Pubdate: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 Source: Houston Chronicle (TX) Copyright: 2005 Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division, Hearst Newspaper Contact: http://www.chron.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/198 Author: Dean Becker NO DEATH TOLL FROM THE DRUG If this country is going to allow federal authorities to prosecute sick people whose doctors prescribe marijuana to ease pain, then the so-called conservative Supreme Court has shown itself as something other than conservative and far from compassionate. True conservatives would strive for a smaller federal reach into our lives. Yet this court wants to use a sledge hammer to kill a firefly. The court's decision to allow surveillance and control of America's gardens and windowsills is ludicrous. Perhaps 100 million Americans have used marijuana in their lifetimes, and 15 million use it at least once a month. There is still no death toll from using marijuana. DEAN BECKER Houston - --- MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFlorida)