The people that opposed the medicinal marijuana use were outraged at the message this would send the youth that marijuana is acceptable and ok for them to try. One lady quoted some statistics that said that marijuana usage goes up with the perception that is ok by the greater society, which is interesting considering marijuana has never been perceived as acceptable, so I wonder where she made these figures up from.

Besides, there are greater drug issues, crime, and economic conditions that need to be addressed instead of fighting marijuana legalization in the State of New Jersey.

Opposition aside, this is a major victory for those living in the State of New Jersey that have cancer and a myriad of other infections where their quality of life and appetite can be restored by the use of medicinal marijuana. Now finally maybe the thousands of medical marijuana doctors that support this movement can come out and start practicing like they know is best for their patients. Below is a video from court proceedings.

On Tuesday, November 10th, 2009, the American Medical Association, AMA, shocked the world and gave a ringing endorsement to the medical marijuana by altering their 72 year stance against the drug and it’s benefits to the medical world.

This move shocked most supports of the medical marijuana and those that oppose the legalization of marijuana for any reason. The reason this is so stunning to people is because there were really no signs of warning that this was coming. The AMA, and it’s 250,000 member doctors, have always been consistent in their dismay for the potential use of medical marijuana.

However, give the AMA and their leadership some credit. They are obviously willing to be flexible with the times and have been weight the research that has been pouring in supporting the medical benefits of the marijuana.

However, as of 1997, the AMA has had a strong stance against marijuana and classified it as a Substance I drug that has no medical benefits what’s so ever. Other drugs that share in this category are PCP and LSD, which his a bit harsher than marijuana and might be understandable. To give you some perspective, cocaine and amphetamines have been given Substance II clearance because they have been recognized to have some medical value.

The AMA made it clear that they were not giving an outright endorsement of marijuana and it’s legalization, but simply wants to open the door to more clinical trials and see if more cannabis based drugs can be prepared to help mankind. That is their clear aim with this decision and it is sitting very well with medical and recreational marijuana supporters.

Still the AMA made this statement as well, “This should not be viewed as an endorsement of state-based medical cannabis programs, the legalization of marijuana, or that scientific evidence on the therapeutic use of cannabis meets the current standards for a prescription drug product.” They merely want to open the door for more testing.

President Obama has yet to comment on the issue. But there is clear evidence that he wants to leave the door open for medical marijuana research and study. His administration even ordered Federal law enforcement agencies to stop shutting down medical marijuana clinics and facilities that are following State laws. This was another positive for the marijuana movement.

AMA endorses Medical Marijuana

Overall, this is a positive step for not only medical marijuana users, supporters, and believers, but for marijuana smokers in general. Because you have to figure that if marijuana will ever be legalized in this country, it will start with the legalization of medical marijuana first, then trickle into recreational use as well. At least, we can only hope.

Way to go American Medical Association, AMA, for finally getting on the right side of the medical, medicinal marijuana usage debate!

NORML MISSION STATEMENT

NORML’s mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty.

NORML FIGHT FOR THREE RIGHTS

1) Cannabis for personal use – Responsible adults should have the right to recreational use to cannabis, week, pot, what ever you want to call it. We are adults making decisions that effect our life. So long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else, we are within our right to personal marijuana use.

2) Cannabis for Medical Use - The benefits and positives for medical use are becoming more and more amazing. You can get NORML’s view of the Medical Necessity Defense here. The wonderful thing is their level of detail for the argument and the court cases that are sited. They are serious about the legalization of marijuana and their organization is committed to making it happen.

3) Hemp for Industrial Use - It is amazing how many things can be made from hemp for industrial use. Everything from hemp building materials, rope, concrete, and more can be produced from renewal sources. The hemp actually grows out of the ground and have many use for the people and society. But our narrow mindedness is keeping us from maximizing our opportunities for the greater good.

Why We must Legalize Marijuana?

1) We are Adults – I am not advocating that children are allowed to smoke marijuana, but you got to be kidding me that adults cannot. At 18, we can go to war and smoke cigarettes. At 21, we can drink alcohol that is deadly to the drinker and everyone around them. But at 45, we cannot smoke a joint. That is just ridiculous. Maybe everyone isn’t mature enough to smoke marijuana, but it is not harmful enough to be band. We need to wake up.

2) Medical Marijuana is too valuable – There are people with great illnesses that are suffering because their doctors cannot give the marijuana as an healing agent. This is sickening. The doctors are only able to provide synthetic drugs that the pharmaceutical industries are making billions of dollars off of when the cure lies in a plant that grows naturally in nature and cost dollars to cultivate. Where are our priorities? The people are suffering and the pharmaceutical industries are getting rich in the process. Crazy!

3) Hemp Benefits - The benefits of marijuana, or hemp, are too numerous to mention, but you everything from rope to homes can be built with this substance that is o100% natural and sustainable. Hell, it grows out of the ground and is able to do so much for society and people. Truthfully, it is a crime that this substance isn’t legal and if you had a clue why it became illegal in the first place you would understand the bullshit that is behind all of this.

4) Overcrowding prisons - Our prison system is becoming over crowed with people that are arrested for selling marijuana or having it in their possession. There is a larger moment in the Chicagoland area to decriminalize marijuana so we won’t wast so many of the tax payers resources arresting and chasing people for selling something that isn’t harmful to themselves or anyone around them. 

Sometimes our society is silly when it comes to these laws and old perceptions that we need to be put in a musty headlock for 17 days straight, until common sense returns.

Legalize marijuana today!