cannabisnews.com: High Court To Rule on Medical Marijuana





High Court To Rule on Medical Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on June 29, 2004 at 14:33:43 PT
By Kay Lazar
Source: Boston Herald 
The U. S. Supreme Court will, once again, wade into the medical marijuana debate, announcing yesterday it will consider whether sick people who smoke pot on a doctor's orders are subject to a federal ban on the weed.    At issue is a California case involving two seriously ill women whose doctors recommended marijuana to relieve their chronic pain.
A lower court ruled in December that a federal law outlawing marijuana does not apply to California patients whose doctors have prescribed the drug, but the Bush administration is challenging that ruling. California is one of nine states, including Vermont and Maine, that allow patients to use pot with a doctor's orders.    ``When people are desperately ill, have a terminal disease or on chemotherapy, and there is any chance that marijuana can help, why not give it to them?'' said Dr. Jerome Kassirer, former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine.    He said many studies, including the landmark 1999 Institute of Medicine report, continue to show benefits of medical marijuana use.    But critics worry an easing of the ban will send the wrong message to kids that drugs are OK.    For wheelchair-bound Springfield resident Brian, who uses pot to ease debilitating muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis, the debate is frustrating.    ``I have tons of pills, but this is better medication than the pills they give me,'' said Brian, 56, who asked that his last name not be used.    In 2001, the Supreme Court ruled that California cannabis clubs could not distribute pot as a ``medical necessity'' for seriously ill patients, even if they have a doctor's recommendation. Source: Boston Herald (MA)Author:  Kay LazarPublished: Tuesday, June 29, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Boston Herald, Inc.Website: http://www.bostonherald.com/Contact: letterstoeditor bostonherald.comRelated Articles & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmHigh Court To Hear Oakland Pot Casehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19097.shtmlTop Court Will Take Oakland Pot Case http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19096.shtmlMarijuana Backers Pleased by Justices' Decisionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19093.shtml 
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