cannabisnews.com: Don’t Let DEA’s Dogs Loose on Medical Pot Don’t Let DEA’s Dogs Loose on Medical Pot Posted by FoM on August 23, 2001 at 12:06:56 PT Editorial Source: Star-Bulletin The threat by the new head of the Drug Enforcement Administration to enforce the federal ban on distribution of marijuana should not strike fear into the hearts of Hawaii residents using marijuana for medical purposes. The labyrinth created by the U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of medical marijuana as an exception to the law effectively empties the threat, although possibly driving some patients to illicit behavior in obtaining the substance. Congress should make their lives simpler by carving out the exception they have sought in the states where it is legal. Asa Hutchinson, a former Republican congressman from Arkansas, told reporters on his first day as chief of the DEA that he would enforce the federal ban on marijuana distribution after considering "a lot of different aspects." One of those aspects, of course, is that using marijuana for medical purposes is legal in eight states, including Hawaii. Proponents of marijuana's medical use say it relieves pain from AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma and other illnesses. However, the Supreme Court in May ruled that federal law against marijuana allows no exception. The ruling was based on legal, not medical, grounds, and dealt with organized manufacturing and distribution of marijuana, not its use.Ted Sakai, Hawaii's public safety director and administrator of the state law allowing medical use of marijuana, said after the high court's decision that Hawaii would continue registering patients for treatment with marijuana. Those registered are allowed to grow and possess marijuana for medical purposes; the state law does not pertain to how they obtain it.That places Hawaii's legally authorized users of medical marijuana who are unable to grow it at home in a precarious situation. Doctors who may legally prescribe marijuana and administer it in private face the same problem: How do they get their hands on it?Canada this year announced plans to make it easier to possess and cultivate marijuana for medical purposes, but importing marijuana into the United States is illegal. The only alternative is for medical marijuana users to seek out illegal drug traffickers willing to risk Hutchinson's snare.If Congress is unwilling to create a nationwide exception to marijuana distribution for medical purposes, it at least should permit its distribution in states where its use is legal. That would recognize states' rightful role as laboratories for innovation.The issue: The new chief of the Drug Enforcement Administration says he will enforce the law against distribution of marijuana for medical purposes.Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI)Published: Wednesday, August 22, 2001Copyright: 2001 Honolulu Star-BulletinContact: letters starbulletin.comWebsite: http://www.starbulletin.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmMedical Pot Quagmirehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10696.shtmlDEA Chief Tough on Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10677.shtmlDEA Head Says No to Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10674.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment