Pubdate: Sun, 02 Jul 2000 Source: Journal Gazette (IN) Copyright: 2000 Journal Gazette Contact: 600 W. Main Street, Ft. Wayne, IN. 46802 Fax: (219) 461-8648 Feedback: http://www.jg.net/jg/emailform2.htm Website: http://www.jg.net/jg/ Author: Mark Souder - Member of Congress FEDERAL DRUG LAWS TAKE PRECEDENT An article appearing in Friday's Journal Gazette ("Souder battles medical-marijuana laws") failed to make clear an important point about recent state initiatives that have attempted to decriminalize marijuana for so-called "medical" use. According to the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, states cannot pass legislation that is contradictory to existing federal law. Therefore, for all practical purposes, laws to relax state penalties for drug use can have no effect. A bill I have introduced makes clear as a technical matter that the longstanding federal laws against the use of marijuana and narcotic drugs take precedence over efforts to change those laws in the states. In other words, California cannot permit marijuana use because it is illegal under federal law. Well-funded activists have undertaken a repulsive effort to legalize drugs in the name of sick people, when legal means already exist to administer the effective component of marijuana in pill form. The representative of the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws who was quoted in the article gave the impression that groups like his are truly concerned about the ability of ill people to ease their pain, when in fact, NORML's sole mission in all its years of existence has been the legalization of marijuana for everyone. Too many Americans' lives are ruined by illegal drugs. Those who seek to legalize this poison certainly shouldn't be allowed to use sick people as an excuse. Mark Souder Member of Congress - --- MAP posted-by: greg