and it's offshoot police state. The petroceutical interests along with their puppets in government can sense that their grip on power is seriously threatend. The only thing that can save the fascists now is another terror attack. It seems that the U.S. Navy is sending seven carrier strike groups to sea and nobody seems to know where they are heading. Shades of the pre-9/11 war games? Let's hope not...Navy to Deploy Carrier Groups to Test Rapid Readiness: http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=1902088If Fear Fails, What's Next? http://magic-city-news.com/article_1521.shtmlWill Bush the Beheader use terrorism to become America's Pinochet? http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/7/2004/897A VOTE FOR OSAMA - A GOP ELECTION SCAM: http://www.tvnewslies.org/html/a_vote_for_osama.htmlwebstream broadcast of the Toronto 9/11 Inquiry: http://www.tvac.ca/911inquiry/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on May 30, 2004 at 12:48:21 PT Sociology Judges and doctors are natural allies to some extent, especially when teamed against politicians. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 30, 2004 at 12:41:21 PT Thanks Virgil I added the link right away!http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/dp.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Virgil on May 30, 2004 at 12:25:12 PT A big, big deal -Judgesagainstthedrugwar.com There was LEAP and now there is http://www.judgesagainstthedrugwar.org/Judging ProhibitionFor the past thirty years Judges have looked on as America’s War on Drugs has played itself out before their eyes. They have seen the inevitable increase in police powers and erosion of civil rights needed to facilitate the investigation of drug offenses. They have witnessed the widespread, unprecedented use of asset forfeiture. And they have been forced to impose unjust mandatory minimum View the Legal OpinionsJudges Against the Drug War is the first extensive online database of judicial opinions critical of the government’s War on Drugs. Collected from state and federal jurisdictions from 1970 to the present date, these opinions contain the firsthand observations of judges presiding over drug cases and represent a unique historical record of judicial dissent against drug prohibition. View the judges opinions here [ Post Comment ] Post Comment