FDA Says No to Medical Marijuana

[Savaric]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,192580,00.html

I'm not an activist for the legalization of marijuana, but I think the facts the government would have us believe on it are bull.

"The statement contradicts a 1999 finding from the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, which reported that "marijuana's active components are potentially effective in treating pain, nausea, the anorexia of AIDS wasting and other symptoms, and should be tested rigorously in clinical trials."

So it has potential uses but they do not want to explore them.

"If anybody needed proof that the FDA has become totally politicized, this is it. This isn't a scientific statement; it's a political statement."

I think this is what it's really about. So why is Uncle Sam so adamant on pot? Is it a mindset or is there something cleverly hidden here? As always I'm positive it has something to do with money and, in this case, prescription drugs. I'm sure growing a plant is way cheaper than what some of those scripts cost to produce (the drugs marijuana may possibly replace).

[kestra]

Anybody can grow weed, not everybody has a pharmaceutical degree to produce and sell drugs to the masses at record breaking profits.
Pot is demonized as the gateway drug.

[Gillan]

I think it's just one of those things. Pot has some pretty nasty side effects, no one can argue that it doesn't. However, with that being said people are allowed to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes.

[kestra]

I'm no scientist, pharmacist, or herbal expert, but I'd wager the short term effects and benefits of smoking weed fair much better than expensive prescriptions.

[Gillan]

If by short term benefit you mean that the person experiences a state of euphoria, tingling, lack of pain, etc... then yes.

But there is also the fact that pot smokers are breathing in unfiltered poison that can have an even more harmful effect than those that smoke cigs.

[kestra]

one side effect or another.....I'd choose the weed every time. Cheaper too!!

[Gillan]

Is that because of addiction or simply inability to afford medical coverage that would provide medicine required for recovery?

[kestra]

neither. It'd be a personal choice.