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?
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:
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