Pubdate: Wed, 26 Dec 2012
Source: Metrowest Daily News (MA)
Copyright: 2012 MetroWest Daily News
Contact:  http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/619

A NEW CLASSIFICATION FOR MARIJUANA

Last month, Massachusetts joined 17 other states in legalizing the use
of marijuana for medical purposes, acting on a large body of evidence 
scientific and anecdotal  that it is useful in treating a wide range
of illnesses. Even some who led the opposition to the ballot question
agreed marijuana has legitimate medical applications.

That puts the state not only in opposition to federal law, which
considers possession of marijuana for any purpose a criminal offense,
it presents a conflict on a matter of fact. For 40 years, marijuana
has been classified as a Schedule I drug, which is defined as having
no medical application.

Schedule I puts this relatively benign and often beneficial drug in
unpleasant company. Other Schedule I drugs include heroin, LSD and
PCP. Schedule II drugs, which can be prescribed by physicians, include
cocaine, amphetamines and other drugs far more addictive and dangerous
than cannabis.

Marijuana's Schedule I classification has hindered research into
marijuana's medical applications and forced patients suffering from
AIDS wasting syndrome, the side effects of cancer treatment and
extreme pain to street dealers for relief. It is unnecessary,
unjustified by scientific research and cruel. And President Barack
Obama could fix it.

A flaw in the 1970 Controlled Substances Act made the Drug Enforcement
Agency responsible for maintaining the classification system. The DEA
is not a medical review panel; it is a law enforcement agency with an
institutional bias toward prohibition. Over the years, it has rejected
a series of petitions seeking to have marijuana reclassified. The
latest rejection is now being challenged in federal court.

But the DEA is also answerable to the Justice Department, which is
answerable to the president. Obama could order Attorney General Eric
Holder to have DEA hold an evidentiary hearing - it has resisted even
that - to give experts a chance to testify on marijuana's health
benefits. If marijuana is approved for rescheduling  preferably at
level III, IV or V  the DEA would have to license companies to produce
and distribute pharmaceutical marijuana, and that might take some
time. But a dozen states already have a head start.

Rescheduling marijuana wouldn't solve the feds' other problem.
Washington and Colorado have just legalized marijuana for recreational
use, and more states are likely to follow. The Obama administration
ought to respect states' rights and public opinion and put its limited
drug enforcement resources elsewhere.

The people are well ahead of the politicians when it comes to drug
policy, and it may take awhile for Congress to catch up. But there's
no political risk in following the statutory prescription for
reclassifying marijuana more appropriately, and at least removing the
contradiction between federal and state laws governing medical pot.

In his first inaugural address, Obama declared that his administration
would be guided by science. Here's a chance to prove it.
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MAP posted-by: Matt