A TOKE OF ANOTHER KIND OF SMOKE

The U.S. Supreme Court last week dealt a blow to the medical-marijuana
movement, ruling that people who smoke pot on a doctor's advice to
ease symptoms can be prosecuted for violating federal drug laws--even
if they live in the 10 states where it's legal. The court, in its
6-to-3 decision, expressed sympathy for two seriously ill Californians
who filed suit but agreed with the feds that they can arrest people
who use and grow marijuana for medical purposes. "Justice [John Paul]
Stevens went out of his way to note . . . that 'marijuana does have
valid therapeutic purposes,' " said Steve Fox of the Marijuana Policy
Project, "and gave a strong suggestion that Congress should act."

Reps. Maurice Hinchey and Dana Rohrabacher this week are set to offer
a measure to bar federal agents from arresting patients and growers in
states where medical marijuana is legal.