Medical marijuana would be a great idea, but …

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article belong solely to the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Fresh Toast.

Mahatma Gandhi was once asked, “What do you think of Western civilization?” He replied, “I think it would be a good idea.”

Today we may have to say the same thing about medical marijuana. Though 90% of Americans support this, the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports that the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Advisory Board recently rejected petitions seeking approval of “medical marijuana for the treatment of traumatic brain injuries, hepatitis, hepatitis C, chronic insomnia, and severe depressive disorders Disorder that does not respond to other treatments. “

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The Tribune-Democrat states, “The 367,925 active medical marijuana patients in Pennsylvania were all diagnosed with one or more of 23 serious illnesses, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, anxiety disorder, cancer, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid use disorder, and chronic pain.

“The general practitioner Dr. Denise Johnson said board members were concerned that the traumatic brain injury, hepatitis and hepatitis C motions were too broad and would have allowed people to qualify for medical marijuana cards if it were inappropriate. The chamber was concerned that adolescents might qualify for medical marijuana if they suffer acute traumatic brain injuries. Johnson said there was evidence that medical marijuana could benefit patients with chronic hepatitis and chronic hepatitis C, but board members felt it was inappropriate to allow medical marijuana for people who have had acute cases of hepatitis … “

One of the most insincere arguments used by prohibitionists against medical marijuana initiatives was that “we don’t vote on drugs”.

That is of course true in the truest sense of the word. The FDA purportedly evaluates proposed pharmaceutical industry products to determine whether they are safe and effective. It is an enormously expensive process that only works because the pharmaceutical companies have patents on the future drugs.

SEE: FDA approves expensive Alzheimer’s drug and continues to ignore cannabis

However, the medical marijuana initiatives were actually votes on criminal law, which is certainly a popular jurisdiction. Sick people were unwilling to die of pain or live with their heads in toilets while the police and politicians lied to them … and about them.

SEE: Do the sick die just to legalize marijuana for the healthy?

Of course, when patients no longer had to live in fear of arrest and speak about it publicly, it became impossible to convince the American people that the system was protecting the public, let alone the patients.

Photo by Denise Hasse / EyeEm / Getty Images

It is especially ironic that Pennsylvania, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were written, is now depriving sick and dying Americans of the right to use a plant that was widely grown by the authors of these founding documents.

It would be easy – but pointless – to attack the hubris of this body. Unfortunately, they are simply a manifestation of the utter failure of our medical system, which I call the “Quackocracy,” dominated by the American Medical Associations, including state franchisees who are still actively speaking out against state medical marijuana initiatives, including, most recently, in Mississippi!

SEE: The individual courage and collective cowardice of the medical profession

This arrogance is actually a key argument in favor of the full legalization of “recreational” marijuana. Yes, there may be a difference between medicinal and recreational use, but that is clearly not a decision we can leave to governments that have lied to us for generations.

In theory … it should be possible to regulate cannabis and cannabinoids in a way that “protects” the public, but the federal government – with no objection to quackery – has long blocked research on cannabis and still shows no interest in possible treatments for it any diseases, including for COVID during the pandemic.

SEE: Why Is Cannabis Not Prescribed For COVID Survivors?

Hundreds of thousands of Americans have died – and more are dying every day – because people don’t believe the medical establishment. The medical establishment has and continues to gamble away its credibility in the drug war.

Yes, the truth would set us free. “I think it would be a good idea.”

Richard Cowan is a former NORML National Director and author of CBD Wax and Its Benefits.