Philadelphia Inquirer Medical Marijuana Editorial

Editorial: Easing their pain

The Obama administration's new policy on medical marijuana should make it easier for New Jersey and Pennsylvania to legalize its use for seriously ill patients.

The Justice Department has removed a major legal hurdle by issuing a memo directing federal prosecutors in states that allow medical marijuana not to target patients or their sanctioned suppliers when the drug is purchased for legitimate purposes.

The new policy is a significant departure from the Bush administration's mixed signals, and makes more sense.

Federal agents are still empowered to go after people whose marijuana distribution and nonmedical use is not permitted under state law, and those who use the sale of medical marijuana as a cover for other crimes.

With that cleared up, New Jersey and Pennsylvania should join the 14 other states that allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes.

Rest of the editorial at: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20091024_Editorial__Easing_their_pain.html