Dr. Mollie Fry, who estimates she has issued thousands of cannabis recommendations since setting up her thriving practice northeast of Sacramento in 1999, was indicted last year on felony charges of conspiring to distribute marijuana. Mollie claims she is being prosecuted unfairly because she recommended pot for patients under California's medical marijuana law.

Medical marijuana advocates estimate that about 1,500 doctors, mostly oncologists and AIDS specialists, have authorized pot for at least one patient. California's medical marijuana law, also known as Proposition 215, named ailments for which marijuana might prove helpful in easing symptoms: cancer, anorexia, AIDS, glaucoma, arthritis and migraines.

Frank Lucindo, a Berkeley physician devotes about thirty percent of his time to working with medical marijuana patients says " pot docs are being held to higher standards than doctors who prescribe lots of Viagra, prescription painkillers and other abused medications".

Fry thought that telling her patients how to relieve pain, depression and nausea was the right thing to do. She said "What did I take an oath to do? To do no harm and to alleviate pain and suffering. I'm going to be true to my oath, and I'm even willing to go to prison for it."