Attorney General Lockyer Issues Statement on Institute of Medicine Report on Medical Marijuana

March 17, 1999
99-030
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Sacramento)-- Attorney General Bill Lockyer issued the following statement in response to the Institute of Medicine's report titled, "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base":

"The Institute of Medicine report takes an important step toward answering questions about the medical benefits of marijuana. The report suggests that there is scientific evidence to support its use and encourages further research. Current federal law prohibits doctors from prescribing marijuana and has made medical research difficult. We look forward to the federal government building on this report's findings so that we can wisely implement Proposition 215."