US court rules against use of 'medical' ganja
published: Tuesday | June 7, 2005

WASHINGTON (AP):

UNITED STATES government authorities may prosecute sick people whose doctors prescribe marijuana to ease pain, the Supreme Court ruled yesterday, concluding that state laws don't protect users from a federal ban on the drug.

The decision is a stinging defeat for marijuana advocates who had successfully pushed 10 states to allow the drug's use to treat various illnesses.

Justice John Paul Stevens, writing the 6-3 decision, said that Congress could change the law to allow medical use of marijuana.