The Supreme Court has dealt a setback to the drive to allow medical use of marijuana. In an 8-0 ruling last week on a California case, the court held that federal law recognizes no therapeutic benefits to the drug. Therefore, cooperatives that distribute marijuana to the sick can be blocked from doing so by federal authorities. The court did not address whether the states themselves may distribute the drug, or whether individual patients may grow or possess it.
Polls show widespread support for the medical use of marijuana.
The drug has been found to ease the side-effects of chemotherapy, along with the symptoms of AIDS and other illnesses. However, substantial data are lacking, in part because the drug is illegal. Taking matters into their own hands, eight states have passed ballot initiatives allowing the drug's medical use. Almost certainly, more legal haggling is in store. The Supreme Court's unanimity went only so far.