Reefer Madness Essay

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Over the last two decades or so, the use of cannabis as medicine in the United States has been a quite controversial topic. Eighteen states, as well as Washington D.C., have all legalized the use of medicinal marijuana. On the other hand, marijuana still remains a Schedule I controlled substance under the DEA’s “Controlled Substances Act of 1970”, making it illegal on the federal level. The Controlled Substances Act states that marijuana, as a Schedule I controlled substance, has a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and lacks accepted safety for use under medical supervision. Being that nearly forty percent of our nation has accepted and legalized marijuana as medicine, such conclusions that marijuana has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States are clearly outdated and in need of revision. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 lists cocaine, opium, and amphetamine as schedule II controlled substances, implying that they have currently accepted medical use in treatment in the united states, and potential for abuse less than that of marijuana. Such heavy enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 has made experimentation for medicinal use ridiculously hard to gain clearance and also created a massive black market for the growth and distribution of this nation’s largest cash crop. The first and most obvious point that needs revision is the marijuana’s accepted medical use. The DEA has said there isn’t enough evidence proving that marijuana treatment is a safe and effective treatment. Yet, according to ProCon.org, “Schedule I limits research access to marijuana while the Institute of Medicine, and the American Medical Association (among others) call for increased marijuana research. (3)” Another loophole the medical marijuana industry is left to face, much like the fact that legality of medicinal use is decided by the state, but ultimately a federal offense. Researcher Bob Grant claims “bio-medical researchers who would like to study cannabis in a medical setting are frustrated by the challenges of obtaining government clearance and funding. (1)” Though when given the opportunity, the majority of the research has proven true the medicinal qualities of smoked marijuana. Marijuana was originally more commonly used for HIV and cancer patients to counteract symptoms experienced with treatment (such as loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting experienced by chemotherapy patients). Though recent studies have proven more medicinal benefits for those using marijuana. “With funding from the University of California Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR), researchers published studies in 2007, 2008, and 2009 that all suggested smoked cannabis possessed analgesic properties. (Grant 1)” The research is there, proving marijuana’s medicinal qualities; the DEA is just too stubborn to take any such evidence into consideration for revising the controlled substances act.
According to testimony from DEA attorney Lena Watkins, fifteen studies pertaining to the medicinal value of marijuana which adhere to ‘specific federal quality’ standards have been conducted, but ‘we don’t have the final results yet’. (Cannabis Times 1)

The DEA clearly has no intention of changing their stand on marijuana, despite all of the evidence clearly disproving the DEA’s theories against medical marijuana. Thankfully, not everyone tied to the DEA is as stubborn and narrow sighted as the majority. For instance: DEA Administrative Law Judge, Francis Young, recommended in his Sep. 6, 1988 ruling “In the Matter of Marijuana Rescheduling Petition” that marijuana be moved to Schedule II. In his decision he wrote: “marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. By any measure of rational analysis marijuana can be safely used within a supervised routine of medical care. (ProCon 3)

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