FEDS ARE BULLYING DOCTORS ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Your Aug. 7 editorial, "Medical marijuana use under feds' challenge,"
continues the Star-Bulletin's history of trying to scare Hawaii physicians
and others about our recently enacted legislation before it's even up and
running.

In Conant vs. McCaffery, a group of California doctors, patients and
nonprofits sued the feds alleging that the government was violating their
free speech rights. To date, federal judges have agreed and issued two
orders barring the feds from punishing doctors for discussing cannabis with
their patients. They opined that a discussion between a doctor and patient
constitutes an important form of free speech.

The only thing new is that, in the most recent hearing, the feds became
more strident in their threats. They warned that doctors who suggest the
use of marijuana may risk their right to participate in federal programs
including Medicaid, Medicare and the ability to write prescriptions. This
would threaten their very livelihoods. Friday, August 25, 2000

While your editorial correctly states that the case is not yet decided, the
government offered no new arguments, and the decision (due within the
month) is expected to again uphold physicians' free speech rights.

Eight states including Hawaii have now removed criminal penalties for
medical use of marijuana. When will the feds acknowledge that this is
something the American people want, and back off on their threats of reprisal?

Pamela Lichty
Vice President Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii