Should Medical Marijuana be Federally Legalized?

• “No”

  

  “FDA & Scientific Research Determines a Medicine, Not Polling Results”

• “Objection”

  

  “Science, Not Polling Results, Confirm Marijuana's Medical Efficacy”
  

• “Objection”

  

  “Mountains of Research Prove Marijuana is a Medicine”
  

Mountains of Research Prove Marijuana is a Medicine

Marijuana Policy Project

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The Drug Free America Foundation's claim that "There is no scientifically documented benefit for the use of crude marijuana for any medical purpose" is completely false. In 2007-2008 alone, three separate published, peer-reviewed clinical trials documented that medical marijuana safely and effectively relieves neuropathic pain. This type of pain, caused by damage to nerves, inflicts misery on millions suffering from HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and other illnesses. To quote from one of these recent studies, first published online in April 2008 by the Journal of Pain:
"In the present experiment, cannabis reduced pain intensity and unpleasantness equally. Thus, as with opioids, cannabis does not rely on a relaxing or tranquilizing effect, (e.g. anxiolysis) but rather reduces both the core component of nociception and the emotional aspect of the pain experience to an equal degree. ... 
"In general, side effects and changes in mood were inconsequential. ...
"... a method has been devised to provide a safer and more efficient delivery system. Cannabis vaporization is a technique that avoids the production of irritating respiratory toxins by heating the herbal medicine to a temperature at which active cannabinoid vapors form but are below the point of combustion where toxins are released."
Efficacy. Safety. And a safe, non-smoked delivery system that has been scientifically proven. Dr. Voth, what part of this don't you understand?

Evidence

Text

Clinical trial of cannabis cigarettes in neuropathic pain

Wilsey, B. et al., “A randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of cannabis cigarettes in neuropathic pain.” The Journal of Pain. 9(6):506-521.

Abrams, D., Jay, C., Shade, S., Vizoso, H., Reda, H., Press S., Kelly M., Rowbotham M., and Petersen, K., “Cannabis in painful HIV-associated sensory neuropathy: A randomized placebo-controlled trial,” Neurology. 68: 515-521.

Ellis, R.J. et al., “smoked medicinal cannabis for neuropathic pain in HIV: a randomized, crossover clinical trial.” Neuropsychopharmacology. Published online ahead of print, Aug. 6, 2008.

Next Argument

"No" Drug Free America

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

"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

"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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