Pubdate: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 Source: Ventura County Star (CA) Copyright: 2012 The E.W. Scripps Co. Contact: http://www.vcstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/479 Author: David J. Ameling CONSTITUTION VS. MEDICAL MARIJUANA The Constitution was drawn up by the Founding Fathers to protect us from a strong central government, such as the one they suffered under the King of England. It defined what powers the central government had and what powers it didn't have. The powers the central government didn't have were left to the states. The central government could not tell the people what they could eat, drink, or where to live etc. The Founding Fathers also defined how to amend the Constitution. Once the Constitution was amended to state we couldn't drink alcohol (Prohibition). The citizens and government realized this was a mistake and repealed the amendment. There never was an amendment to the Constitution to restrict the use of medical marijuana. Any attempt by the Federal government to restrict the rights of states to regulate the use of medical marijuana is a violation of the Constitution and should be fought through the courts. - - David J. Ameling, Newbury Park - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom