Regardless of what the doctor orders & even if high court O.K.'s, don't smoke dope while you are drinking and playing poker with a gun in your pocket.

I assume you are aware of the case before the U.S. Supreme about whether the federal government can prosecute patients who smoke pot on doctors' orders. Regardless of the outcome, follow the advice given in the title.

I tender the following story from the 12-11-04 Macon Telegraph, and rest my case:

A man told police someone shot him in the testicles early Friday during a card game, but he later admitted that he accidentally shot himself, according to a Macon police report.

The man told police he had taken a 9 mm pistol from a card player during a game. When he pulled the gun out of his pants, it went off, the report said.

The man told police he had been drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana, the report said.

Macon police responded to a call at The Medical Center of Central Georgia, where he admitted shooting himself, the report said.

The man was still hospitalized late Friday, but efforts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.