DEA refuses to reclassify marijuana

[heelmanwilm]

so the dea refused two petitions signed by doctors and scientists calling for pot to be reclassified and thereby simplifying testing its medicinal effectiveness. Instead they continue to classify it as a level 1 substance which by definition means it has no medical use and is prone to abuse and addiction. Heroin and cocaine are also class 1. Meanwhile synthetic heroin and methamphetamines are class 2 and can be legally prescribed to minors. Also in other decisions the dea proclaimed the earth is flat, dinosaurs were on the ark, and a chariot pulls the sun across the sky.

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

 

[strummingram]

 

[Raising Heel]

The hangup is with the FDA:

"The FDA drug approval process for evaluating potential medicines has worked effectively in this country for more than 50 years," [acting DEA Administrator Chuck Rosenberg] wrote. "It is a thorough, deliberate and exacting process grounded in science, and properly so, because the safety of our citizens relies on it."

Rosenberg went on to point out that according to the Food and Drug Administration, marijuana "does not have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States."

From a strictly legal standpoint, this is correct. The FDA has never approved whole-plant marijuana as a drug. It's also unlikely to do so, since most drugs the FDA approves of are individual chemical compounds, not plants.

Penicillin is an FDA-approved drug, for instance. The mold it's derived from is not.

I imagine most states will end up subverting the federal law, although the less progressive states will hold out as long as possible.

Just before I saw this poast, I was just reading an interesting article advocating the use of medical marijuana in hospitals. Interestingly, it notes that Maine and Connecticut recently passed legislation allowing patients to be treated with medical marijuana on hospital premises, even if they procure their supply from a third party.

 

[heelbent]

There is no argument anyone can make that will convince me pot should remain illegal. None.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

Recreational legalization is on the ballot in Massachusetts for this November's vote (which would have MA join AK, OR, WA, and CO as states where 21+ year olds can legally buy it).

It had been favored to pass for a long time, but the polls flipped last month and are now showing 51% opposed to legalization. The one f*cking benefit I'd get from living in this uber-liberal state... and they're about to botch it for me.

 

[heelmanwilm]

There is no argument anyone can make that will convince me pot should remain illegal. None.

I agree. Every single "yea but" has been debunked. Its utterly ridiculous. I try to be tolerant of differing opinions and beliefs but i have to say that if someone were to tell me they consider pot to be as dangerous as heroin and cocaine then i would seriously question their intelligence.