I've not read the opinion so I can't get specific on the legal arguments, but basically all that needs to happen is that the majority of justices on the Supreme Court side with the dissenting judge in the 9th Circuit ruling or find other reasoning to overturn the 9th Circuit's decision. The case will be appealed to the Supreme Court, that's a given. The Supremes probably won't agree with the majority on the 9th Circuit. They rarely do on controversial issues.

There should be immediate attention to starting as many studies as possible so that decades of blocked research can yield the secrets of the cannabinoids.

We can take comfort that no other Court of Appeals has concluded a different opinion. Think of this. Robin Prossere could now be absolutely legal in this country and may well move in order to live.

I am already wondering on the splitting of the hairs. Will someone given recommendation and recognition under California or other states' laws, be able to carry MJ to another state. Not likely.

Will people be able to visit other states, see a doctor, and find out once and for all if cannabis helps them with their condition. Kind of makes you think so.

It may affect where people retire and where they seek treatments. It is of unbelievably huge importance. What happened in Canada with the recognition of absence of cannabis laws was a huge international story. I would say because the USG is Warmonger to the world on anything cannabis that this story, has to be the story of the year on the international level.

I await Dr. Russo's comments. I would be interested in what this does to the classification of cannabis as a schedule 1 Narcotic. The boo!!! is gone forever. The USG policy will now and forever be regarded as mythology. It never was true, but now we will openly acknowledge that it was not true. Research and reality are upon us. Oh, happy day.

US: Court supports police in drug arrests

http://www.thedailycamera.com/bdc/nation_world_news/article/0,1713,BDC_2420_2508846,00.html

Pubdate: December 16, 2003 Source: Daily Camera (CO)

If drugs found in car, all occupants can be arrested

By Gina Holland, Associated Press December 16, 2003

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court issued a traffic warning Monday: Beware of whom you ride with. If drugs are found in a vehicle, all occupants can be arrested, the justices said in a unanimous decision.

It was a victory for Maryland and 20 other states that argued police frequently find drugs in traffic stops but no one in the vehicle claims them. The court gave officers the go-ahead to arrest everyone.

In a small space like a car, an officer could reasonably infer "a common enterprise" among a driver and passengers, the justices ruled.

The case stemmed from an incident in 1999, when police in the Baltimore suburbs pulled over a speeding car. A search revealed a roll of cash in the glove compartment and cocaine in an armrest in the back seat.

The driver and the two passengers denied having anything to do with the contraband, so all three men were arrested.

Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, writing for the court, said police had probable cause to suspect that the drugs belonged to any of the three, or all of them.

Lisa Kemler, a criminal defense attorney from Alexandria, Va., said the court seems to be saying: "know who your company is."

"How many times have you gotten a ride with a friend? Are you going to peer around in their glove compartment?" asked Kemler, who fears the ruling will lead to a police dragnet. "You could find probable cause to arrest everybody."

Michael Rushford, president of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, a pro-law enforcement group, said police can't be expected to sort out ownership of drugs or guns in the middle of a traffic stop.

"You certainly wouldn't let three people with Uzis in their car leave because no one would admit the uzis were theirs," he said.

Maryland's highest court had thrown out the conviction of a passenger in the car, Joseph Jermaine Pringle, on grounds that his arrest violated the Constitution's Fourth Amendment ban on unreasonable searches or seizures. The Supreme Court reversed that decision.

"Pringle's attempt to characterize this case as a guilt-by-association case is unavailing," Rehnquist wrote in the brief decision.

Pringle told police later that the drugs were his and that he had planned to swap them for sex or money at a party. His 10-year prison sentence will be reinstated.

The American Civil Liberties Union and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed a brief supporting Pringle. Their attorney said the ruling will sweep innocent passengers into criminal cases.

"There's nothing in this opinion to prevent a police officer from arresting a graduate student who is offered a ride home late at night from a party that she has attended with some fellow students," said Tracey Maclin, a Boston University law professor.

The court's rationale could be used in other police search cases, involving homes, Maclin said.

The ruling dealt with the discovery of drugs and cash, but it could apply to other contraband as well.

Supporting Maryland in the case were the Bush administration, along with Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Puerto Rico.

The case is Maryland v. Pringle, 02-809.

- 420

And again I want to mntion in case someone is just now joining Us:

& haven't heard:

Democratic Presidential nominee, Dennis Kucinich, put in writing that as PRESIDENT He WILL: "DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA" -"in favor of a drug policy that sets reasonable boundaries for marijuana use by establishing guidelines similar to those already in place for alcohol."

(POSTED ON His website!)

http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17917.shtml

http://www.kucinich.us/issues/marijuana_decrim.php

This will be a big test of the media. They will still suck at reporting on the excesses and corruption of government. The question is, will they play secret, when it is too big to be secret. There will be thousands of individual celebrations by patients that now know they might survive because of this ruling. Even more importantly many will now know they will at least live in peace.

It is absolutely huge and now the floodgate to state laws will see 80% of the people demand sensible laws. Now if they say there is no research, each datum can step foward and say, "I will give testimony."

It hasn't sunk in yet, I know it's going to later tonight though!

Happy holidays all!! Thanks 9th, you just made my day and maybe my whole next year!

MF