COURT JUST SAYS 'NO'

Ruling that marijuana has no medical use was proper one for
justices

The U.S. Supreme Court was right Monday in its 8-0 ruling that
marijuana could not be used for medical purposes.

Federal law treats marijuana as a dangerous, illegal drug and makes no
medical exception for its prohibited use. In fact, the law states that
marijuana has no accepted medical use.

It is not the role of the court to undo a law in the absence of
constitutional justification.

The argument for allowing the exception was that marijuana is
effective in treating various diseases, among them AIDS and cancer.

As it happens, some experts do not agree that marijuana works for
those stricken with these illnesses. Some say that, even if it is a
worthy treatment, it works no better than other treatments that are
perfectly legal and readily available.

There are those who contend, too, that urging its legalization for the
sick is actually just a stalking horse for ultimately making it legal
for everyone.

Whatever the merits of the case for or against the medical use of
marijuana, the place for that issue to be argued is not the courts of
the land but Congress.

Let members of the Senate and House consider whether they wish to
allow exceptions in addition to the one Congress earlier permitted:
use in government-approved research projects.