MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Two things stand out about the recent Supreme Court decision on the
medical marijuana case, Gonzales v. Raich. First, the court did not
strike down any state medical marijuana laws or take away any of the
protections these laws provide to patients. It did, however, leave
those patients vulnerable to federal prosecution.

Second, the court explicitly recognized that "marijuana does have
valid therapeutic purposes," and went out of its way to note that
Congress can change federal law to address this reality.

Congress will have the opportunity to do that soon when the
appropriations bill funding the Department of Justice reaches the
House floor. The Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment, to be proposed by a
bipartisan coalition, would end Drug Enforcement Administration
attacks on patients in states that permit medical use of marijuana.
Passage would be a huge step for science, common sense and compassion.

BRUCE MIRKEN

Director of Communications

Marijuana Policy Project

236 Massachusetts Ave. NE

Washington, D.C.