Newspaper Article

Weeding out editorial inaccuracies

Shoemaker, Steve, Sharp, Alexander E

2015

Overview

  You write that \"according to a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association, there is a war on science underway in states all across the country, including Illinois, as it relates to the issue of medical marijuana\" and that \"the authors characterize claims that marijuana has vast medical benefits as an illusory pretext.\" In other words, if an individual is suffering from multiple sclerosis, pain from cancer and the side effects of chemotherapy, and other forms of chronic pain, cannabis offers at least \"moderate\" relief. Who among us would not settle for this -- indeed, perhaps find a blessing in such relief? Of course there is. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration blocks research by continuing to classify cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug \"of no medical value,\" more dangerous than Schedule 2 drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Researchers cannot obtain cannabis to conduct their studies. No wonder those who cite the medical value of cannabis look to patients for personal testimony.

• Publisher: News Gazette