Should Medical Marijuana be Federally Legalized?

• “Yes”

  

  “Americans Who are Ill Deserve the Most Health Options Possible”

• No Objections Yet

Americans Who are Ill Deserve the Most Health Options Possible

Americans for Safe Access

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The federal government often states that there are better solutions to people’s healthcare problems than cannabis, and that patients should not have to rely on cannabis to relieve their symptoms. Yet, it is the foundation of our healthcare system in the United States that the sick and dying have the ability to exercise every available choice, including medical cannabis. Even though cannabis may not be superior to other medications in all instances, patients should have the prerogative to consult with their physicians and opt for medical cannabis use without fear of reprisal by the federal government.

Report after report indicates that patients are seeking alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs, which either do not work as well as cannabis or produce undesirable side effects. Some patients use cannabis because pharmaceutical drugs do not have the desired effect in treating their illness. For other patients, pharmaceutical drugs cause side effects that can be treated with medical cannabis.

According to the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), 36% of adults in the U.S. are using some form of complementary or alternative medicine. Given the strong clinical evidence and public support of medical cannabis, the federal government should be directing the NCCAM to conduct more cannabis-related research so that policymakers can make decisions based on the most complete and comprehensive information available.

Evidence

Video

Watch the Drew Carey Project Episode on Medical Marijuana

Link

Journal of AIDS Study (2005)

Link

European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Study (2006)

Video

Testimonial by MS Patient Yvonne

Video

Testimonial by Cancer Patient Sandra

Next Argument

"Yes" ASA

• Cannabis (Marijuana) is a Safe and Effective Medicine
  4
• The Public and Medical Community Supports Medical Cannabis
  4
• 12 States Have Adopted Medical Cannabis Laws
  4
• The Federal Government is Obstructing Medical Marijuana Research
  4
• Marijuana Medicines are Legal in Other Countries: US Trials Ongoing
  4
• Americans Who are Ill Deserve the Most Health Options Possible
  4

"Yes" Marijuana Policy Project

• Marijuana is a Safe, Effective Medicine
  9
• Marijuana's Classification as a "Schedule 1" Drug has No Basis in Fact
  7
• The Federal Government is Providing Medical Marijuana to Four Patients
  6
• Feds have Deliberately Avoided Learning Marijuana's Medical Benefits
  5

"Yes" NORML

• Study After Study Has Reaffirmed the Benefits of Medical Cannabis
  2
• Voters and Health Organizations Overwhelmingly Support Legal Access
  1
• Even Our Government is Waking Up To the Facts
  1
• Medical Marijuana is Already Protected in 12 States
  1

"No" Dr Voth

• Marijuana is a Poor Excuse for a Medicine
  0
• Medical Marijuana Bypasses the FDA and Jeopardizes Consumer Protection
  0
• Cannabinoids May have Medicinal Use, but They Should Not be Smoked
  0
• Medical Excuse Marijuana is a Trojan Horse
  0

"No" Drug Free America

• FDA & Scientific Research Determines a Medicine, Not Polling Results
  0

Most Objections

• Cannabinoids May have Medicinal Use, but They Should Not be Smoked
  0
• FDA & Scientific Research Determines a Medicine, Not Polling Results
  0
• Marijuana is a Poor Excuse for a Medicine
  0
• Medical Marijuana Bypasses the FDA and Jeopardizes Consumer Protection
  0
• Medical Excuse Marijuana is a Trojan Horse
  0

Marijuana by Prescription?

• Yes
• No

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