Pubdate: Sun, 01 Nov 2015
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Michael Haworth

MEDICINAL POT

Regarding "Is pot for sick pets a blissful high - or just bad 
medicine?" (Business, Oct. 25), what we have here is your classic 
catch-22, which centers on this quote from ASPCA medical director 
Tina Wismer: "There have been no scientifically accepted studies 
comparing marijuana products to known pain control medications." The 
reason there've been no studies is because marijuana is still listed 
as a Schedule I drug (along with heroin, LSD, etc.) by the federal 
government, and testing labs are fearful of federal prosecution 
should they get involved.

The reason, according to the feds, that marijuana is still listed as 
a Schedule I drug, is because there's no scientific proof of its 
effectiveness. The catch-22 is we won't test it because it's illegal 
and it's illegal because there's no testing. I have to think the 
pharmaceutical lobbyists are contributing to this stalemate. I mean 
really, why would Big Pharma want an inexpensive medicine that 
patients, if they so choose, can even grow at home? Anecdotally, 
marijuana has been shown to be effective for, among others, nausea, 
migraines, glaucoma, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, multiple 
sclerosis and even arthritis.

Michael Haworth, Vallejo
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom