Should Medical Marijuana be Federally Legalized?

Should Medical Marijuana be Federally Legalized?

Millions of Americans take prescription drugs to treat a plethora of illnesses and symptoms, but not all drugs are created equal. The question of whether or not to consider marijuana a viable medical treatment remains a hot button issue. In states like California, medical marijuana clubs have flourished despite their federal illegality. Should the federal government allow states to make their own decisions, or is marijuana nothing more than a dangerous narcotic?

Next question in Drug Law

  • “No”
  • “Objection”
Marijuana Policy Project

Half-Truths and Red Herrings

Marijuana Policy Project

Voth neglects to tell readers a critical fact: The FDA has never  
studied medical marijuana
. All it did -- under pressure from a  
leading opponent of medical marijuana in Congress -- was issue a ?
press release restating the official government position. If that's  
consumer protection, then Dick Cheney is Santa Claus. At the time of  
the FDA's press release in April of 2006, Dr. John Benson, co-author  
of the White House-commissioned Institute of Medicine report that  
found that marijuana does indeed have medical value, told the New  
York Times that the government "loves to ignore our report. ... They  
would rather it never happened."

Medical marijuana laws do not in any way undermine the FDA drug  
approval process. The FDA regulates marketing and sales. It is not  
illegal to treat yourself with a medicinal herb not approved by the  
FDA as a medicine
. People do it every day -- with echinacea,  
goldenseal, ginseng, and hundreds of other herbal products -- and no  
one breaks down their door and hauls them off to jail. Marijuana,  
unfortunately, has been singled out for specially harsh treatment for  
no good reason. All medical marijuana laws do is protect patients ?
from arrest. They have nothing whatever to do with FDA drug approval,  
and opponents know it.

Finally, Voth brings out the last, desperate red herring always used  
by medical marijuana opponents: smoking. But medical marijuana need ?
not be smoked: Vaporization provides the benefits of smoking without  
the harmful compounds in smoke. And no drug has ever been banned  
because just one of several possible methods of administration has  
risks.

For more information see:

Evidence

IcotextText
Medical Marijuana: Politics Trump Science at the FDA
Gregory T. Carter and Bruce Mirken, "Medical Marijuana: Politics Trump Science at the FDA," Medscape General Medicine 8, issue 2: 46 (May 17, 2006).
IcotextText
Vaporization as a Smokeless Cannabis Delivery System...
D.I. Abrams et al., "Vaporization as a Smokeless Cannabis Delivery System: A Pilot Study," Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutic 82, issue 5 (November 2007): 572-578.
IcotextText
Dissembling on Medical Pot
Chicago Tribune, "Dissembling on Medical Pot" (editorial), Apr. 23, 2006.
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