Only Washington-based physicians can legally recommend that state residents use medical marijuana, the state's highest court has ruled.

The Oregonian reported Nov. 23 that the Washington Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Oregon's 1998 voter-approved medical-marijuana initiative "could have, but did not, define a qualifying doctor as one with a valid license from any state."

The Supreme Court affirmed a Court of Appeals ruling that upheld the marijuana possession and manufacturing conviction of a woman who had a California medical-marijuana card, but was not authorized to use the drug medically in Washington.