MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM IS STILL ALIVE

Hawaii's medical marijuana program is absolutely not "essentially
dead," and neither is that of any other state ("State's medical
marijuana program 'essentially dead,' " June 7). Last week's Supreme
Court ruling did not overturn any state medical marijuana laws or take
away any of the protections these laws provide. It simply maintained
the status quo, under which patients protected under state law still
remain vulnerable to federal prosecution.

That's an imperfect situation, but it's precisely the way things stood
on June 5. Nothing has changed.

U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo cannot prosecute doctors for recommending
medical marijuana. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals firmly upheld a
physician's right to make such recommendations, and the U.S. Supreme
Court rejected the government's appeal of that decision.

If Kubo goes after doctors, he will be breaking the law -- and he will
suffer the consequences.

BRUCE MIRKEN

Director of Communications

Marijuana Policy Project

Washington, D.C