AMA Sees The Light At The End Of The Joint

I got a press release by e-mail this morning that is most interesting. It says marijuana is a drug. For real.

The American Medical Association (AMA) voted today to reverse its long-held position that marijuana be retained as a Schedule I substance with no medical value. The AMA adopted a report drafted by the AMA Council on Science and Public Health (CSAPH) entitled, "Use of Cannabis for Medicinal Purposes," which affirmed the therapeutic benefits of marijuana and called for further research. The CSAPH report concluded that, "short term controlled trials indicate that smoked cannabis reduces neuropathic pain, improves appetite and caloric intake especially in patients with reduced muscle mass, and may relieve spasticity and pain in patients with multiple sclerosis." Furthermore, the report urges that "the Schedule I status of marijuana be reviewed with the goal of facilitating clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines, and alternate delivery methods."

The change of position by the largest physician-based group in the country was precipitated in part by a resolution adopted in June of 2008 by the Medical Student Section (MSS) of the AMA in support of the reclassification of marijuana's status as a Schedule I substance.

See just like I said. Marijuana is a drug. Medically useful.

Safer than alcohol says this book: Marijuana is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink?

Safer than aspirin says this book: The Science of Marijuana

You can read the rest of the press release at Americans for Safe Access.

They also have some other reading material.

AMA Report Executive Summary [pdf]

AMA Report Recommendations [pdf]

The American College of Physicians - Supporting Research Into The Therapeutic Role Of Marijuana [pdf]

I think the rationales for the War On Pot Smokers are crumbling. The medical angle is just one front. And yes. Medical marijuana was always a stalking horse for legalization. The prohibitionists were right on that one. But they did get one thing wrong. It is not just Cheech and Chong Medicine. It is now AMA Medicine.

Cross Posted at Classical Values