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Medical Marijuana
Thirteen states have protective marijuana laws and regulate its use for medical purposes. Legal users treat a variety of ailments with marijuana, including the treatment of nausea and anorexia, associated with treatments for cancer and HIV/ AIDS.


At left, Dale Rogers displays different types of marijuana available at the Compassion in Action Patient Network, an organization that distributes medical marijuana to qualifying patients, Thursday, June, 28, 2007, in Seattle, WA. Rogers has been diagnosed with AIDS about 20 years ago and he has been constantly using marijuana to relieve the pain and nausea from his medication and to help strengthen his immune system.
(Andrei Pungovschi/AP Photo)


Joanna McKee uses a vaporizer to get one of her daily doses of medical marijuana, in Seattle. McKee has been using marijuana to relieve the pain caused by her back and leg problems.
(Andrei Pungovschi/AP Photo)


Medical marijuana user Angel Raich, 41, smokes marijuana in her hotel room before attending a marijuana rights demonstration April 20, 2007, in Missoula, Mont. Raich suffers from an inoperable brain tumor as well as several other complex medical conditions and began using medical marijuana to ease pain and gain appetite after her doctor suggested it in 1997. Coming from a conservative family, Angel didn't feel comfortable using an illegal substance, especially in front of her children. Raich sued U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and Drug Enforcement Administration director Asa Hutchinson to block them from interfering with her medical marijuana use and to avoid drug charges and arrest. Angel lost her case and appeal. She is now preparing to undergo treatment for her brain tumor.
(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)


Medical marijuana patients, caregivers and activists protest outside the downtown Federal Building Monday, Jan. 22, 2007, in Los Angeles. They're responding to recent Drug Enforcement Administration raids at medical marijuana facilities in Los Angeles and West Hollywood, Calif.
(Ric Francis/AP Photo)


Peter Curran, who suffers from full-blown AIDS, displays his city-issued medical cannabis ID at an AIDS hospice in San Francisco. Curran has lived with the disease for three years, and his doctor suggested he try marijuana to help increase his appetite as well as alleviate nausea associated with his medications.
(Victor James Blue/WpN)


Joshua Braun, co-owner of HortiPharm, stands behind the counter of his medical marijuana display in Santa Barbara, Calif. Braun and his staff at the cannabis dispensary held an open house for delegates at the 4th National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics in Santa Barbara.
(Rod Rolle/Getty Images)


Corey Kelly, who is HIV positive, smokes medicinal marijuana at the Alternative Herbal Health Services cannabis dispensary in San Francisco.
(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)


Jack Dalton, 59, uses marijuana for pain relief. Dalton, who was shot down while piloting a Marine helicopter in Vietnam in 1967, says he suffers from frequent spasms and chronic pain in nearly every part of his body. Dalton's doctor, Phillip E. Leveque, a 78-year-old semi retired osteopath, has granted 49.7 percent of Oregon's medical-marijuana cards since the state's law went into effect in May 1999. Dalton and many other supporters of Leveque say they believe his care is not at issue, just the fact that he is making use of a law some regulators do not like. Dalton exhales after a dose of medical marijuana.
(John Gress/The New York Times/Redux)


Jamila Thomas, second from left, along with other medical marijuana patients, caregivers and activists protest outside the downtown Federal Building, Jan. 22, 2007, in Los Angeles. The protest was in response to recent Drug Enforcement Administration raids at medical marijuana facilities in Los Angeles and West Hollywood, Calif.
(Ric Francis/AP PHoto)


Alternative Herbal Health Services worker Jason Beck packages medical marijuana in San Francisco.
(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)