I don't know for a fact that marijuana has any medical benefit. But I do know that thousands of physicians believe it does and that 35 states thus far have approved legislation recognizing the medical benefits of marijuana. So it seems to me the federal government should cease its obsession with pot and move on to more important subjects.
Actually, that's exactly what the Supreme Court said yesterday when it rejected the federal government's appeal that would have outlawed doctors from even mentioning marijuana to patients. In this case, the high court got it right and the Bush administration needs to concentrate on something of a more pressing nature.
Case histories by the millions have apparently convinced the medical community that marijuana does indeed help some patients. Those patients, for example, undergoing chemotherapy report increased appetites from smoking pot. But the feds insist that doctors should ignore this option and refuse to offer any advice that would include medical marijuana.
If the federal government truly believes that the war on drugs should be waged at this level, then we need to replace those in charge. The war on drugs will never work because of countless factors. Until this nation realizes that alcohol is the prime culprit that hampers society, nothing will be accomplished. Look at the harm from meth and crack cocaine and the thousands of legal and illegal pills that plague society. And then scratch your head in disbelief that the feds are waging battle against doctors speaking in favor of the benefits of marijuana.
It's not too often that the Supreme Court gets it right in my opinion. But this time the high court put the feds in their place. Unfortunately those who are paid a hefty salary to wage war against drugs will never accept the court's decision. They will attack this phony issue on another front and keep up that attack until we've bled precious resources away from the real war.
If a collective number of physicians recognize the benefits of medical marijuana, then by all means, allow them to counsel their patients accordingly. To deny them that right is just plain wrong.