Pubdate: Sat, 24 Nov 2001
Source: Austin American-Statesman (TX)
Copyright: 2001 Austin American-Statesman
Contact:  http://www.austin360.com/statesman/editions/today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/32
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1913/a02.html?1172
Author: Jane Marcus
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/ocbc.htm (Oakland Cannabis Court Case)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?194 (Hutchinson, Asa)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

In the interview David Broder describes in his Nov. 11 column, Drug 
Enforcement Administration chief Asa Hutchinson told the Christian Science 
Monitor his agency just takes the laws Congress passes and enforces them.

I'm sure Hutchinson believes he was acting properly when he gave the 
go-ahead for three recent DEA raids on cannabis clubs in California despite 
our state's law that makes medical marijuana legal. Hutchinson believes 
that last spring's Supreme Court decision in the Oakland Cannabis Club case 
gives him free rein to bust dispensaries in the eight states that have 
approved medical marijuana.

House Resolution 2592 is being debated in the House of Representatives. It 
would codify a state's right to decide on the legality of medical 
marijuana. If we're going to prevent further outbreaks of the lawlessness 
that these DEA raids exemplify, we need to urge our legislators and 
president to pass and sign HR 2592.

JANE MARCUS, Palo Alto, Calif.
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