EDITORIAL: GOOD MEDICINE

(U-WIRE) EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling
against medical marijuana makes sense, although the logic behind the
existing laws do not.

The high court issued the decision Monday, supporting the federal law that
classifies marijuana as illegal, leaving no exception for medicinal purposes.

After a unanimous vote, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote "it is clear from the
text of the act that Congress has made a determination that marijuana has
no medicinal benefits worthy of an exception."

The Court's ruling is understandable. The hearing only served to determine
the validity of a previously existing federal law. All the Supreme Court
did was decide that the law was, in fact, legal.

The decision is a blow to users and supporters of medicinal marijuana, but
will not lead to decreased use. Those interested and committed to using the
drug, medicinally or not, will continue to indulge as long as it is easily
accessible and relatively inexpensive.

This new ruling does not overturn ballot initiatives that have passed in
several states allowing medicinal marijuana, but if those laws are
contested in their respective states, it is highly likely they will be
overturned.

The government's war on drugs, marijuana in particular, is failing
miserably. It is a waste of taxpayers' money and government effort. The
role of the government is not to interfere with people's personal decisions.

The use of marijuana is a victimless crime. If terminally ill patients wish
to use marijuana, their personal decision won't bother anybody. Marijuana
does have negative side effects, but in the case of the terminally ill,
problems like disrupted ovulation are hardly worth worrying about.

Even for popular use, the drug's side effects should be taken into
consideration by the individuals who choose whether to use them, not the
government. American citizens should expect the right to do as they wish
and be prepared to handle the consequences of their own actions.

Despite research suggesting prescription drugs are just as effective for
medicinal marijuana users, the plant is still a popular choice.
Prescription drugs are expensive, forcing many low-income patients without
health insurance to go without much needed medication.

When time is limited, it is inappropriate for the government to stop them
from making decisions concerning their own health.

Some critics claim legalization of marijuana, even for medicinal purposes,
would lead to a push for the legalization of other illegal drugs. This is
highly unlikely.

But if marijuana was legalized, money currently used to fight it could be
used to spread awareness. Like alcohol, it would be a drug controlled by
the Food and Drug Administration.

There is also no proof legalized marijuana would lead to increased use.
"Overall, most students report never having used it or only using it once
or twice," Robert Eubanks, a senior staff counselor and substance abuse
specialist with the MSU Counseling Center, told The State News in December.
"And of those, most report never planning to use again."