Pubdate: Thu, 21 May 2009
Source: Desert Dispatch, The (Victorville, CA)
Copyright: 2009 Freedom Communications, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.desertdispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3218
Author: Scott Shackford, Editor

COURT LETS STATE'S MARIJUANA LAW STAND

Great news this week for San Bernardino County residents who have had
to deal with our officials' refusal to follow the state's medical
marijuana laws: The Supreme Court has declined to intervene on the
county's behalf.

San Bernardino and San Diego counties have been refusing to comply
with Proposition 215, the medical marijuana initiative passed in 1996.
The complaint was that state law conflicted with federal laws against
marijuana use. Judges have ruled repeatedly that local law enforcement
officials cannot be required by the federal government to enforce
federal laws, but counties still resisted. (Essentially, this means
the counties wanted to enforce the federal drug laws because of their
blind adherence to the foolish drug war and the money they get to fight it.)

Now, hopefully, the matter is settled. The Supreme Court refused to
even look at the case, meaning rulings against San Bernardino and San
Diego counties stand. Now maybe they'll finally begin issuing
identification cards to residents who have obtained legal
prescriptions to use marijuana to ease chronic pain and nausea
associated with several challenging illnesses (or sometimes the
treatments for said illnesses).

We find it rather repulsive how much a bunch of know-nothing county
officials would presume to interfere with the rights of individuals to
manage their own illnesses. This isn't even getting into the issue of
the popular vote — we don't believe the recognition of basic civil
liberties should even require a state vote. People should be allowed
to smoke marijuana for medical purposes because they own their bodies.
They are not wards of the state. The county has no authority to decide
what medical treatments individuals may pursue as long as it brings no
harm to others.

Unfortunately, the threats against medical marijuana users from the
government aren't quite over. Though the Supreme Court may not
interfere, the federal government does still have the authority to
arrest and prosecute those involved with the program. President Obama
has said the DEA will end raids of medical marijuana facilities, which
was then followed a week later by a federal raid of a marijuana
facility. And the owner of a clinic in Morro Bay was convicted in
federal court last year of selling marijuana despite being in complete
compliance with all state laws.

This is just one step in pushing the government to respect our rights.
We must keep pushing. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D