Should Medical Marijuana be Federally Legalized?

• “No”

  

  “Medical Marijuana Bypasses the FDA and Jeopardizes Consumer Protection”

• “Objection”

  

  “Half-Truths and Red Herrings”
  

Medical Marijuana Bypasses the FDA and Jeopardizes Consumer Protection

Dr. Eric Voth

M.D., FACP

Expert Verified | See Profile

Recommend (0) Comments (2)

The FDA opposes medical excuse marijuana.  Modern medicine does not condone smoking medications or potions. We follow a process through the FDA to assure that medications are safe and effective. Marijuana has never passed the safety and efficacy tests by the FDA and thus jeopardizes consumer protection. Medicine by popular vote is a dangerous precedent. Some treatments are thought to be useful but turn out to be ineffective or dangerous when submitted to rigorous scientific study.

Evidence

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Medicinal Applications of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and Marijuana

Voth EA, Schwartz RH. Medicinal applications of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and marijuana. Annals of Internal Medicine 1997;126:791-798

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Guidelines for Prescribing Medical Marijuana

Voth EA. "Guidelines for prescribing medical marijuana." Western Journal of Medicine 2001;175:305-306

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The Medical Excuse Marijuana Controversy

Voth EA, A peek into Pandora’s box: the medical excuse marijuana controversy. J Addict Diseases 2003;22:27-46

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Marijuana and Cannabinoid Research:Current Status and Future Potential

Voth, EA. Marijuana and cannabinoid research:Current status and future potential Journal of Global Drug Policy and Practice 2007; 1 issue 1

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Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics v. DEA Court Ruling

United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Feb. 1994, 92-1168 Petition for the review of controlled substance. Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics v. Drug Enforcement Administration. [1) The drug’s chemistry must be known and reproducible. 2) There must be adequate safety studies. 3) There must be adequate and well-controlled studies proving efficacy. 4) The drug must be accepted by qualified experts. 5) The scientific evidence must be widely available. , "The administrator reasonably accorded more weight to the opinions of the experts than to the laymen and doctors on which the petitioners relied."]

Next Argument

"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
  1
• Medical Excuse Marijuana is a Trojan Horse
  0

"No" Drug Free America

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

"Yes" NORML

• Study After Study Has Reaffirmed the Benefits of Medical Cannabis
  8
• Voters and Health Organizations Overwhelmingly Support Legal Access
  7
• Even Our Government is Waking Up To the Facts
  6
• Medical Marijuana is Already Protected in 12 States
  4

"Yes" Marijuana Policy Project

• Marijuana is a Safe, Effective Medicine
  15
• Marijuana's Classification as a "Schedule 1" Drug has No Basis in Fact
  13
• The Federal Government is Providing Medical Marijuana to Four Patients
  10
• Feds have Deliberately Avoided Learning Marijuana's Medical Benefits
  12

"Yes" ASA

• Cannabis (Marijuana) is a Safe and Effective Medicine
  6
• The Public and Medical Community Supports Medical Cannabis
  7
• 12 States Have Adopted Medical Cannabis Laws
  6
• The Federal Government is Obstructing Medical Marijuana Research
  6
• Marijuana Medicines are Legal in Other Countries: US Trials Ongoing
  6
• Americans Who are Ill Deserve the Most Health Options Possible
  6

Most Objections

• Cannabinoids May have Medicinal Use, but They Should Not be Smoked
  1
• 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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