Arriving Somewhere

In a 6-3 decision this morning, the Supreme Court ruled that federal authorities may prosecute those who use “medical marijuana” despite ten States having laws that allow it.

San Francisco Gate:Supreme Court outlaws use of marijuana for medical reasons

I don’t have much time to comment right now… but I find this upsetting. Regardless of whether you support the use of cannabis for medical treatment, shouldn’t the decision be up to individual states? Especially considering quite a few have already ruled to allow it…. including my home states of California and Maryland.

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor had this to say:

“The states’ core police powers have always included authority to define criminal law and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their citizens”… she said the court was overreaching to endorse “making it a federal crime to grow small amounts of marijuana in one’s own home for one’s own medicinal use.”

Also read the ACLU’s response: State Medical Marijuana Laws Remain Valid Despite U.S. Supreme Court Ruling in Raich v. Ashcroft, ACLU Says

It’s not too often that I find myself on the same side as the ACLU.

technorati tag: medical marijuana, states rights, Supreme Court