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Court Backs Doctors on Marijuana
A federal appeals court ruled for the first time Tuesday that the government cannot revoke doctors' prescription licenses for recommending marijuana to sick patients. "An integral component of the practice of medicine is the communication between doctor and a patient. Physicians must be able to speak frankly and openly to patients," Chief Circuit Judge Mary Schroeder said.

The government argued that doctors were aiding and abetting criminal activity for recommending marijuana because it is an illegal drug under federal narcotics laws. But the appeals court said doctors have a constitutional right to speak candidly with their patients about marijuana without fear of government sanctions.

The court said doctors could get in trouble only if they actually helped patients obtain marijuana. Merely recommending the drug "does not translate into aiding and abetting, or conspiracy," Schroeder said.

posted by Hal 1:24 PM