Eighty percent of Americans think adults should be able to use cannabis legally for medical purposes.
In spite of the established medical value of cannabis, doctors are currently permitted to prescribe cocaine and morphine – but not cannabis.
The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 established five categories, or “schedules,” into which all illicit and prescription drugs were to be placed, depending on their dangers and benefits. Cannabis was placed in Schedule I, with the toughest restrictions, without relying on scientific studies.
Organizations that have endorsed medical access to cannabis include:
The Institute of Medicine
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Bar Association
American Public Health Association
American Society of Addiction Medicine
AIDS Action Council
California Academy of Family Physicians
California Medical Association
California Nurses Association
California Pharmacists Association
California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church
Consumer Reports magazine
Kaiser Permanente
The American Union of Hebrew Congregations
Under the federal Controlled Substances Act, any person can be imprisoned for up to one year for possession of one cannabis cigarette, and imprisoned for up to five years for growing a single cannabis plant, regardless of whether it is for medical use.
This article appears in December 10 • 2004.