A profound shift in the federal government’s stance on cannabis was marked by subtle changes made this month to one webpage. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, now has a webpage titled Marijuana as Medicine. Prior to March 2017, it was titled Is Marijuana Medicine?
Apparently, they feel the question has been answered. The timing of NIDA’s update is very curious, as there are signs from the Trump administration that a crackdown may be coming on states’ cannabis legalization progress made over the last few years.
The Department of Justice is now headed by rabid prohibitionist Jeff Sessions, who cites falsehoods and Reefer Madness propaganda when discussing cannabis. Only a few days ago, Sessions said cannabis “is slightly less awful” than heroin – a mind-boggling display of ignorance. Trump chose to keep Chuck Rosenberg as head of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), who said medical cannabis is “a joke” and oversaw the department’s decision to keep the plant as a Schedule 1 drug with “no medicinal use.”
Perhaps this stunning level of denial – in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence of cannabis’ ability to treat a variety of ailments – prompted NIDA to make their change. Twenty-eight states have legalized medical cannabis in some way, eight more have legalized its recreational use, and more states are set to join the list. They aren’t doing this on a whim; decriminalizing medical use is an acknowledgment of cannabis’ power as medicine.
In 2015, the federal government unwittingly admitted cannabis is medicine in 2015 when the National Cancer Institute supported a study finding that cannabis kills cancer cells. Now, with the revised webpage title, NIDA appears to have moved beyond a reasonable doubt.
The term medical marijuana refers to using the whole, unprocessed marijuana plant or its basic extracts to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not recognized or approved the marijuana plant as medicine.
However, scientific study of the chemicals in marijuana, called cannabinoids, has led to two FDA-approved medications that contain cannabinoid chemicals in pill form. Continued research may lead to more medications.
Because the marijuana plant contains chemicals that may help treat a range of illnesses and symptoms, many people argue that it should be legal for medical purposes. In fact, a growing number of states have legalized marijuana for medical use.
The webpage now has an informational box on CBD and Childhood Epilepsy. This is a rather dramatic inclusion, as cannabidiol (CBD) has become a very promising treatment for childhood epilepsy. At the Dec. 2015 meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, the largest study presented there confirmed the astounding benefits of medical cannabis to treat seizures.
There is now a better explanation of cannabinoids, making a distinction between those naturally derived from the plant and those manufactured in a lab. NIDA also acknowledges the “state-approved medicinal use of marijuana,” and says “continued research [on cannabinoids] might lead to more medications.”
Indeed, we are only just beginning to unlock the secrets of the body’s endocannabinoid system, and using cannabis to stimulate this system for relieving inflammation which is thought to be the cause of many diseases.
Interestingly, the NIDA update also removed a link to WhiteHouse.gov regarding state laws, because the Trump administration removed the White House page explaining state cannabis laws. It appears that talk of respecting states’ rights may be just another Trump lie.
Kudos to NIDA for taking a step in the right direction and being the first federal entity to explicitly acknowledge cannabis as medicine.
Justin Gardner writes for TheFreeThoughtProject.com, where this article first appeared.
Image Credit: TheAntiMedia.org
The DEA, ATF, FBI,CIA, DHS, TSA all thrive on drugs and guns for drugs.
They should declare war on vile pedophiles.
suggested reads: ‘Barry and the Boys’ Dennis Hopsicker, hint: Mena , Arkansas airport ad duffel bags, poor ol’ Barry…rip.
‘The Committee of 300’ John D.Coleman, hint: the Royals have owned the drug routes for hundreds of years.
Trump is truly an enigma. He campaigns on draining-the-swamp, then he frequently surrounds himself with fools, neo-criminals and Wall Street criminals.
A continuation of the drug war is not just insanity, it really is a crime against our electorate and our Constitution. This crime is made all the worse by elements of fedgov and the military being directly involved in worldwide drug smuggling and guarding poppy fields overseas.
What we need is a national “war-on-the-CIA” until they no longer exist.
As for the federal government condoning marijuana, let me point this out: They still want to play the game, “All animals are created equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
One can SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL: Cannabis, given to ALL freely by Creator, being snipped into chemicals, patented, owned, and RX sold to people who should be able to have it THEIR WAY.
Spot on. The cannabis plant won’t be readily accessible to the average person for medicinal or recreational purposes anytime soon. It will be tightly controlled by the pharmaceutical industry and those in government with investments in the newly permitted venture.
The isolated so-called active constituents that may be altered or even replicated synthetically will be granted to the public at a nice profit.
Yep – and you can bet it will cost a pretty penny, instead of being free as Mother Earth gave it to us. Sigh…………l
had a friend in CT buy an once, it was 400, , but it’s the butter and other things that will pick your pocket heavy.
maine, you can grow up to 20 plants, Alaska can also grow but I do not know how many. if you take a good look at who runs the states, most likely, all democrats, as they spent so much money that they had to fix the budgets. sickening that they can spend and then legalize something they declared illegal 3 years ago.
Am Mark Donald very grateful for medical marijuana association authorities for voting and alleging me as the best helpful Doctor , so for any inquiries or help of getting any of your Medical license ,Medicine,weeds, seeds, thc/cbd oil , medical marijuana Cards and so on do fast to get to me via email address ( [email protected] ) and contact number (313) 923-7690
I have been using Dr mark Donald THC/CBD cannabis oil in treating my sister’s rare form of left hand side breast cancer with a lot of improvement since 3 weeks and the oil is working in a miraculous way beyond our expectations. The medication is working with super proof though she is always euphoric with THC potency, but the medication is working miraculously. She is a Mother of 3 wonderful kids. i only text Dr Mark on his number (313) 923-7690 OR Email address ([email protected]) .
It’s a very sad situation indeed to hear Patients in need of their Meds
cry for help and you hesitate to act, so it good to link them to the
right source. I hate physical contacts with dealers because i don’t
really know who there are,i prefer ordering online and having it
discretely overnight delivered to my desired address. Fortunately and
gladfully for me i found this man Called Dr Mark Donald from where i have
been ordering now for the past 2 years and he have never failed me in
any terms of his quality and timely delivery . So i vouch on everyone on
here to go for him, Contact him via email: [email protected] /
Phone number (313) 923-7690 .
here are Dr Mark Donald details he did it to me today in a grand style here in MO email [email protected] / call or text (313) 923-7690
“It appears that talk of respecting states’ rights may be just another Trump lie.”
Such a shame you had to ruin an otherwise generally good article with the lame gratuitous swipe at Trump. I guess the author must have missed the recent favorable statements by Sessions regarding the Cole Memorandum and how DOJ plans to largely abide by that and mostly leave the states’ regulatory schemes alone due to the substantial policing that would entail.
sessions I believe has other idea’s. he doesn’t like the thought of rec. pot, and it will come out on april 20th of what will be done I believe, a lot of stocks are suppose to take off for pot, we will see.
I should check out the spray as I have spinal stenosis, had cervical work done and they left a piece of bone they couldn’t get slightly push against the canal. still walking. my legs go nut so sometimes, this might help. thanks
Am Mark Donald very grateful for medical marijuana association authorities for voting and alleging me as the best helpful Doctor , so for any inquiries or help of getting any of your Medical license ,Medicine,weeds, seeds, thc/cbd oil , medical marijuana Cards and so on do fast to get to me via email address ( [email protected] ) and contact number (313) 923-7690
Best helpful Doctor so far,Dr Mark Donald,for your inquiries or help of getting any of your Medicine, weeds , seeds, thc/cbd oil , medical marijuana Cards,medical/recreational marijuana ,cannabis oil ,medical prescription/cards and other related products do fast to get to Dr via email address ( [email protected] ) and contact number (313) 923-7690 .
i suffer from several pains and anxiety just got my order at my
home address now am very happy will rule with you for the future Thanks
again Dr mark Donald .Get him out and benefit from his good services via # 313- 923-7690
fibromyalgia, crps/rsd,carpel tunnel in both wrists, tendonitis, chronic migraine. mj has been effective in controlling my pain, spasms, tension and ive even had a slight improvement of my depression BECAUSE much of my depression is because of the medications i was taking AND the new limitations, changes in capabilities and problems that my body has brought on.All these thanks to Dr Mark Donald for providing me with CBD/low THC Cannabis Oil ratio 2 : 1(10): 3-4 puffs per day .Get to him via his number 313- 923-7690
I was referred to him an expert in both medical and recreational marijuana and byproducts(THC, CBD oils, wax very good strains, seeds ,medical marijuana card etc). I placed an order and it arrived before i even new it. My health has improved remarkably all thanks to this good Dr. and also thanks to him, i’m able to grow my own plants from seed i got from him.Please for all your inquiries contact him via or you can call or text +1(313) 923-7690 and experience first hand quality of his products and services.+1(313) 923-7690
I just benefited from Dr Mark services his Cannabis Oil in Capsule treat my Skin Cancer, i get on him via his #(313) 923-7690 .
i have been suffering from back pains and anxiety for 8 year now , i have tried all types of pain relief pills to no avail . A friend of my did some research about medical marijuana online and directed me to contact Dr Mark Donald via #(313) 923-7690 $ EMAIL ADDRESS : ( [email protected] ) which i read through his articles online and decided to give him a try,place my order with him,provided him my State Texas and delivery address to my surprise i got their delivery man in my home with my parcel, today am happy and to say am now pain free
Am so impressed on Dr Mark Donald i just got my meds comes in today go for him his the one to be trusted on here Phone # (313) 923-7690 .
i try him out too just to discover his high potent THC/CBD Oil is the best for my Tumor and brain cancer .
Jaqie Angel Warrior is my two-year old who has suffered from multiple types of seizures since she was five months old. Dozens of medications, including Depakote and klonopin, failed to control the thousands of seizures and caused terrible side effects.Looking for other options,i Pamala ,Jaqie’s mother discovered the potential of cannabis oil from Dr Mark Donald. where i began using it on my daughter high-CBD oil, which also contains THC levels higher than any state’s CBD-only bill currently allows.Most children need some significant quantity of THC to see transformational results. With cannabis, Jaqie’s seizures have reduced by over 90% and she has ceased use of dangerous pharmaceuticals.THANK DR MARK DONALD FOR BRING MY DAUGHTER BACK ON A GOOD HEALTH CONDITION I WILL ALWAYS LET THE WORLD KNOW’S ABOUT YOU DR .Phone # (313) 923-7690 .