US Supreme Court outlaws 'medical marijuana'

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2005

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US Supreme Court refused to sanction the use of marijuana for medical purposes, dashing the hopes of thousands of US patients using the substance for pain relief.

By a vote of six to three, the US high court refused to allow residents in 10 states to use the drug with a doctor's permission and under highly regulated conditions.

The case was brought by two California women, Angel McClary Raich and Diane Monson.

Raich suffers from an inoperable brain tumor, and insists that marijuana is the only remedy that alleviates her pain and allows her to keep down enough food to stay alive. Raich's doctor believes that forgoing marijuana would cause Raich intense pain and could well be fatal.

Monson smokes marijuana to handle severe back...