JUDGE DISMISSES MEDICAL POT SUIT

A federal judge has dismissed a class-action lawsuit brought by 165 people
who sought to extend a government program allowing people to use marijuana
for medical purposes.

U.S. District Judge Marvin Katz ruled that the government acted properly
when it ended its ``compassionate use'' program in 1992. The program, begun
in 1970, had allowed certain people to use marijuana for medical reasons,
but has slowly been phased out. Only 8 patients nationwide, some of whom
have cancer and glaucoma, still receive marijuana under the program.

The plaintiffs sought the freedom to use marijuana ``without control or
interference'' by the government.

``If the government allows eight people to get it, then all people who need
it should be able to get it,'' their attorney, Lawrence Hirsch, had argued
at a hearing.

Katz ruled Wednesday that although it seems odd for the government to be
giving out marijuana, even to a few people, it was acceptable to phase out
the program gradually. Those involved in the program before 1992 should
retain the right to use the drug until their deaths, he said.