Newly appointed US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy believes that cannabis possesses therapeutic utility — an acknowledgment that contradicts the plant’s present placement as a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. Speaking to CBS News, Murthy said: “We have some preliminary data showing that for certain medical conditions and symptoms that marijuana can be helpful.” He added, “I think we have to use that data to drive policy making and I’m very interested to see where that data takes us.”

SCIENCE

Study: History Of Cannabis Use Associated With Reduced Cancer Risk

by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director
Posted on February 3, 2015June 22, 2022

Cannabis use is inversely associated with incidences of bladder cancer in males, according epidemiological findings published in the February issue of the journal Urology. “After adjusting for age, race or ethnicity, and body mass index, using tobacco only was associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer (hazard regression 1.52) whereas cannabis use was only associated with a 45 percent reduction in bladder cancer incidence (HR 0.55),” investigators reported.

Activism

Take Action on Marijuana Law Reform in 2015

by Erik Altieri, Former NORML Executive Director
Posted on February 3, 2015June 22, 2022

As we get further into 2015, state legislatures are convening all around the country and…

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Cannabis Sniffing Canines Needed No More

by Allen St. Pierre, Former NORML Executive Director
Posted on February 2, 2015June 22, 2022

Alaska and Oregon, where marijuana is now legal, canceling the use (and expense) of maintaining and employing cannabis sniffing canines.

Activism

Voters Have Spoken, But Drug Warriors Aren’t Listening

by Keith Stroup, NORML Legal Counsel
Posted on February 2, 2015June 22, 2022

The drug warriors — led principally by law enforcement and their handmaidens in the state…

GOVERNMENT

American Academy of Pediatrics Calls For Rescheduling Cannabis

by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director
Posted on January 26, 2015June 22, 2022

An updated policy statement issued today by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) calls for the rescheduling of the cannabis plant under federal law to better facilitate clinical trial research and to promote the plant’s eventual pharmaceutical development.