Earlier this month the Supreme Court upheld a lower courts ruling that basically states the Federal Governments right to regulate interstate commerce makes the medical marijuana laws of those states illegal. However I do not foresee federal prosecutors lining up to prosecute the guy who has the states permission to grow a plant or two for his use, even though Oregon has made it clear to their patients that it is possible.
I would like to see those states with medical marijuana laws continue to allow patients to be in the program as well as admit new patients. From what I have read about it marijuana not only has amazing pain relief properties for those of us in moderate to severe pain, it is MUCH cheaper for the patients then traditional opioid medications.
I am glad to see Oregon, although with the warnings to patients, is going to continue their program. My guess is that the other states are going to watch this closely over the next few weeks/months and judge the federal governments reaction before proceeding with their programs.
Story Here
SALEM, Ore. - Oregon resumed issuing medical-marijuana cards Friday, deciding the program could continue despite a Supreme Court ruling allowing federal prosecution for possessing the drug.
But the state warned that registration in the state program won't protect patients or caregivers from federal prosecution for drug possession if the federal government chooses to take action against them.
The Human Services Department stopped sending out the cards — but continued processing applications — after the Supreme Court held last week that federal authorities can prosecute marijuana possession under federal drug laws, even in states like Oregon, where medical use of the drug is legal.
The department was awaiting a review of the Supreme Court's ruling by Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers. Myers concluded that the ruling did not invalidate the state's program, and the department on Friday began mailing about 550 registration cards that had been held up, said Grant Higginson, a department administrator.
Madeline Martinez, Oregon director of the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws, said the court ruling caused many patients to dismantle their gardens.
She said her group tried to assure patients that medical marijuana users also weren't protected from federal prosecution in 1999 after the program began "and that now we are right back where we were."
More than 10,000 patients have registered for the state's medical marijuana program, one of 11 in the nation. Patients qualify if a state-licensed physician states that they suffer from certain conditions including cancer, glaucoma,
HIV/
AIDS or severe pain, and may benefit from marijuana use.
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