The opinion on the value of medical marijuana has been intensely contested. Some dismiss medical marijuana as a hoax that exploits our natural compassion for the sick and others claim it is a uniquely soothing medicine that has been withheld from patients through regulations based on false claims.
Both factions say they have medical research that supports their stance and have expressed those opinions at the ballot box in recent elections.
The White House ONDCP (Office of National Drug Control Policy) asked the Institute of Medicine to conduct a review of the scientific evidence to assess the potential health benefits and risks of marijuana and its constituent cannabinoids In January of 1997.
That review began in August 1997 and culminates with this summary.
The Office of National Drug Control Policy request came in the wake of state medical marijuana initiatives. Voters in California and Arizona passed referenda designed to permit the use of marijuana as medicine In November 1996.
It took five months for Arizona's referendum to be invalidated, yet the referenda galvanized a national response.
Voters in six states (Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington) passed ballot initiatives in support of medical marijuana in November 1998.
The Colorado vote did not count, however, because after the vote was taken a court ruling determined there had not been enough valid signatures to place the initiative on the ballot.
As of June 1, 2006, Colorado joined the growing list of states with active medical marijuana programs.
The move comes in the wake of last November's voter approval of Amendment 20, the medical marijuana initiative sponsored by Coloradans for Medical Rights and its parent group, California-based Americans for Medical Rights, and after the Colorado legislature passed necessary implementing legislation this spring.
The state registry for medical marijuana patients had sent off 150 applications to patients and received 13 completed application forms as of June 7th. - 15437
Both factions say they have medical research that supports their stance and have expressed those opinions at the ballot box in recent elections.
The White House ONDCP (Office of National Drug Control Policy) asked the Institute of Medicine to conduct a review of the scientific evidence to assess the potential health benefits and risks of marijuana and its constituent cannabinoids In January of 1997.
That review began in August 1997 and culminates with this summary.
The Office of National Drug Control Policy request came in the wake of state medical marijuana initiatives. Voters in California and Arizona passed referenda designed to permit the use of marijuana as medicine In November 1996.
It took five months for Arizona's referendum to be invalidated, yet the referenda galvanized a national response.
Voters in six states (Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington) passed ballot initiatives in support of medical marijuana in November 1998.
The Colorado vote did not count, however, because after the vote was taken a court ruling determined there had not been enough valid signatures to place the initiative on the ballot.
As of June 1, 2006, Colorado joined the growing list of states with active medical marijuana programs.
The move comes in the wake of last November's voter approval of Amendment 20, the medical marijuana initiative sponsored by Coloradans for Medical Rights and its parent group, California-based Americans for Medical Rights, and after the Colorado legislature passed necessary implementing legislation this spring.
The state registry for medical marijuana patients had sent off 150 applications to patients and received 13 completed application forms as of June 7th. - 15437
About the Author:
For more than 30 years, Dr. Julian Reindhurst has studies the medical benefits of marijuana.He authorsa blog that gives the perspective of how marijuana seeds benefited other ancient civilizations. He also has a website site that looks into the medical benefits of the marijuana seed.
