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
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