Since 1996, nine states have legalized medical
marijuana use: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ME, NV, OR, WA. Eight of
the nine did so through the initiative process, while Hawaii's
law was enacted by the legislature and signed by the governor
in 2000.
Source: National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws (NORML), from the web at http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3391,
last accessed Dec. 4, 2002.
The Institute of Medicine's 1999 report on medical marijuana
stated, "The accumulated data indicate a potential therapeutic
value for cannabinoid drugs, particularly for symptoms such
as pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite
stimulation."
Source: Janet E. Joy, Stanley J. Watson, Jr.,
and John A Benson, Jr., "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing
the Science Base," Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral
Research, Institute of Medicine (Washington, DC: National Academy
Press, 1999).
The Institute of Medicine's 1999 report on medical marijuana
examined the question whether the medical use of marijuana would
lead to an increase of marijuana use in the general population
and concluded that, "At this point there are no convincing
data to support this concern. The existing data are consistent
with the idea that this would not be a problem if the medical
use of marijuana were as closely regulated as other medications
with abuse potential." The report also noted that, "this
question is beyond the issues normally considered for medical
uses of drugs, and should not be a factor in evaluating the
therapeutic potential of marijuana or cannabinoids."
Source: Janet E. Joy, Stanley J. Watson, Jr.,
and John A Benson, Jr., "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing
the Science Base," Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral
Research, Institute of Medicine (Washington, DC: National Academy
Press, 1999).
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In the Institute of Medicine's report on medical marijuana,
the researchers examined the physiological risks of using marijuana
and cautioned, "Marijuana is not a completely benign substance.
It is a powerful drug with a variety of effects. However, except
for the harms associated with smoking, the adverse effects of
marijuana use are within the range of effects tolerated for
other medications."
Source: Janet E. Joy, Stanley J. Watson, Jr.,
and John A Benson, Jr., "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing
the Science Base," Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral
Research, Institute of Medicine (Washington, DC: National Academy
Press, 1999).
The Institute of Medicine's 1999 report on medical marijuana
examined the question of whether marijuana could diminish patients'
immune system - an important question when considering marijuana
use by AIDS and cancer patients. The report concluded that,
"the short-term immunosuppressive effects are not well
established but, if they exist, are not likely great enough
to preclude a legitimate medical use."
Source: Janet E. Joy, Stanley J. Watson, Jr.,
and John A Benson, Jr., "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing
the Science Base," Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral
Research, Institute of Medicine (Washington, DC: National Academy
Press, 1999).
In spite of the established medical value of marijuana, doctors
are presently permitted to prescribe cocaine and morphine -
but not marijuana.
Source: The Controlled Substances Act of 1970,
21 U.S.C. §§ 801 et seq.
Organizations that have endorsed medical access to marijuana
include: the Institute of Medicine, the American Academy of
Family Physicians; American Bar Association; American Public
Health Association; American Society of Addiction Medicine;
AIDS Action Council; British Medical Association; California
Academy of Family Physicians; California Legislative Council
for Older Americans; California Medical Association; California
Nurses Association; California Pharmacists Association; California
Society of Addiction Medicine; California-Pacific Annual Conference
of the United Methodist Church; Colorado Nurses Association;
Consumer Reports Magazine; Kaiser Permanente; Lymphoma Foundation
of America; Multiple Sclerosis California Action Network; National
Association of Attorneys General; National Association of People
with AIDS; National Nurses Society on Addictions; New Mexico
Nurses Association; New York State Nurses Association; New England
Journal of Medicine; and Virginia Nurses Association.
A few of the editorial boards that have endorsed medical access
to marijuana include: Boston Globe; Chicago Tribune; Miami Herald;
New York Times; Orange County Register; and USA Today.
Many organizations have favorable positions (e.g., unimpeded
research) on medical marijuana. These groups include: The Institute
of Medicine, The American Cancer Society; American Medical Association;
Australian Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health;
California Medical Association; Federation of American Scientists;
Florida Medical Association; and the National Academy of Sciences.
The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 established five categories,
or "schedules," into which all illicit and prescription
drugs were placed. Marijuana was placed in Schedule I, which
defines the substance as having a high potential for abuse,
no currently accepted medical use in the United States, and
a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
To contrast, over 90 published reports and studies have shown
marijuana has medical efficacy.
Source: The Controlled Substances Act of 1970,
21 U.S.C. §§ 801 et seq.; Common Sense for Drug Policy,
Compendium of Reports, Research and Articles Demonstrating the
Effectiveness of Medical Marijuana, Vol. I & Vol. II (Falls
Church, VA: Common Sense for Drug Policy, March 1997).
The U.S. Penal Code states that any person can be imprisoned
for up to one year for possession of one marijuana cigarette
and imprisoned for up to five years for growing a single marijuana
plant.
Source: The Controlled Substances Act of 1970,
21 U.S.C. §§ 801 et seq.
On September 6, 1988, the Drug Enforcement Administration's
Chief Administrative Law Judge, Francis L. Young, ruled:
"Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically
active substances known....[T]he provisions of the [Controlled
Substances] Act permit and require the transfer of marijuana
from Schedule I to Schedule II. It would be unreasonable, arbitrary
and capricious for the DEA to continue to stand between those
sufferers and the benefits of this substance."
Source: US Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement
Agency, "In the Matter of Marijuana Rescheduling Petition,"
[Docket #86-22] (September 6, 1988), p. 57.
The DEA's Administrative Law Judge, Francis Young concluded:
"In strict medical terms marijuana is far safer than many
foods we commonly consume. For example, eating 10 raw potatoes
can result in a toxic response. By comparison, it is physically
impossible to eat enough marijuana to induce death. 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 the supervised routine of
medical care."
Source: US Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement
Agency, "In the Matter of Marijuana Rescheduling Petition,"
[Docket #86-22], (September 6, 1988), p. 57.
Between 1978 and 1997, 35 states and the District of Columbia
passed legislation recognizing marijuana's medicinal value.
States include: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IA, LA,
MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR,
RI, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, and WI.
For additional research on medical marijuana,
see this excellent analysis of medical marijuana research by
Common Sense for Drug Policy President Kevin B. Zeese and this
update from Common Sense for Drug Policy, as well as the Drug
War Facts section on marijuana.
