Pubdate: Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN)
Copyright: 2014 Star Tribune
Contact: http://www.startribunecompany.com/143
Website: http://www.startribune.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/266
Author: Allyson Childress

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Commissioners Make a Flawed Case Against It

In a March 12 commentary, the commissioners of the Minnesota 
departments of Health, Human Services and Public Safety (Ed Ehlinger, 
Lucinda Jesson and Mona Dohman, respectively) cite the need for more 
research on medical marijuana, but they curiously leave out the 
reason such research is impossible: Marijuana is classified as a 
Schedule I narcotic. This puts it on the same list as heroin and ties 
the hands of researchers who do want to quantify and validate the 
overwhelming anecdotal evidence the authors deem unworthy of consideration.

If the authors truly want more research, they should lobby to have 
marijuana re-listed as Schedule II rather than asking for something 
that can't happen under the current paradigm. I understand why 
regulators want to move with caution, but to leave out this crucial 
information is breathtakingly dishonest.

Allyson Childress, Minneapolis
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom