Pubdate: Mon, 18 Jun 2001
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2001 Asheville Citizen-Times
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/863
Website: http://www.citizen-times.com/
Author: Robert S. Sargent Jr.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/ocbc.htm (Oakland Cannabis Court Case)

BLAME CONGRESS, NOT SUPREME COURT

The political cartoon by Kirk in the AC-T on June 15 is just the latest
of many cartoons I've seen showing the Supreme Court as the bad guys in
the recent decision which held that marijuana is illegal with no
exceptions. The implication is that if we nominate compassionate
justices, they would allow marijuana use when it can alleviate
suffering. This shows either a complete misunderstanding of our
Constitution, or a willingness to disregard the law in pursuit of a
higher moral outcome.

No matter how Justices feel about a law personally, under our system
they are given no powers to change the law, and it would have been a
direct violation of the separation of powers had they ruled in any other
way. The law that makes marijuana illegal was written by the U.S.
Congress, and there is where those of us, and I include myself, who feel
that there are times when marijuana can be used, should direct our
concerns. It is the U.S. Congress who are the bad guys, not the Supreme
Court.

Robert S. Sargent Jr., Brevard
- ---
MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk