A CASE OF SUPREME COURT MEDICAL MALPRACTICE?

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that folks can't use marijuana to
relieve suffering from medical conditions ["Medical marijuana
exception ruled out," Front Page, May 15].

Well, I know places where the gendarmes can rake in thousands of
these "drug addicts" without hardly lifting a finger.

Probably half the patients undergoing chemotherapy at southern
California's cancer-treatment facilities are using marijuana. I know,
having gone through the ordeal of my 80-year-old mother's treatments
for breast cancer. I ended up spending a lot of time inside those
clinics' waiting rooms.

Mom smoked a small amount of pot as I drove her to the hospital. It
stopped the nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. It enabled
her to eat and to keep the food down.

As far as my family was concerned marijuana was a miracle drug.

So there you are. Easy arrests. You won't need the SWAT team. These
folks are unarmed. Bring along lots of wheelchairs, since many of
these drug addicts are elderly and infirm, like my mother.

Fred Hermon
Santa Ana

When our highest courts tell us there is no legal tradition in
America for both conscience and compassion, we have obviously been
recruiting our highest judges from the wrong, exclusive, population.
Having a few lawyers might be helpful. But, to remind these lawyers
of their responsibility to the "American way," it is time we found
justices from among other communities such as history, philosophy,
ethics, etc. and not just the "legal community."

Roger M. Farel
Newport Beach

We have heroin and marijuana, a hard drug and a soft drug. A doctor
may prescribe heroin (morphine) to ease pain and suffering but not
marijuana? Our great country's Constitution was written in order to
ensure the freedom of individuals, not to constrain them with
capricious government. This is a sad day for the Supreme Court and
for our great country.

Mike Strong
Corona del Mar

If American drug companies could corner the marijuana market instead
of the supply coming from Latin American peasants, it would be legal
tomorrow.

Kent Southard
Dana Point