cannabisnews.com: ACLU: State Marijuana Laws Still Intact ACLU: State Marijuana Laws Still Intact Posted by FoM on May 14, 2001 at 15:38:51 PT Graham Boyd said decision is disappointing Source: United Press International Organizations supporting state laws allowing medical use of marijuana insisted Monday a new Supreme Court decision does not affect the implementation of those laws. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in a California case that there is no medical exception to the federal drug laws, including the use of marijuana.In a prepared statement, Graham Boyd, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Policy Litigation Project, said the Supreme Court decision is "disappointing, but it is important to note that nothing in this decision affects the validity of the medical marijuana laws passed in California and eight other states." In the case involving an Oakland, Calif., cannabis club and that state's law allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana, a federal appeals court had ruled that medical necessity could be a defense against federal prosecution.But the Supreme Court ruled Monday that the appeals court made a mistake, and the Controlled Substances Act allows no exception for medical necessity.The ACLU's Boyd said state medical marijuana laws can prevail. "Under those laws, state and local officials are still barred from prosecuting users of medical marijuana; traditionally, they, not the federal government, have been the only authorities to engage in this kind of law enforcement."The California-based Americans for Medical Rights also issued a statement following the decision."Not one word of this decision diminishes the rights of states to legalize the medical use of marijuana under state law," the organization's director, Bill Zimmerman said. "Since virtually all low-level marijuana cases are prosecuted under state laws, the nine states now regulating patients' use of marijuana will continue to do so."The ACLU said besides California, eight states have some form of medical marijuana laws: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington state.U.S. Rep Bob Barr, R-Ga., blocked the District of Columbia from counting ballots on a referendum that would have allowed medical use of marijuana. Source: United Press InternationalPublished: Monday, 14 May 2001 Copyright: 2001 by United Press InternationalRelated Articles & Web Sites:ACLUhttp://www.aclu.org/Science of Medical Marijuanahttp://www.medmjscience.org/California Campaign for New Drug Policies http://www.drugreform.org/Expect Fight, Marijuana Supporter Sayshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9708.shtmlCalif Medical Marijuana Proponents Vow To Fight Onhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9707.shtmlMedical Marijuana Ruling Decried http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9706.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by Ron Bennett on May 14, 2001 at 17:32:53 PT I agree...Time For Another ACLU Donation :-) It's nice to see the ACLU on the ball and post a statement so prompty setting the record straight for folks...another battle fought in the War on some Drug users. What is ironic to me is that Congress says cannabis has no legitimate use and yet the damn U.S. Federal government supplies cannabis for several people for medicinal use. The war on drugs is really a war against us, the people and must end! Administrator of the Marihemp Network [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by sm247 on May 14, 2001 at 16:42:43 PT Just... Thanks ACLU !! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: