BMJ  2005;330:1408 (18 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7505.1408-c

News roundup

US Supreme Court says no to medical marijuana

New York Janice Hopkins Tanne

The US Supreme Court voted six-three that medical use of marijuana was illegal in a vote last week, despite laws in 11 states that permit its use. The court ruling puts the federal government at odds with many in the scientific establishment and with public opinion. The decision is unlikely to affect people living in states that allow medical marijuana use, where state laws permitting this use are still in effect, however. Most people who are prosecuted for use or possession of marijuana are large scale drug dealers, not those using the drug under a doctor’s supervision to alleviate symptoms of illness.

The case that led to the ruling was brought by two Californian women, Angel Raich and Diane Monson, who use marijuana to alleviate symptoms of medical conditions. Ms Raich has an inoperable brain tumour, scoliosis, and other health problems. Ms Monson has a . . . [Full text of this article]


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?

Access jobs at BMJ Careers
Whats new online at Student BMJ