The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear an Oakland-based case that could bring the ultimate decision on whether people who grow and use marijuana as medicine face federal arrest and prosecution. The court will hear the case this winter and rule by next summer.

"This gives us an opportunity to make a nationwide precedent that will benefit patients," said Oakland attorney Robert Raich, among the lawyers for patient Angel McClary Raich, his wife; patient Diane Monson of Oroville; and two unnamed marijuana growers from Oakland.

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Pubdate: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 Source: Oakland Tribune, The (CA)