Pubdate: Thu, 17 May 2001
Source: New Times (CA)
Section: What's News
Copyright: 2001 New Times
Contact:  http://www.newtimesslo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1277

SUPREMES NIX MEDICAL MARIJUANA

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-0 on May 14 that federal law does not allow 
a "medical necessity" exception to the prohibition of the distribution of 
marijuana.

The decision is a setback, but not a death knell, to a growing movement 
that has passed medical marijuana laws in eight states, including California.

The ruling didn't overturn any state laws. Rather, Justice Clarence Thomas 
wrote that marijuana's listing by congress as a Schedule 1 drug under the 
Controlled Substance Act meant that it "has no currently accepted medical 
use in treatment in the United States."

The ruling reverses a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision that ruled 
federal law exempt third-party providers who cultivate and supply marijuana 
to patients who would suffer "serious harm if they were denied cannabis."

The court also made it clear that its decision does not infringe on the use 
of medical marijuana by individual patients, an issue that was "not 
presented" to the justices.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D