The ban over the use of marijuana has pushed the Washington Governor Chris Gregoire and Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee to ask the US Drug Enforcement Administration to allow the doctors to prescribe marijuana.

The concerned governors on Wednesday said that they want the Federal government to characterize the marijuana as Schedule 2 drug, which means that the drug can be used for medical purposes. At present, marijuana has been characterized as Schedule 1 drug, which restricts doctors to prescribe it and the trade of it is also been banned.

There are 16 states which have already made the provision of prescribing marijuana. The governors, while filing petition wrote, "Each of these jurisdictions is struggling with managing safe access to medical cannabis for patients with serious medical conditions. Our work with the federal agencies has not resolved the matter".

In 1998, approval was given to marijuana to be used as medical drug. But the recent ban over it has caused trouble not only to patients but also to the doctors. In the beginning of this year, Gregoire made a number of recommendations the state's medical marijuana law. However, the authorities concerned have not yet reacted to it.

In the recent times there have been a number of pools which has showed that the majority of the Americans are now supporting the need of making marijuana medically available. About 60% of the voters, in the region, are in the favor of allowing the use of marijuana for medical purpose. Marijuana is used by the doctors for easing up the agonizing pain of the patients. Normally, cancer patients are prescribed with it.

The authorities concerned have not yet commented upon the petition filed by the Washington Governor Chris Gregoire and Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee. It is hoped the stir over the use of marijuana will be solved timely.