Pubdate: Sat, 16 May 2009
Source: Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, CA)
Copyright: 2009 Appeal-Democrat
Contact: 
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/sections/services/forms/editorletter.php
Website: http://www.appeal-democrat.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1343
Author: Ralph Givens

END ARGUMENTS OVER MEDICAL POT

It is a misconception that the DEA  must approve marijuana before it 
can be legally used for medical purposes under federal law. Removing 
marijuana from Schedule I status only requires recognition that the 
drug has "currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United 
States." Fourteen states with hundreds of physicians and thousands of 
patients using marijuana provides the "currently accepted medical use 
in treatment in the United States"  needed to remove cannabis from 
Schedule I so it can be legally prescribed in the United States.

Establishing the medical value of marijuana is not needed to put 
cannabis back into the U.S. pharmacopoeia. The efficacy of marijuana 
is legally  irrelevant to whether cannabis can be used as a medicine. 
Because  marijuana has never caused a death in recorded history there 
is no lack of "accepted safety for use of the [cannabis] ... under 
medical supervision" and there is no need for extensive testing 
before allowing medical use.

With 14 states allowing medical marijuana and more on the way there 
can no longer be any argument that marijuana should stay in Schedule 
I because pot has "accepted medical use."  (see: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_Substances_Act#Schedules_of_controlled_substances)

Ralph Givens

Daly City
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom