HINCHEY AMENDMENT WOULD STOP DEA ARRESTS OF PATIENTS

Since medical marijuana initiatives were first passed more than a
decade ago, the Drug Enforcement Administration has raided medical
marijuana clinics, recently with increasing frequency.

In June, the Supreme Court upheld the federal government's power to do
this.

While state laws protecting medical marijuana patients and their
providers, including those in Washington, are still binding on state
and local law enforcement, this was a missed opportunity for the court
to stop federal over-reaching.

Fortunately, Congress has a chance to set things right. The Hinchey
amendment would forbid the Department of Justice from arresting,
raiding or prosecuting patients who are abiding by state medical
marijuana laws.

More than three-fourths of Americans think medical marijuana should be
legal, and 12 states, including Washington in 1998, have enacted
medical marijuana laws.

Despite this, the federal government continues to block even research
to determine medical marijuana's benefits - even after a 1999
Institute of Medicine report determined that such benefits exist.

Blocking patients from receiving needed medicine - threatening them
with arrest, prosecution and incarceration - is senseless and cruel.

Congress should respect states' rights and not used armed federal
agents to threaten patients and providers who are in compliance with
state law.

Steve Elliott

Kingston