'A RIGHT TO MAKE THIS DECISION'

U.S. House Thumbs Nose At Voters In Medical Marijuana Fiasco

In the wake of last week's misguided U.S. Supreme Court ruling on medical
marijuana -- in which the high court's "liberals" opted to sanction the
government's prosecution of sick people rather than acknowledge the Ninth
and 10th Amendments and the concept of states' rights -- some members of
Congress attempted to take action.

On Tuesday, Reps. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., and Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif.,
proposed a one-sentence amendment to an appropriations bill that would have
prohibited the Justice Department from spending taxpayer money in pursuit
of medical marijuana patients in states that have approved its use, Nevada
among them.

"It is an absolute waste of public funds," Angel Raich, a California
medical marijuana patient who won an earlier case against the U.S.
government, told Knight-Ridder Newspapers. "They will be prosecuting us
like criminals even though we're sick."

Nine states have legalized medical marijuana -- seven, including Nevada,
with the overwhelming support of voters. Yet the recent U.S. Supreme court
ruling gives the Drug Enforcement Administration the authority to ignore
state law duly enacted by a majority of voting residents and to prosecute
medical marijuana users.

"It is a travesty for the federal government to step in and override a
state law that would permit this activity," Rep. Rohrabacher said. "The
people of the states have a right to make this decision."

Indeed. Unfortunately, the prospect of being labeled "pro-stoner" on a
campaign brochure triggered brainlock in a majority of representatives, and
the Hinchey amendment failed Wednesday.

That's an abomination. Even House members who oppose the use of medical
marijuana must acknowledge that the electorate has the right to express
their will at the polls, as long as the outcome doesn't compromise the
Constitution.

It's even more appalling that a number of Republicans who profess to favor
smaller and limited government, and a number of Democrats who criticize the
drug war's inattention to the Bill of Rights, would swallow their
principles to oppose this amendment out of political expediency.

Both Rep. Shelley Berkley, a Democrat, and Rep. Jon Porter, a Republican,
supported the right of Nevadans to decide this matter. Good for them.
Unfortunately, Nevada's third House member, GOP Rep. Jim Gibbons -- who
claims to be a states' rights supporter -- sided with the federal
government's effort to undermine a compassionate law embraced by most of
his own constituents.

And for that, he should be ashamed.