MOST HIGH JUDGES

I am writing in reaction to the recent Supreme Court decision regarding
medical marijuana [see News Clips, "Supremes Club Cannabis," May 17
http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0120/nc-frishberg.shtml]. There is
one statement in the justice's ruling that is totally against all the
precepts of the court. If there were a higher court, the statement would be
all that would be necessary to reverse this decision. That statement is:
"there is no evidence that marijuana has any medicinal value." Many of us
know that the statement itself is false: There have been plenty of
studies--many of them federally funded--that indicate the herb has
potential for helping in the treatment of many disorders, from hypertension
to arthritis, in addition to the treatments for which herb is currently
used: cancer, AIDS, etc.

But in addition to being false, the statement is out of the purview of the
courts: It states a medical opinion which none of the Most High Judges is
qualified to make! The supreme court cannot decide on the validity of
medical decisions, but only on the validity of specific laws. Marijuana was
not on trial at the supreme court--the laws governing medical use of the
herb were. The decision, as worded, is a warning to all of America: Our
medical welfare is in the hands of the Republican Party and the justices it
appoints, not our doctors!

K.L. Slusher
Seattle