MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up the issue of medical
marijuana as requested by the Clinton-Gore administration, ["High Court to
Rule on Medical Marijuana," Nov. 28], it will be interesting to see if the
court will rule against the federal request and support not only the ancient
doctrine of medical necessity but also the right to a quality of life.

While much ado was made by Vice President Al Gore and his supporters during
the election about what kind of Supreme Court justices each administration
would appoint, the Clinton-Gore administration's request that put a hold on
the distribution of medical marijuana to seriously ill patients in
California-who have a medical necessity for marijuana and will suffer if
this medicine is withheld -puts into serious question what kind of court
Gore would seek to create.

Meanwhile, Gov. George W. Bush is on record as saying states should decide
whether to allow medical marijuana within their boundaries.

For the sake of sick and dying patients across America who can benefit from
the medicinal use of marijuana and find it crucial to their quality of life,
one can only hope the Supreme Court rules with compassion and supports the
medical necessity doctrine.

Gary Storck, Madison, Wis.