LIBERALS UPENDED LAWS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

After reading his column on medical marijuana, I think David Shapiro
is smoking something stronger than pot. Shapiro blames the "ruling
social conservatives" for upending medical marijuana laws in 11
states, including Hawai'i, but the "upending" was done by the liberal
wing of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The 6-3 decision saw the court's four liberals (Justices Breyer,
Ginsburg, Souter and Stevens) joined by conservative Justice Scalia
and so-called moderate Justice Kennedy (who usually votes with the
liberals). Voting to preserve the states' right to set their own
policies on medical marijuana were moderate Justice O'Connor and
conservative Justices Rehnquist and Thomas.

Those are the facts. Shapiro should stick to them.

MIKE STETSON

Honolulu