MEDICAL MARIJUANA: CA Officials Should Craft Guidelines
Although the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling Monday that would allow the medicinal use of marijuana for extremely ill patients does not "clear away all federal obstacles to full implementation of Proposition 215," an editorial in today's Orange County Register says that it "eliminates several of the most stubborn evasions and arguments" that have delayed its implementation. The editorial urges Attorney General Bill Lockyer (D) to "study the decision, then issue ... a set of guidelines for law enforcement to recognize the rights of patients who meet certain criteria to have access to marijuana for medical uses." The decision "can be applied with a modicum of compassion and common sense rather than as strictly (and cruelly) as some Drug Warriors would prefer," the piece argues. While this "might not be the last word," the editorial concludes that California officials should "accept the [court's] invitation" to "craft guidelines for the use of medical marijuana" (9/15).
A Second Chance
A San Jose Mercury News editorial maintains that Gov. Gray Davis' "expected veto contributed to the failure" of state Sen. John Vasconcellos' (D-San Jose) attempt to "bridge the gap between federal law and Proposition 215." The editorial concludes that the appellate court's recent decision gives Davis a "second chance to show leadership and flexibility" (9/16).