Pubdate: Sun, 30 Nov 2003 Source: Los Angeles Times (CA) Copyright: 2003 Los Angeles Times Contact: http://www.latimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248 Author: Bruce Mirken Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1828/a11.html HELPING THE SICK SHOULD NOT BE A CRIME Columnist Patt Morrison is right to rejoice in the justice and mercy shown by Judge A. Howard Matz in refusing to send medical marijuana defendant Scott Imler to jail for the "crime" of helping people battling AIDS and cancer (Nov. 25). But such acts of sanity could soon be illegal if Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) has his way. Souder, chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees drug policy issues, is now seeking co-sponsors for the Drug Sentencing Reform Act, a bill that would take away nearly all of the grounds upon which judges like Matz can show mercy to defendants who deserve it. Indeed, the measure would treat medical marijuana providers like Imler as being worse than child molesters under federal law. Appallingly, Souder's bill would increase the punishment for those who provide high-quality medical marijuana to patients -- who can be harmed by having to use low-potency marijuana that requires inhalation of larger amounts of irritating smoke. Bruce Mirken Communications Director Marijuana Policy Project Washington - --- MAP posted-by: Josh