MEDICAL 'POT' REJECTED

From a legal standpoint, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that federal law
classifying marijuana as an illegal drug cannot be overcome by state laws
providing for medical use of marijuana was correct.

The decision was not a finding on whether marijuana has legitimate medical
uses. Under federal law, it does not -- by act of Congress.

"It's clear from the text of the (Controlled Substances) Act that Congress
has made a determination that marijuana has no medical benefits worthy of
an exception," wrote Justice Clarence Thomas for the court. "Unwilling to
view this omission as an accident, and unable in any event to override a
legislative determination manifest in a statute, we reject the (Oakland
Cannabis Buyers) Cooperative's argument."

Congress writes them, the courts enforce them. The next arena for advocates
of medical marijuana clearly is the United States Congress.