The present classification of cannabis and its organic compounds as schedule I prohibited substances under federal law is scientifically indefensible, according to a just published review in The Open Neurology Journal.
Investigators with the University of California at San Diego and the University of California, Davis reviewed the results of several recent clinical trials assessing the safety and efficacy of inhaled or vaporized cannabis. They concluded:
“Evidence is accumulating that cannabinoids may be useful medicine for certain indications. Control of nausea and vomiting and the promotion of weight gain in chronic inanition are already licensed uses of oral THC (dronabinol capsules). Recent research indicates that cannabis may also be effective in the treatment of painful peripheral neuropathy and muscle spasticity from conditions such as multiple sclerosis. Other indications have been proposed, but adequate clinical trials have not been conducted.
“… The classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug as well as the continuing controversy as to whether or not cannabis is of medical value are obstacles to medical progress in this area. Based on evidence currently available the Schedule I classification is not tenable; it is not accurate that cannabis has no medical value, or that information on safety is lacking. It is true cannabis has some abuse potential, but its profile more closely resembles drugs in Schedule III (where codeine and dronabinol are listed). The continuing conflict between scientific evidence and political ideology will hopefully be reconciled in a judicious manner.”
The lead author of the review, Dr. Igor Grant, is the director of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research. In recent years, the CMCR has conducted various FDA-approved ‘gold standard’ clinical trials evaluating inhaled cannabis as a therapeutic agent. The results of several of those trials are summarized here.
Under federal law, schedule I controlled substances are defined as possessing “a high potential for abuse, … no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and there is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.” Heroin and Methaqualone (Quaaludes) are examples of other Schedule I substances.
In 2011, the Obama administration — via the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) — formally denied a nine-year-old administrative petition filed by NORML and a coalition of public interest organizations calling on the agency to initiate hearings to reassess the present classification of marijuana as a schedule I controlled substance without any ‘accepted medical use in treatment.’ In her denial of the petition, DEA administrator Michele Leonhart alleged: “[T]here are no adequate and well-controlled studies proving (marijuana’s) efficacy; the drug is not accepted by qualified experts. … At this time, the known risks of marijuana use have not been shown to be outweighed by specific benefits in well-controlled clinical trials that scientifically evaluate safety and efficacy.”
Last month, Ms. Leonhart testified before Congress that she believed that heroin and marijuana posed similar threats to the public’s health because, in her opinion, “all illegal drugs are bad.”
Coalition advocates are presently appealing the DEA’s denial of their petition in federal court.
Full text of the paper from The Open Neurology Journal, entitled “Medical Marijuana: Clearing Away the Smoke,” is available online here.
What stupifies me is the number of people out there that are willingly ingorant. These are the same people that force their ignorant opinions on others and galdly give up their constitutional rights in the name of protecting the poor helpless American public from themselves. These types of zealots will bring about the end of this country for profit then hand it over to the church without question.
dam. I did’nt read that post. just seemed anti-pot and was in a hurry and wanted to post. You’ll have to excuse my ADHD, Bipolar, and Schizophrenia. I’ll tell you what helps ALL 3 of those conditions: Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica. Peace out.
Nothing works for depression like a bowl. But really, forget the medicinal argument. Why can’t I as a free man grow some green in my garden for my own consumption? Why hasn’t this premise been brought before a court as a civil rights issue. I’ll volunteer. Where is the logic of a white trash idiot being legally able to drain a bottle of whiskey but I, as an intelligent, generally positive addition to my community, not able to relax with a spleef in my own living room. Whose business is it but mine.
Nothing will be handed over to the church. The Government wants to get ride of the church as an organization. The Church is the only thing that is big enough to stand up to the government.
We need the Christians to get their collective heads out of their rear ends and read the bible. The Bible is the text book of the Christian movement and most Christians fail to read it.
Allow me to point the Christians in the right direction. I have read the text and feel I may be able to shed some light on this for them.
Genesis 1 29-30
29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
So where is the exception for weed? Where is the except for the mistake I made on this one plant or two? GOD said EVERY GREEN PLANT. Could that be why hemp seeds are perfect nutrition?
Here are two links that give the reasons why hemp seed are so nutrious.
http://www.ratical.org/renewables/hempseed1.html
http://www.ratical.org/renewables/hempseed2.html
Genesis 9:3
3 Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
What!! A second verse same as the first. The thought so nice GOD said it twice. Once again. “Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.”
Where is the except for my mistake on the weed, I admit I was wrong.
As Christians you have a rule book/play book and you need to read it.
Here is another choice quote straight from GOD!
Deuteronomy 13:3
you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Testing you to see if you will believe his word or the words of false prophets and dreamers. HUH! “I give every green plant for food.” Words straight from GOD’s lips to your ear. False prophets and dreamers are testing your faith in GOD and his words. HUH!
Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever. HUH! False prophets try to make us believe GOD made a mistake making his words false. He gave us “ALL THE GREEN PLANTS” but one is bad, WTF How can a perfect being create a mistake in any way?
Think it over and get back to me.
No one has seen methaquelone since the early 80’s.The sub chemicals for that drug have not been made in a long time.They need to ban pseduoephedrine to end meth abuse!No sub chemicals no meth just like the “ludes”
No one has seen methaquelone since the early 80’s.The sub chemicals for that drug have not been made in a long time.They need to ban pseduoephedrine to end meth abuse!No sub chemicals no meth just like the “ludes”.Weed they need to explore!I blame the drug companies.
Yeah, I agree. God gave us all green seed-bearing plants for OUR use. It’s a violation of our freedom of religion to keep pot illegal. Peyote use is allowed in the Native American Church. What the fuck?!
No offense but spare us the religious passages.Beliefs without proof and misguided morals imposed on people by organized religion is the major problem legalization faces.Always has been.
Republic,
More people will respond to a quiet, factual analysis than to religion. I recommend saving the Christianity for your friends and sparing the rest of us when you post. Thank you.
After all, if you wouldn’t torture Christ, why torture us too?
Republic,
Thank you for your post. I find that very helpful and I will bring that up when I speak to my Christian friends about marijuana. After all, including everybody on our team seem most sensible.
Oh yeah, like it’s people who love Gods fault why pot isn’t legal. Not the evil assholes in charge who have no spirituality or religions fault. They just want destruction and are keeping it illegal just to get their only pleasure-evil things happening to others. It’s actually evil people’s faults when bad things happen. Not people who love God and care about themselves. Carry on!
nice one on God and the green plant.i love it when someone can prove a point. What i dont get is all the hoopla about pot. I have seen far worse situations from the real drugs the real problems when there is a plant that can really help people that are sick and not only that arent sick. legalize it and see what happens to this country it will be good
Google us government marijuana patent. They have their own proof cannabis treats a variety of ailments. There are several articles on the subject as well as the wording of the patent. The patent is for the cannabinoids in the plant.
Cannabis use is now allowed as treatment in VA Hospitals:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/27/medical-marijuana-in-va-c_n_660449.html
Cabanas as a class I drug is just one more way for the government to spend billions of taxpayers money. It is easier for my children to get cabanas than alcohol, because they don’t need an ID to get it. These days it seems the US Government is one big sick joke!!!! Over 17 trillion in debt I wonder why?