Pubdate: Thu, 24 May 2001 Source: Baltimore Sun (MD) Copyright: 2001 The Baltimore Sun, a Times Mirror Newspaper. Contact: http://www.sunspot.net/ Forum: http://www.sunspot.net/cgi-bin/ultbb/Ultimate.cgi/action=intro Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37 Author: Michael DeCicco Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/ocbc.htm (Oakland Cannabis Court Case) GOVERNMENT HAS NO BUSINESS TELLING US HOW TO TREAT PAIN I do not understand the Supreme Court's decision banning the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes ("Justices rule out medical marijuana," May 15). It is not the government's place to tell people what methods or substances they can use to alleviate their pain. If a squadron of police officers and judges believes that ripping a joint out of the hands of a person suffering from cancer or AIDS is justice, then they are mistaken. Citizens should be outraged by this assault upon the most vulnerable among us. And anyone who is not willing to walk in another person's shoes shouldn't attempt to tell him or her what method to use to reduce the excruciating pain associated with some of these ailments. Michael DeCicco Severn - --- MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe