Medical Marijuana IS Legalized Marijuana (caduceus art by Dave Bram, Oregon NORML)
Houston, TX (ASA)– The American Medical Association (AMA) voted today to reverse its long-held position that marijuana be retained as a Schedule I substance with no medical value. The AMA adopted a report drafted by its Council on Science and Public Health (CSAPH) entitled, “Use of Cannabis for Medicinal Purposes,” which affirmed the therapeutic benefits of marijuana and called for further research. The CSAPH report concluded that, “short term controlled trials indicate that smoked cannabis reduces neuropathic pain, improves appetite and caloric intake especially in patients with reduced muscle mass, and may relieve spasticity and pain in patients with multiple sclerosis.” Furthermore, the report urges that “the Schedule I status of marijuana be reviewed with the goal of facilitating clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines, and alternate delivery methods.”
The change of position by the largest physician-based group in the country was precipitated in part by a resolution adopted in June of 2008 by the Medical Student Section (MSS) of the AMA in support of the reclassification of marijuana’s status as a Schedule I substance. In the past year, the AMA has considered three resolutions dealing with medical marijuana, which also helped to influence the report and its recommendations. The AMA vote on the report took place in Houston, Texas during the organization’s annual Interim Meeting of the House of Delegates. The last AMA position, adopted 8 years ago, called for maintaining marijuana as a Schedule I substance, with no medical value.
The AMA’s about face on medical marijuana follows an announcement by the Obama Administration in October discouraging U.S. Attorneys from taking enforcement actions in medical marijuana states. In February 2008, a similar resolution was adopted by the American College of Physicians (ACP), the country’s second largest physician group and the largest organization of doctors of internal medicine. The ACP resolution called for an evidence-based review of marijuana’s status as a Schedule I controlled substance to determine whether it should be reclassified to a different schedule.
So does this mean we get a change of heart from Rep. John Boozman, Rep. Dennis Cardoza, House Minority Leader John Boehner, and all the other Politicians on Pot who rely on the old excuse that the American Medical Association says that “crude” marijuana is not medicine?
This is huge. An entire plank in the War on (Certain American Citizens Using Non-Pharmaceutical, Non-Alcoholic, Tobacco-Free) Drugs™ has just crashed and burned. Resistance to medical marijuana from roadblocks governors like John Lynch and Tim Pawlenty and Jodi Rell in New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Connecticut will be more difficult now that nobody can deny that smoked cannabis is medicine. It’s a lot harder politically to veto medicine.
Rescheduling will be interesting. Marinol — a pure 100% Not Your Father’s Woodstock Weed™ dose of THC — was originally entered as Schedule II, but was then moved down to Schedule III. So how do you rate cannabis as any more dangerous than dronabinol pills? Does cannabis end up in Schedule III like anabolic steroids and ketamine (Special K), or does it end up in Schedule IV with Ambien, Xanax, Valium, and rohypnol (Roofies)>
Yeah it could be just like that – a few key changes subtly introduced and when no one really complains they announce one day that they’re just catching federal law up with what’s already legal in the states.
No big fanfare this time just nice and quiet and no controversy. We’ll have to watch for new announcements from the HHS, FDA and DEA. And in the meantime we have to write tons of letters to our legislators and the media!
[...] American Medical Association finally recognizes marijuana as medicine, urges rescheduling [...]
Like all the rest I am happy to see this change from the AMA. However I still have a feeling the prohibitionists will continue to argue against reclassifying but with this piece of news coming out from the AMA what do they have left in their chambers? I think we’re moving closer to victory guys but we must continue fighting for what’s right in this country.
Thanks for giving props’ to Arizona Russ, it’s exactly what blew it for us before. Not sure if we have all the signatures to get on next years vote, but I’m sure we do. I personally told everybody today of this news. This is huge people. Anybody remember the Seinfeld episode when the AMA called Elaine in the middle of the night? Yea thats right. Today they spoke.
From Arizona –
Of course, the knee jerk reaction is that State Laws would still be enforced. But for how long after convictions start getting overturned in appeals?
If it were re-sheduled and doctors could legally prescribe it, couldn’t the prescribe it in ANY state? It’s illegal to have Xanax without a prescription, but perfectly legal if you have a script.
Do I dare hope that I might see it in my lifetime?
No, it doesn’t mean a thing to DEA, NIDA, FDA, or HHS. They will still maintain their status quo, especially DEA, where 50% of their jobs depend on illegal marijuana.
But what it does do is remove that little piece of cover from Blue Dog Dems and Rabid Republicans who hid behind the AMA to voice their hatred of pot, and it provides a new piece of ground for the legislators who were always privately on our side, but afraid to stick their neck out and admit it.
With cannabis moved to a different schedule (which DEA, AG, or Obama can do with a penstroke, no Congressional votes required), states will be free to set their marijuana regulations without fear of interference. Dormant medmj laws like in Arizona that require a “prescription” will now be valid, since doctors can prescribe up to Schedule II. And once human clinical trials start happening and we see more definitive headlines on cannabis’ effect (not just cells in a petri dish or tests on a rat that might maybe perhaps help humans someday), I think the public will feel like they’ve been bamboozled for decades from a safe, cheap, effective means of health care (and we know how the people get enraged over health care.)
This is a huge moment, folks.
We should note that the AMA’s position explicitly mentions it isn’t to be seen as support for the current medical marijuana states:
The Drug Czar is now retreating into the open arms of the FDA.
This is definitely a positive development, however many in Congress are still vocally against the rescheduling of cannabis. The question becomes, “Will this change their minds?”
My own Congressman’s form letter (he’s a blue dog D) includes a statement regarding his opposition to the rescheduling of cannabis.
Set fires in the minds of men and women! Appeal to the best of their principles! I just wish you guys weren’t so dang anxious to tax it, lol!
We’ll take it however we can get it—and it’s about
time.
Drug czar’s job:
PA HHS announced yesterday that they now believe that marijuana has “medical merit”. Isn’t that amazing!
What it all boils down to, is:
Barry has to tell Eric to tell Curly the drug stooge to shut the fuck up with his “marijuana has no medical value” bullshit.
Eric has the power to reclassify it. Just tell that dumb cunt at the DEA to do it, and it’s done.
Otherwise, it literally would take an act of congress, which might actually work, this time…provided they have any regard for the AMA.
The AMA isn’t a government organization – they don’t have any power over the DEA.
So while this undermines the government’s position it doesn’t force them to do anything. They can ignore this evidence just as easily as they ignore all the rest.
A good thing, but will it be enough to convince the DEA or HHS to do something about it? Dozens of credible organizations have endorsed rescheduling with no effect. BTW, I searched and found no reference to the vote to amend AMA policy on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, nor online news sources like Yahoo!. Big surprise.
So does the the AMA tell the DEA how to schedule drugs then? Or do they just give a recomendation, the DEA can still be bungholes and keep Marijuana illegal?
Im so stoked about this, like I said before it feels like the start of the end. This puts the anti-Drugies in a bad spot. The AMA statement was the last truthful talking point in their fight. They have hung on it for years and its always been a huge torn in our butts.
But now OMG, they are crapping themselves over this. They have only lies and misinformation left and that isnt working anymore. How can any of them now say its not medicine when the AMA is the one source they have said makes a it a medicine? They cant have it both ways, they have to say its medicine or everything they have said up till now will be exposed as BS.
For thse first time in a long time I have hope again, a clear goal in mind and the light is right there at the end of the tunnel. Im so happy and I cant wait to see the fall out of this when the report is handed to the DEA.
Though I wonder if anyone knew this was comming? Would make since, we have seen a backlash these last few months, did they know and had to get their last licks in? Wouldnt put it pass any prohibitionest.
Awesome stuff! ..and today Pennsylvania Health and Human Services decided that marijuana has “medical merit”. What’s with that?!!
Has the HHS been told to quietly introduce rescheduling to the country? Will legalization be brought in silently and without fanfare. Maybe President Obama has already set the wheels in motion.
Well F*ck me runnin’… First of all, I couldn’t sit still while reading it, then when I did, I told my girlfriend (non consumer but a non-prohibitionist) and she figured “f*ck… if they want to re-classify then it ‘really isn’t that bad’ is it?” Another victory against the war on weefer.
Wow. This IS huge!! I’d say this is one to watch. That event will be the ‘mark’ in history’ that leads to global change. I can completely see this creating a chain of events like watching domnioes fall.
Just thinking about the end of prohibition… Wow. Hope seems a bit brighter!
BRING IT !!!!!!!!
And if you don’t know, know you know
God bless America.
