STATES VS. FEDS

Re "Justices debate medical pot," Nov. 30: The Supreme Court
discussing medical cannabis was, at best, an off-center and timid
approach to the question before them, which is, rightfully, states'
vs. fed's right to govern health care - not the possible ensuing
enforcement problems of the feckless DEA bureaucracy and its
doggies.Acting Solicitor General Paul Clement presented the wholly
political and unfactual assertion that cannabis has no medical use,
flying in the face of hundreds of worthy patients who find some vital
medical relief from cannabis. And the arrogant Justice Antonin Scalia,
so smug in his skepticism, is an embarrassment to the court some of us
are still trying to respect. Where is the objective and intelligent
search for the truth?

The issue before the court isn't the legitimacy of medical cannabis
but rather who gets the last word, the states or the feds? It remains
to be seen if the political nature of this court and this
administration can be restrained to stick to the question at hand.

Robert E. Sullivan, M.D.

Sacramento