MEDICAL MARIJUANA: JUSTICE GOES AWRY

The benefits of medicinal marijuana have long been clear to those who
suffer from chronic illness, and with a physician's consent, patients
have had legal access to the drug for therapeutic purposes in
Washington state since 1998. Too bad the feds don't recognize that.

The blind callousness of the absurd war on drugs became once again
apparent when West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team detectives last
week raided the Everett office of CannaCare, a medicinal marijuana
advocacy group, confiscating 1,143 cut-away plants, 195.8 grams of
processed pot and private records of nearly 1,200 patients. Agents
also raided the Renton home of another CannaCare associate. WestNET
is a multi-jurisdictional task force with a mission to "disrupt and
reduce mid-to upper-level" dealers. According to federal law, there's
no such thing as medicinal marijuana. By state law, patients are
allowed to have a 60-day stash -- whatever that is -- but those are
the only limits outlined. Besides, if WestNET detectives are
interested in busting drug dealers, there are a few crack dens around.

Charges have not yet been filed, but a WestNET spokesman said,
"Everything is still under investigation." Maybe they'll provide
evidence that CannaCare sold to non-patients, and even if they don't,
well, we'll sleep better at night knowing that those ravaged by
conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, Cohn's disease and
Hepatitis C won't have access to their medicinal spliffs. It's not
like they'll die because of it. They'll just suffer more than they
need to. Much more.