Medical-marijuana advocates sue feds

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Medical-marijuana advocates sue feds

The Denver Post
By The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 02/21/2007 10:20:15 PM MST


Oakland, Calif. - Armed with a new study showing the drug can ease pain in some HIV patients, medical-marijuana advocates sued the federal government Wednesday over its claim that pot has no accepted medical uses.

The suit, filed in federal court by Americans for Safe Access, accuses the government of preventing "sick and dying persons from seeking to obtain medicine that could provide them needed and often lifesaving relief."

Eleven states, including Colorado, have made marijuana legal for people with a doctor's recommendation. But federal authorities can still arrest patients.

Last week, researchers from the University of California at San Francisco reported that a test involving 50 HIV patients showed that those who smoked pot experienced much less pain than those given placebos.