Supreme Court's marijuana ruling could impact assisted-suicide case

Published: 2005-06-24

PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- A ruling on medical marijuana by the U.S. Supreme Court in early June may have bearing on a closely watched case over Oregon's assisted-suicide law. The justices ruled 6-3 June 6 that state laws allowing use of marijuana cannot supersede federal drug regulations. In Oregon vs. Gonzalez, a case over assisted suicide, the main question also centers on state and federal authority over drugs. While Oregon argues that it can make laws about medical practice, the U.S. Justice Department has said the state cannot unilaterally exempt itself from federal drug law by allowing lethal prescriptions. Kevin Neeley, a spokesman for state Attorney General Hardy Myers, says it is "hard to know" how the marijuana case will apply to the assisted-suicide case. Both sides in the assisted-suicide debate can find good news and bad news in the June 6 ruling, he said.

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