The slacker protagonists of “Harold &
Kumar Go to White Castle” fail to steal
medical marijuana from a hospital. As
with many other films, this one uses the
drug as a punch line. However, medical
marijuana isn’t a joke to the people who
want it legalized.
This question got more attention last
week when comedian and “Price Is Right”
host Drew Carey appeared in a Reason.
tv video advocating the reclassification
of medical marijuana. (Perfect. Exactly
what the world needs right now is another
celebrity championing a shaky cause.)
Carey isn’t the only one who’s mentioned
marijuana lately. In a December
2007 British GQ interview, California Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger said marijuana is
not a drug, but a plant.
Currently, marijuana is a Schedule I
controlled substance in the U.S. According
to a marijuana brochure from the
National Institute of Drug Abuse, this
means marijuana – at least when smoked
– has no “commonly accepted medical
use.” The brochure was last revised in
August 2007.
Carey’s Reason.tv video can be found
on the Reason Foundation’s Web site.
The video’s press release refers to many
studies extolling the benefits of medical
marijuana. However, those studies are
either not specifically named, or were
published almost 10 years ago.
David Nott, president of the Reason
Foundation, said in the press release
the government is ignoring cancer, HIV
and AIDS patients, and the millions of
sick Americans who “deserve access
to the drugs that ease their pain and
suffering.”
If that’s the case, then where are the
numbers to back up such a statement?
How many people actually rely on marijuana
for legitimate medical purposes?
Although we don’t have those numbers,
we know enough people voted to legalize
medical marijuana in 12 states: Alaska,
California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine,
Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,
Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and
Washington. Legalizing medical marijuana
doesn’t seem like a big deal in Virginia,
so don’t expect us to join those states
anytime soon.
Politicians have been addressing many
medical and scientific issues, such as
better health insurance systems, stem
cell research and stronger mental health
policies. But when you get in line to vote,
remember, medical marijuana won’t be
one of those health issues.
Medical societies and associations such
as the American Cancer Society and the
American Medical Association do not support
the legalization of medical marijuana,
nor do they believe in the drug’s medical
value. However, an AMA statement on
the Drug Enforcement Administration’s
Web site says marijuana should remain a
prohibited, Schedule I substance, “at least
until more research is done.” Let’s just
make sure that research is well-publicized
when it is published.
On second thought, maybe more young
Virginians would come to the polls if legalizing
marijuana became a state issue.