California OKs medical marijuana dispensers

The US State of California is set to be the location for the first vending machines selling marijuana to patients with specific health conditions. According to a report by the UK broadcaster, the BBC, patients will be required to provide a prescription, have fingerprints and a photograph taken before being allowed to use one of the two first machines in the state.

The legality of the operation is controversial. On the one hand, 11 US states have authorized medical cannabinoid use, often by a popular referendum. However, the federal government claims that it has jurisdiction, under the 1970 Controlled Substances Act. Four cannabinoid drugs have been developed: Marinol (dronabinol from Solvay); nabilone; Sativex (a cannabis-based oromuscosal spray from GW Pharma); and rimonabant (Sanofi-Aventis' Acomplia brand for obesity).