COURT'S MARIJUANA RULING TRESPASSES ON DOCTOR-PATIENT TERRITORY

USA TODAY's coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on medical marijuana did
not mention the outrage many physicians feel when the federal government
interferes in medical decision-making ("Patients who use marijuana fear
worst if forced to stop," Cover story, News, Tuesday).

While I understand that the ruling in this case is about the application of
the commerce clause, I am saddened that the justices paid little attention
to states' rights and still less to the rights of patients.

Whether to use cannabis in a given case should be decided by a patient and
his or her physician.

This ruling implies that one's individual choice of personal hygiene
products or hypertensive medication can be regulated by the federal
government because it might, in theory, affect interstate commerce. The
court's statement that patients should work to change the federal law if
they want to use the medication they need without fear of federal
prosecution is heartless and irresponsible.

Gregory Goldmakher, M.D., Ph.D.

Springfield, Mass.