With the White House’s support of marijuana research, it may be time to start calling it . . . wait, what were talking about? OK, but really, the White House decided on June 22 that the government will eliminate the Public Health Service review requirement, which, in case you were wondering, restricts research into the medical properties of marijuana.
“The Obama Administration has actively supported scientific research on whether marijuana or its components can be safe and effective medicine,” said Drug Czar Spokesperson Mario Moreno Zepeda in an interview with the Huffington Post. “Eliminating the Public Health Service review should help facilitate additional research to advance our understanding of both the adverse effects and potential therapeutic uses for marijuana or its components.”
Several bipartisan group of lawmakers requested that the requirement be lifted. The group consisted of former U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy, who is also the co-founder of Smart Approaches to Marijuana.
The government has had restrictions on marijuana research since 1999. Believe it or not, ganj was once labeled a “dangerous drug.” Now with the lift gone, it may be used to treat cancer or decrease the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.
According to the National Cancer Institute, “the potential benefits of medicinal Cannabis for people living with cancer include antiemetic effects, appetite stimulation, pain relief, and improved sleep.” The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that marijuana may reduce the brain’s triggers of fear and anxiety modulation. Others aren't so quick to hop on the token tokin' bandwagon; rather, some argue that the science behind medical marijuana is inconclusive.
Who's right? Time to relax, White House. Marijuana may be the solution.
