US Supreme Court says medical marijuana use must remain illegal

The US Supreme Court has handed medical marijuana users a major defeat.

The court has ruled that a US law classifying the drug as illegal has no exception for ill patients.

The 8-0 decision has been seen a major disappointment to many sufferers of AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis and other illnesses.

They say the drug helps enormously in combating the devastating effects of their diseases.

Justice Clarence Thomas has stated: "In the case of the Controlled Substances Act, the statute reflects a determination that marijuana has no medical benefits worthy of an exception (outside the confines of a government-approved research project)."

Justice Thomas also noted the act states marijuana has "no currently accepted medical use."

The federal government triggered the case in 1998, seeking an injunction against the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative and five other marijuana distributors.

All the clubs except the Oakland group eventually closed down, and the Oakland club turned to registering potential marijuana recipients while it awaited a final ruling.

The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals had earlier ruled medical necessity is a legal defence.

Voters in Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington also have approved ballot initiatives allowing the use of medical marijuana. In Hawaii, the legislature passed a similar law and the governor signed it last year.