cannabisnews.com: Ruling Could Affect Thousands of Alaskans





Ruling Could Affect Thousands of Alaskans
Posted by CN Staff on November 30, 2004 at 10:10:59 PT
By Nicole Tsong, Anchorage Daily News
Source: Anchorage Daily News
Medical marijuana users in Alaska are watching the case before the U.S. Supreme Court that could affect whether the federal government can prosecute them for smoking pot at home for medical reasons even though an Alaska law allows them to do so.The Supreme Court heard arguments Monday from an attorney for two California women, who sued the federal government after federal agents confiscated marijuana plants from one of the women's yards. As in Alaska, California allows ill people to use marijuana for medical reasons with a doctor's recommendation.
The justices are considering whether federal agents can pursue people who use homegrown marijuana for medical reasons, with approval from their doctor and their state. Alaskan Jim Welch, who is a registered user of medical marijuana and uses it to control muscle spasms resulting from multiple sclerosis, said he isn't worried about the case."I look at it as an opportunity to affirm the state's right to legislate this," he said. "At worst they're going to say the federal government has the right to intervene."Welch, and former state legislator David Finkelstein who helped lead the successful 1998 campaign to legalize medical marijuana in Alaska, both believe the federal government will continue to focus their drug-fighting resources on bigger criminal cases, not people who use medical marijuana."Right now, the constant line you hear is marijuana is still illegal under federal law no matter what states do," Finkelstein said. "So we're basically left where we are." Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/crusader.htmSource: Anchorage Daily News (AK)Author: Nicole Tsong, Anchorage Daily NewsPublished: November 30, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Anchorage Daily News Contact: letters adn.com Website: http://www.adn.com/ Related Articles & Web Sites:Raich vs. Ashcroft http://www.angeljustice.org/Angel Raich v. Ashcroft Newshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/raich.htmCourt Hears Medical Marijuana Casehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19919.shtmlPot Case Heard At The Tophttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19918.shtmlHigh Court Must Take Lead in MMJ Debatehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19917.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on November 30, 2004 at 16:25:16 PT
Related Article from Medical News Today
Should Very Sick People Take Marijuana Legally?November 30, 2004
 
 
 
 Marijuana helps many seriously ill people cope better with unimaginable pain and discomfort, it is recommended by most doctors. The US Supreme Court has to decide whether seriously ill people can legally take medical marijuana, or be classed as criminals if they do. Patients who take marijuana for medical reasons are seriously ill. They suffer from levels of discomfort and pain that we could only really appreciate if we were subjected to the same pain, day after day, month after month, year after year. They are not taking marijuana for fun, they are taking it so that they can better cope with their illness. The people who have to make the decision in the American Supreme Court do not suffer the same level of pain and discomfort. They do not know what it is like. However, they have to decide on behalf of people who suffer unbearable conditions. They have to decide whether or not these people are criminals or patients. We have received many letters here at Medical News Today from very sick patients. Their messages are quite simple. Here are some quotes: “If a judge suffered my level of pain month after month, day and night. He would not only approve the use of medical marijuana. He would be taking it himself.” “Decisions will be made about our lives by people who have to imagine what our lives are like. They have the luxury of not living our lives.” “This is a moral decision for people who do not suffer like us. It is a question of living some kind of life for people who suffer.” “I would rather be a prisoner convicted of taking marijuana if I could trade that for the painful illness I now have.” The worry for some people is that allowing marijuana to become a medical product would send the wrong message to many people. Marijuana is widely available all over the USA anyway - and it is illegal. All the court has to decide, in this case, is who wins? The people who are in pain, or the people who think it would be a crime. One thing is certain, those who decide it is a crime are not in chronic pain now. Written by Christian Nordqvist, Editor, Medical News Today. Copyright: 2004 Medical News Todayhttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=17061&nfid=rssfeeds
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