Pubdate: Mon, 04 Jul 2011 Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle (MT) Copyright: 2011 The Bozeman Daily Chronicle Contact: http://bozemandailychronicle.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1686 Author: Michael J. Smith POT DOESN'T QUALIFY AS SCHEDULE 1 DRUG "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Some might argue that the U.S. Constitution delegates powers to the feds to arrest medical marijuana providers because of the schedule 1 status of cannabis in the Controlled Substance Act. However, the CSA's schedule 1 requirements are: "1) Schedule I. A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse. B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision." Clearly, cannabis doesn't qualify on B and C, and the Merck Medical Manual of Diagnosis and Treatment clearly states that cannabis is not physically addictive, so it doesn't meet criteria for A either. Conclusion: The power to regulate medical marijuana is not delegated to the federal government because it does not meet their own criteria to be a schedule 1 drug. Therefore, they have no power to regulate it and must reclassify or remove it from the list. Isn't it ironic that tobacco meets all three criteria of the CSA Schedule 1, and yet, tobacco companies are instrumental in preventing the consumption of the non-addictive, medically safe and effective cannabis (visualize outstretched politicians' hands)? Meanwhile, tobacco, which clearly meets all three criteria of a schedule 1 drug -- A) highly physically addictive, B) no medical use, C) not safe even when used under the directions of a physician and in fact proven to cause cancer -- is legal, sold for a hefty profit. When is the fed going to arrest big tobacco? Anyone listening out there? Michael J. Smith, executive director The Healing Center Montana, Montana Help Farmers, Bozeman - --- MAP posted-by: Matt