CONGRESS CAN RECTIFY IT

Although some media reports have been unclear, two things stand out about
Monday's Supreme Court decision on the medical marijuana case.

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 just that 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. Its passage would be a huge step
forward for science, common sense and compassion.

- -- Bruce Mirken, director of communications, Marijuana Policy Project,
Washington, D.C.