Pubdate: Sat, 09 Nov 2002 Source: Denver Post (CO) Copyright: 2002 The Denver Post Corp Contact: http://www.denverpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n2052/a08.html Author: Tim Flynn Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) MEDICAL MARIJUANA APPEAL Heed Civil Rights Re: "The medical marijuana haze," Nov. 4 editorial. Monday was the last day on which we had to endure political ads whose distortions and outright lies compete in plumbing the depths of decency. It was really sad, therefore, for your editorial page to see fit to present its own set of falsehoods on the same day. In urging that the recent 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on medical marijuana be appealed, you offer the following twisted logic. "No one disputes the fact that 'aiding and abetting' the distribution and sale of marijuana is a crime under current law. The question is when a physician crosses the line and either distributes or helps someone obtain it. "The 9th Circuit ruling is unsatisfactory because it virtually assumes that every involvement by a physician is a protected free-speech matter and actually prohibits the federal government from investigating physicians' conduct based solely on the fact that they have recommended" marijuana use. As you know quite well, the federal government's position has been that physicians do not have the right to even make a patient aware of the possible medicinal benefits of marijuana use. The purpose of the law, and the lawsuit, to muzzle physicians has been completely explicit. Furthermore, the "logic" that The Post applied is that all physicians should be assumed guilty until proven innocent of exceeding their free-speech rights and becoming drug dealers. This is exactly the same mindset that the religious right uses in condemning educational attempts at teaching teenagers safe sex in public schools. Abstinence, in their view and yours, is the only acceptable policy. The fact that you disclose your opposition to Amendment 20 does nothing to protect you from the calumny of this editorial. TIM FLYNN, Denver - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl