At first glance the right to carry a concealed weapon and the right to possess medical cannabis seem like an odd pair. However both of these separate rights represent an important aspect of the medical cannabis movement. The right at issue here is states rights which is spelled out in the 10th amendment of the constitution. Ironically, it is the power of this argument that gives the medical cannabis movement such power in court. In actuality the state's rights argument hamstrings even the most conservative of judges and pretty much complex an educated judge to rule in favor of safe access to medical cannabis. Basically what happened in this instance is that state officials in Oregon were asserting that federal regulations bar drug addicts from possessing a medical marijuana card. The Oregon Supreme Court disagreed with that argument and ruled in favor of the medical marijuana card holder.
I assert the more pro state rights rulings we have like this the better even if its in areas that may seem unrelated. This ruling is especially timely in light of U.S. Attorney General Eric Holders announcement that his office will soon come up with a policy that will clarify his office's position on medical marijuana.
For full text click here: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oregon-pot-20110520,0,3570087.story
