CRIMINAL INJUSTICE

Bravo to Ryan Grim for clearly laying out the culpability
of Congress in the tragic, completely needless death of quadriplegic
Jonathan Magbie ("Congressional Malpractice," 11/4).

While there is plenty of blame to go around for this legally
sanctioned murder (and no, that is not too strong a term), the bottom
line is simple: Magbie's use of marijuana to relieve his spasms should
not have been a crime. The District's citizens voted overwhelmingly to
make medical use of marijuana legal. Had Congress not intervened to
block the voters' decision, Jonathan Magbie would never have been
sentenced to jail for marijuana possession and almost certainly would
be alive today.

All who had a hand in this, from former Congressman Bob Barr to Judge
Retchin to the jail authorities, should be forever ashamed. And
Congress must get rid of the Barr Amendment before it causes another
pointless death.

Bruce Mirken

Director of communications

Marijuana Policy Project