UNITED STATES: TOP COURT TO RULE ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed yesterday to decide whether the federal
government can prosecute sick people who smoke marijuana on the advice of a
doctor.

The case involves the Bush administration's appeal of a case it lost last
year involving two California women who say marijuana is the only drug that
eases their chronic pain.

The case also affects eight other states that have laws similar to
California's allowing patients to grow, use or receive marijuana if they
have a doctor's recommendation.