Court rules against medical marijuana.

Drug Detection Report, June, 2005

COURT RULES AGAINST MEDICAL MARIJUANA: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal authorities may prosecute those who smoke marijuana under physicians' orders, according to the Associated Press. This was a stinging defeat to marijuana advocates who had convinced lawmakers in 10 states to allow marijuana's use for medicinal purposes.

Justice John Paul Stevens, writing the 6-3 decision, said that Congress could change the law to allow medical use of marijuana. The closely watched case was an appeal by the Bush administration in a case that it lost in late 2003. At issue was whether the prosecution of medical marijuana users under the federal Controlled Substances Act was constitutional.