FEDS' LENIENCY ON MEDICAL POT SHOULD WIN FANS LEFT AND RIGHT

If ever there were a drug policy on which conservatives, libertarians,
liberals and Cheech & Chong should be able to agree, it's the U.S.
Justice Department's decision to ease up on prosecutions for the
medical use of marijuana.

Conservatives should be pleased, given that the Justice Department's
new policy, which is to defer to state laws on the matter of medical
marijuana, represents a victory for state's rights.

Libertarians should be pleased, given their conviction that most laws
against drug use by adults are intrusive and unenforceable, creating a
bloody black market.

Liberals should be happy, given their belief that most drug users are
addicts in need of rehab, not criminals in need of prison.

And Cheech & Chong should be happy because, man, hey, they're Cheech &
Chong.

We're happy, too. This page has long supported the medical use of
marijuana and the decriminalization of pot more generally, and we
expect that one or more states eventually will create a particularly
workable medical marijuana law that becomes a national model.

Our only regret is that Illinois has yet to join 14 other states that
have legalized medical pot. Until that day, if you smoke pot in
Illinois to ease the pain of a medical condition, such as cancer, you
are a criminal.

Our hope is that the Justice Department's decision, which effectively
bolsters the legitimacy of medical marijuana, will strengthen support
for such a law in Illinois. The state Senate passed a medical
marijuana bill in May, but the House is unlikely to vote on the
measure any time soon. Too many legislators, with an eye on the
February primary elections, fear that even a compassionate vote for
medical marijuana could be portrayed as an unreasonable "vote for drugs."

And far be it from us to ask anybody to show a little political
courage.