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Medicinal Purposes Only?

Alaska has joined the small but growing list of states which have
legalized medical use of marijuana. Minnesota lawmakers are
considering the issue. Colorado and Maine may put the question to
voters next year. Nevada voters have approved a medicinal marijuana
law, as have voters in California, Arizona, Washington State and
Oregon. The states generally limit the use of pot to a short list of
medical conditions - glaucoma, chronic pain, seizures and spasms, AIDS
and nausea from chemotherapy.

But people who wish to put the weed to therapeutic use have a problem.
Federal law - which trumps state law - prohibits the the growth, use
or distribution of marijuana for any purpose. Many of the states with
medicinal pot laws are trying to work out legal ways for patients to
get pot and smoke it.

After last year's elections, federal prosecutors made it clear they
will keep enforcing the pot laws, but some are encouraging research on
the issue. A White House spokesman says President Clinton still
opposes legalized medical marijuana until there is convincing
scientific evidence to recommend it.

Should the federal government call the shots on this? Or should the
voters get what they want in states where they say ``yes'' to medical
marijuana? If serious research indicates pot has legitimate medical
uses, should Washington concede the point, or continue to resist the
medicinal marijuana trend?