Remember the good old days when the FDA actually acted in the better interests of the citizens instead of acting for the interests of the pharmaceutical companies?  That was mostly before all of the “deregulation” and cronyism from the Reagan era forward.  Remember when the FDA kept thalidomide out of the USA when European governments allowed it?  Do you think that would happen today?

It’s very clear that the FDA has become the lapdog of the pharmaceutical industry.  Many former FDA officials now work for pharmaceutical companies.

The pharmaceutical industry is the most profitable industry in the USA.

The American Medical Association was against the criminalization of marijuana during the hearings for the 1934 “Marihuana Tax Act”.  That tax act was spearheaded by H Anslinger, former head of alcohol prohibition enforcement.  Since alcohol was legal again, he needed another demon to prosecute.  The newspapers (mostly owned by Hearst and the wood-pulp paper moguls) gladly went along for the ride, since hemp (the non-drug version of the marijuana plant) was becoming more of a competitor to the wood-pulp fiber industry.  Technological advancements of the time were making it much more economical to extract the fiber from hemp.

How many people who are now dependent on pharmaceuticals would drop them and use marijuana for relief, only if medical marijuana were legal?  My guess is that it would eventually become a large enough number to make a dent in pharmaceutical industry profits.

The criminalization of marijuana has nothing to do with the welfare of the citizens.  It has everything to do with politics, power, profits and discrimination.

Knowledge and truth are our best hope, and right now, it seems like the internet is the best way to spread the word.  You’ll seldom hear any of these facts anywhere else.

I do not understand who does these “studies” but they are either getting “bad stuff” or they are liers.  I am 65 years and I suffer from severe arthritis which cripples me.If I was not able to have a puff of marijuana when I needed it I would not be able to walk or even sleep at night because of violent spasms. When I took the legal vicodine it made me sick and caused havic with my colin. Marijuana enables me to grow my own food, drive a car, and function as a active human being. Alcohol and pain pills are NOT for me . I’ve questioned authority too long to stop now…

Marijuana cannot kill. One would have to smoke several kilos within minutes to overdose on the stuff, so what’s the problem? Alcohol can cause brain damage along with methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine (when abused beyond belief).

Marijuana isn’t a medicine? No, the government wants its’ sheep to rely on them. They don’t want us to be able to “grow” something naturally that can help many ailments. They want us to rely on them for their pharmaceuticals since the pharmaceutical companies are the largest donators to the political parties.

It’s all politics. That’s what it comes down to.

“Biblical Proof” is an oxymoron.  First you have to “prove” the bible…  Cannot do it, because it is based on faith.  “Faith” means you’ve forsaken proof; you already believe without “proof”.

its sad to read an article like this after knowing someone personally who had cancer and was able to get through it after being recommended to get marijuana illegally by a doctor. And it has been proven to help people with glaucoma.

So what you found out that it dosent help…legalize it already

Susan,

“There is proof that praying for a patient actually does less good than not.” ??

I’d like to see the biblical proof of that if you don’t mind.

There’s no global warming either.

The point being that there are many treatments which may do no good. Many take pills which help most people, but can kill them. Should we not use these because it harms others, or doesn’t work for them? There are others which help us without there being anything which should help us…..the placebo effect. If you think it helps, it probably will. As an American, I have the right to use whatever I want. Drinking alcohol causes problems with many, but others can handle it just fine. It helps with many illnesses. Self medication. It is legal. (Wasn’t always. Religious nuts made their morals and will the law in America. Until we overturned it). All substances should be handled the same way. Adults may use anything for anything! Grow up America! Don’t put your morals onto others. If you don’t like Marijuana, don’t use it. If you don’t like drinking, don’t! If you don’t like cigarettes, don’t smoke. If you don’t like sex, don’t have sex.
Nobody is forcing you. Stop trying to force the rest of us to do everything your way!
If I think something will help me, it may. What does it hurt for me to do so?
There is proof that praying for a patient actually does less good than not. Shall we make it a crime to pray?