Pubdate: Thu, 24 May 2001 Source: Seattle Weekly (WA) Copyright: 2001 Seattle Weekly Contact: http://www.seattleweekly.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/410 Author: K.L. Slusher, Seattle Related: http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0120/nc-frishberg.shtml MOST HIGH JUDGES I am writing in reaction to the recent Supreme Court decision regarding medical marijuana [see News Clips, "Supremes Club Cannabis," May 17 http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0120/nc-frishberg.shtml]. There is one statement in the justice's ruling that is totally against all the precepts of the court. If there were a higher court, the statement would be all that would be necessary to reverse this decision. That statement is: "there is no evidence that marijuana has any medicinal value." Many of us know that the statement itself is false: There have been plenty of studies--many of them federally funded--that indicate the herb has potential for helping in the treatment of many disorders, from hypertension to arthritis, in addition to the treatments for which herb is currently used: cancer, AIDS, etc. But in addition to being false, the statement is out of the purview of the courts: It states a medical opinion which none of the Most High Judges is qualified to make! The supreme court cannot decide on the validity of medical decisions, but only on the validity of specific laws. Marijuana was not on trial at the supreme court--the laws governing medical use of the herb were. The decision, as worded, is a warning to all of America: Our medical welfare is in the hands of the Republican Party and the justices it appoints, not our doctors! K.L. Slusher Seattle - --- MAP posted-by: Beth