Medical marijuana, or cannabis, was made illegal by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. This act classified marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug indicating that it was highly addictive and had no medicinal value. This law was passed despite accumulating research such as that published in the LaGuardia paper outlining marijuana’s inherent medical uses and safety. Marijuana has kept its Schedule 1 drug classification despite numerous challenges and mounting evidence of its usefulness as medicine.

  1. The Majority of Americans Support Legalization of Therapeutic Cannabis

    Medical cannabis use has been legalized in 29 states and the District of Columbia, and recreational cannabis use is now legal in 8 states. This means that over half of the US population now lives in a state where legal marijuana is obtainable. Opinion polls also show overwhelming support for therapeutic marijuana with over 60% of Americans approving it.

  2. Marijuana is Medicine

    There is documented use of marijuana for medicinal purposes that dates back thousands of years. Modern scientific research has proven many of these medicinal benefits and synthetic THC has been FDA approved in 2 medicines in the United States. These medicines are used for nausea, vomiting, and wasting associated with cancer and AIDS. There is no doubt as to the medeical benefits of cannabis.

    Modern scientific research has proven many of these medicinal benefits and synthetic THC has been FDA approved in 2 medicines in the United States. These medicines are used for nausea, vomiting, and wasting associated with cancer and AIDS.

  3. Legalization Will Boost Research

    Access to medical grade cannabis for research is limited to one institution, The University of Mississippi, that is authorized to grow it. Marijuana researchers have complained that this cannabis is of poor quality and the government bureaucracy has made it notoriously difficult to obtain the medicine and approval for research into the beneficial effects of cannabis. We will be more able to fully understand the medical benefits and potential risks of cannabis with robust research using high grade medicine.

  4. Prevention of Discrimination Against Marijuana Patients

    Continuing to classify marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug allows patients who use it legally as medicine according to state laws to be legally discriminated against when it comes to housing, employment, and education. Studies have not only been conducting validating the medicinal value of cannabis, but also its inherent safety, especially when compared to other medications that have been FDA approved.

  5. Our Military Veterans are Benefiting from It

    Studies have shown that therapeutic cannabis has potential benefit for treating military veterans who suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. Veterans Administration (VA) doctors are not allowed to make recommendations for cannabis therapy because the medication remains illegal under federal law, but they can advise patients about the medicine and its impact on treatment plans.