Video: Police Detain Blogger in Subway Station for Taking Photos
Stadium to the Sea: LA Marathon Releases 2010 Course Map
LAist Interview: Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe
A Buttermilk Truck Sneak Peek: Red Velvet Pancakes, Hawaiian Bread French Toast & More...
Memorable SuperClásico Playoff Finale for L.A. Soccer Fans
One year ago, Los Angeles County received the distinction of being number one in the nation for the amount of medical marijuana dispensaries in the country, with close to 50 in operation.
Recently, picking up your prescribed pot got theoretically easier with the launching of the world's first marijuana vending machines here in the City of Angels, which is causing international waves from objectors who cast doubt on the therapeutic validity of the Schedule 1 drug.
Now, the country's largest organization of doctors and internal medicine, The American College of Physicians (ACP) has released a position paper calling for an easement federal law regarding the classification and distribution of pot for medical purposes.
The paper asks for "protection of both doctors and patients from criminal and civil penalties in states that have adopted medical-marijuana laws," according to today's LA Times.
Although 12 states, including California, have legalized marijuana, federal law still dominates, and DEA raids continue to take place on local dispensaries, like the one LAist photographed in July 2007.
The ACP claims their scientific research smashes the commonly held beliefs that marijuana is ineffective medically, and that the mainstream medical community shuns its use. Furthermore, they endorse "the use of non-smoked forms of cannabis as well as further research to identify the illnesses best treated with cannabis and the proper dosages for specific conditions."
They are urging that the drug be dropped from its ranking as a Schedule 1 drug, and state in their paper that they believe "the science on medical marijuana should not be obscured or hindered by the debate surrounding the legalization of marijuana for general use."
The government, however, is expected to remain unconvinced, and unresponsive. While the country's most respected medical collective, the American Medical Association (AMA), continues to ask for more research, they do not support the declassification of marijuana; the ACP hopes to persuade the AMA otherwise. They also hope to put pressure on the government--particularly now, when all eyes are on the politicians who are positioned to assume the White House, and bring about change.
Photo of a streetlight in Bogota by aforero via Flickr
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
"The government, however, is expected to remain unconvinced, and unresponsive."
Yep, and I wouldn't expect that to change for another 339 days, 12 hours, two minutes, and 32 seconds.