Why Does the DEA’s Web Site Matter?
We’ve been updating readers this week about the American Medical Association’s new position on marijuana and the DEA’s response. Last night, the DEA removed a number of AMA-related talking points from its Web site. This may seem like a very small, almost meaningless step, but it’s important to remember how influential the AMA really is.
Striking this language from the DEA’s Web site is a manifestation of something larger and more abstract: the gutting of our opponents’ most effective talking point.
I know everyone reading this blog has sent a letter to their member of Congress and asked for medical marijuana reforms (If you haven’t, you can here), and I’m willing to bet a lot of you have received negative responses. Think back to that response … did it mention the AMA’s opposition? Chances are it did.
When marijuana prohibition was first debated in 1937, one of the first questions was “What is the AMA’s position?” This line of thinking has been pervasive ever since. In every state where MPP has fought for patients, in every congressional office in Washington, and in countless media debates, prohibitionists have used the AMA’s opposition as their flagship talking point. That they can no longer do so is a major development.
18 comments
It matters because that’s where the uneducated people turn to first.
HMS is right. People who don’t know what they are talking about would use the –old– AMA talking points to back them. They no longer have that. Look for MPP & NORML to use that in their debates in the future. Having the AMA on our side just means that we’ll get legal medical for sure… Now to work on regulated legal… That is what we REALLY need. Regulated, legal, cannabis for us all! & Personal growing rights, so we may grow at our homes free from tax; as long as we don’t sell any cannabis like a business would.
I agree Ben, I think the importance of the AMA’s new position has been underestimated by some people in the media. The AMA is not just another collection of doctors; it is the de facto collection of medical experts in our country. I don’t know how many prohibitionists have pointed out the AMA’s previous position to me. I’m making sure to point out this change to them every chance I get.
I whole heartedly agree… I think that as more states decrim. there will be more talk for a federal decrim. or something of that nature. First we must work on the states. MY state, MASS, just decriminalized it last year. Things have been different since then as the police are able to focus on important issues such as underage drinking drunk driving robberies ect. The crime rate in my area has dropped significantly. Please find out how to support decrim. for your state and help make it happen… Also lets try and get a state to regulate it…cali? set the standard for others to follow…help make it happen!….Mr.Nugget
Iowa has a drug czar and they have a web site (http://www.iowa.gov/odcp/). I’ll be checking it tonight to see if anything needs updating. I’ve already sent the AMA recommendation to the Iowa Board of Pharmacy which is considering marijuana rescheduling right now (their report is due in January – http://www.iowa.gov/ibpe/).
mr nugget… massachusetts also is very close to legalizing medical marijuana and they also have full legalization bills in the legislature
The prohibitionist will then go back and start exploiting children again and use them for propaganda.
The children are our strongest argument for legalization. On the shelves and off the streets! A legal, regulated market will protect our children far better than the illegal free for all we have now. Don’t think that’s true? Just look at the numbers for alcohol and tobacco use among teens has dropped since strict age enforcement has become the norm.
A legal, regulated market will protect our children far better than the illegal free for all we have now. Don’t think that’s true?
Sure, we all know that’s true, but that doesn’t stop prohibitionists from trying to intimidate parents by culling up scenarios involving widespread teenage drug use. They have a knack for calling prohibition-related problems “drug-related problems”. And some people buy it.
Our government dont use children for their agenda in just cannabis issues. Just look around. They have used them in trying to pass health care suggesting we let our children die . Thats just on example. Its never about the children,its always been about their agendas.
Congress needs to put the DEA out of business PERIOD! End Nixion’s War on the People. Legalize it!
happy days but we need to all be working harder convince everyone you know your grandparents need to believe. The more each of know to combat ignorance in all facets of our lives, the faster we can reach the final goal of legalization
Just wait until until the institute of medicine jumps on board.
Just to point out the incredible hypocrisy our drug laws show I have to ask:
Why is it that Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabis (Marijuana) is listed as a Schedule 1 non-narcotic (meaning has a high potential for abuse and has no accepted medical value in the United States), yet Marinol (Which is 100% THC) listed as a Schedule 3 non-narcotic (Meaning has less potential for abuse that Schedules 1-2, and has accepted medical value in the United States)? Now, why is Tobacco (which is known to cause cancer and contribute over 400,000 deaths annually) and Alcohol (which is known to be a mind altering substance, and contributes over 80,000 deaths annually) not listed as Schedule 1? I think everyone knows that Tobacco and Alcohol have a high potential for abuse and has no accepted medical value. I would love to hear the DEA, Partnership for a Drug Free America, Drug Free America Foundation, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse answer those two simple questions.
Chris
The government actually funded the research to help develop Marinol, and then they helped quickly push it through the FDA approval process. They did this just as medical marijuana was about to become legal on the federal level.
I believe it was the ONDCP (Drug czars office)
You say the AMA has recommended marijuana’s review is helping get medical marijuana approved. Beware of what they are doing. They said they wanted it reviewed so research can be done to create drugs from cannabinoids. Then they can get those drugs listed as schedule-1, so the big pharma can sell them on every other commercial break, while claiming smoked marijuana should be banned because there are better forms sold at pharmacies. We need to push hard for legalized cannabis now. Both recreational cannabis for use by responsible adults and industrial hemp for strengthening our nation and protecting our planet. This needs to be done before the big pharma gets their greedy hands on it because they want to control it.
Big pharma is going to loose. Not right away but they are already loosing treir grip on this matter. They will keep fighting but we are slowly turning the tide in our favor. Keep tokin and overgrow big bro.
Hey if you guys want to try and help out the cause some more head over to Facebook and become a fan of Chase Community Giving. They are giving out money to charities. Vote for the Marijuana Policy Project and any other groups for marijuana reform posted on there. (Leap and Students for Sensible Drug Policy are on there as well)
Its very pleasing to see that we are gaining ground in the world of medicinal M.J. However, at the end of the day, we, first, whould like M.J. decriminalized, and then further parlayed into an all out legalization, taxable or not, so we may choose to partake in a leisure legal earthly libation. Sure there are hundreds of arguments that we can make towards the pros -vs- cons concerning the consumption of M.J. -vs- alcohol, but who will listen? Where do we go to “sell” this case? Does this argument fall on deaf ears? Is there a bigger picture, i.e; Is there a monetary paralell of M.J. busts and forfeitures tied to the fed, or local government? Forgive me for not being informed, but i am as passionate for change as the rest of you. Just not sure where to start. My email is: juero@rock.com and i reside in Florida.
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