Pubdate: Mon, 11 Jul 2016
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2016 The Boston Herald, Inc
Contact:  http://www.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Note: Prints only very short LTEs.

GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE ON IF POT HAS MEDICAL USE

WASHINGTON - The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 put marijuana in 
the category of the nation's most dangerous drugs, along with LSD, 
heroin and mescaline.

That law might soon change. Suspense is mounting after the U.S. Drug 
Enforcement Administration missed its self-imposed June 30 deadline 
to decide whether to reschedule the drug and recognize its potential 
therapeutic value. Twenty-six states already have legalized its medical use.

In 2011, Christine Gregoire, the former Democratic governor of 
Washington state, and Republican Lincoln Chafee, then the governor of 
Rhode Island, filed a 106-page petition with the DEA, arguing that 
the categorization of marijuana was "fundamentally wrong and should 
be changed." With the Obama administration adopting a policy to "just 
look the other way" in states with recreational marijuana, Gregoire 
said it would be hard for the DEA to justify keeping marijuana on the 
Schedule 1 list.

A move to reschedule marijuana could pave the way for pharmacies to 
fill marijuana prescriptions and allow universities and others to 
conduct more medical research. Many pot entrepreneurs hope that 
Congress will allow marijuana businesses to deduct their expenses 
from their federal taxes and have access to banks.

- - TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
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