Pubdate: Fri,  1 Jun 2001
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2001 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Website: http://www.denverpost.com/
Author: Kevin McWilliams
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/ocbc.htm (Oakland Cannabis Court Case)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n867/a10.html

APPLIES TO DISTRIBUTION

The editors of The Denver Post seriously undermined their credibility
with a very poorly written editorial ("No medical pot," May 15). This
piece expresses the opinion of the paper, but it is written as though it
were fact. 

The U.S. Supreme Court issued an 8-0 decision forbidding a medical
necessity defense for distribution and manufacture of marijuana under
federal law. They said nothing about the statutes enacted in Colorado
and several other states because none of these laws addresses these
issues. The fact that federal law does not recognize medical necessity
for pot does not mean that state laws cannot do so. 

If The Post wants to say it thinks medical pot laws should be repealed,
that is fine. However, stating something that is not true as if it were
set in stone is anathema to the purported purpose of a newspaper. Shame
on you! 

Kevin McWilliams, Bayfield 

Editor's note: Colorado's medical marijuana law goes into effect today.
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MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk