HOPE FOR U.S. POT REFUGEES

It is disheartening to think that Canadian authorities could become a party
to what might literally be a death sentence for Steve Kubby (NOW, January
29-February 4). However, there are small glimmers of hope on the southern
side of the U.S.-Canada border. Most encouraging is the fact that U.S.
courts are increasingly making it clear that U.S. drug czar John Walters
and his colleagues in the Bush administration have no authority to
"nullify" state medical marijuana laws.

In October the U.S. Supreme Court let stand a federal appellate court
ruling that barred the U.S. government from punishing physicians who
recommend marijuana under the provisions of these state laws. And in
December the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, whose jurisdiction includes
most of the far-western U.S., issued an injunction barring the federal
government from raiding and arresting patients and providers whose
non-commercial medical marijuana activities do not cross state lines.

The battle is by no means over, but slowly but surely the forces of sanity
are winning.

Bruce Mirken

Marijuana Policy Project

Washington, DC