Senator Jeff Sessions has been out of touch with American voters for years, and now, science has called him out on his record on marijuana and the historic drug epidemic. The Alabama senator and former federal prosecutor blames marijuana for violent crime spikes, and has pushed the federal government to pursue the harshest penalties against low-level drug offenders. While his predecessor pushed for lenient sentencing guidelines, Sessions overrode that policy to pursue harsher criminal charges against marijuana offenders.
Jeff Sessions’ letter is a disgrace to the American people, and it disrespects science and the rights of states. The letter appears to be a blatant rejection of the states’ right to decide for themselves whether to legalize medical marijuana. Sessions’ decision may actually worsen the opiate epidemic. It is important to remember that most states have medical marijuana programs in place, including Washington, D.C., and this issue is not just about marijuana and the opiate crisis.
While medical marijuana is a legitimate medicine, it should not be treated like a gateway drug. Opiates are the leading cause of death from overdoses, and removing marijuana from the Schedule I list will not heal the damage caused by the “War on Drugs.”
A survey by the American Society of Clinical Oncology in the spring of 1990 found that forty-four percent of oncologists surveyed in America agreed with the statement affirming the medical efficacy of marijuana. Among those surveyed, three-fourths of respondents were over age 55. The survey showed that the majority of respondents were in favor of legalizing medical marijuana.
The American Medical Association’s new policy urges the federal government to review marijuana’s Schedule I status. Although marijuana has been studied for 30 years, only a small number of controlled trials have been conducted. The New Jersey Legislature passed a medical marijuana bill Monday. But Congress declined to overrule it. This legislation is now likely to change as the stigma surrounding marijuana is reduced.
Senator Jeff Sessions should visit Dr. Mark Wallace’s San Diego clinic and hear from the researchers whose studies show the positive effects of cannabis on opioid addiction and the historic drug epidemic. He should hear from the scientists who are writing papers and books to advance science. This will only help our collective knowledge and prevent further drug abuse. But the US Attorney General has a different idea.
While it is important to follow the laws of your state, the Federal Bureau of Health and Human Services will not review any marijuana research not funded by the federal government. However, the government has already made a step toward legalizing medical marijuana in Massachusetts. It will be interesting to see what happens next, and we can only hope for the best. Just keep in mind that there are some nagging questions that remain.
While it is difficult to measure the impact of these changes, one recent lawsuit by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and others has highlighted the importance of a balanced approach to marijuana legalization. While the Cole Memo has a flaw, it highlights the arrogance of the federal government in believing that it should always stand in primacy over the state level of innovation and medical treatment.
Historically, prohibition of marijuana was a reaction to the Great Depression, which increased racial tensions and a fear of immigrants. Prohibition of the drug fueled a fear of immigrants, and pseudo-research linked its use with crime, violence, and social deviant behaviors. In fact, the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Harry J. Anslinger, claimed that marijuana could cause insanity, criminality, and even death.
As the federal government continues to pursue legalization of marijuana, it is important to understand how the CSA works. The CSA is outdated and needs reform, but the Congress has been stubbornly introducing new bills. Meanwhile, state legislatures have legalized marijuana to varying degrees and have been introducing super lemon haze seeds for sale new legislation to do so. The CSA is in direct conflict with the 10th Amendment, a document that has been ratified as law by Congress. In the end, marijuana legalization should be an option for those with chronic pain or disabilities, and federal health insurance should cover marijuana for these patients.
A legal medical marijuana program is essential for the health of American citizens. But if it is illegal, the medical marijuana industry will continue to grow in the US. States can regulate the production and sale of have a peek at this site marijuana to ensure that it is safe. This would protect patients, their doctors, and the general public. In addition to medical marijuana, cannabis is an enduring solution to the societal problem of opioid addiction.