MAJOR BUZZ OVER MARIJUANA RULING

Re "Unconstitutional Cannabis," editorial, June 7: The medicinal use of
marijuana benefits cancer patients by stimulating the appetite, suppressing
nausea and relieving pain. To deny this to terminally ill patients causes
needless suffering. Californians were justified in passing legislation to
provide marijuana to such patients under the constitutional delegation of
health, safety and welfare to the states.

I commend readers to the thoughtful dissents of Justices Sandra Day
O'Connor and Clarence Thomas, who correctly identify that the medicinal
private use of homegrown marijuana does not affect interstate commerce.

Unbounded federal regulation under an unlimited "commerce clause" analysis
can be used to regulate such things as "quilting bees and potluck
suppers," as Thomas wrote, and constitutes an unrestrained and
unconstitutional federal police power. The Times' opinion that the ruling
is justified because the commerce clause analysis has been used to prevent
Southern racial segregation is off the mark as such segregation clearly
does affect interstate commerce.

Douglas Malcolm MD, JD

Shell Beach, Calif.