webb v. united states webb v. united states webb v. united states, 249 u.s. 96 (1919), was a united states supreme court case in which the court held that prescriptions of narcotics for maintenance treatment was not within the discretion of physicians and thus not privileged under the harrison narcotics act. webb v. united statessupreme court of the united statesargued january 16, 1919decided march 3, 1919full case namewebb, et al. v. united statescitations249 u.s. 96 (more)39 s. ct. 217; 63 l. ed. 497; 1919 u.s. lexis 2230; 17 ohio l. rep. 88court membership chief justice edward d. white associate justices joseph mckenna · oliver w. holmes jr.william r. day · willis van devantermahlon pitney · james c. mcreynoldslouis brandeis · john h. clarke case opinionsmajorityday, joined by holmes, pitney, brandeis, clarkedissentwhite, joined by mckenna, van devanter, mcreynolds