AMA Ends 72-Year Policy, Says Marijuana has Medical Benefits

[laughingwillow]

Great move by the AMA, imo. Removing this plant from Schedule 1 is a BIG step in the right direction. Sentencing guidelines should automatically mean decreased penalties for use and possession.  

http://www.opposingviews.com/articles/o ... 1257871699

HOUSTON --- The American Medical Association (AMA) voted today to reverse its long-held position that marijuana be retained as a Schedule I substance with no medical value. The AMA adopted a report drafted by the AMA Council on Science and Public Health (CSAPH) entitled, "Use of Cannabis for Medicinal Purposes," which affirmed the therapeutic benefits of marijuana and called for further research. The CSAPH report concluded that, "short term controlled trials indicate that smoked cannabis reduces neuropathic pain, improves appetite and caloric intake especially in patients with reduced muscle mass, and may relieve spasticity and pain in patients with multiple sclerosis." Furthermore, the report urges that "the Schedule I status of marijuana be reviewed with the goal of facilitating clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines, and alternate delivery methods."

[Avery L. Breath]

it's about time.

[judih]

what? Is this a sign that logic is beginning to be heard?
Or has big business begun to look into 'lucrative' applications?
or is it just simply that you can't argue anymore with facts and studies?

When will the AMA take a look at other fallacies like the belief that our foods today are just as nutritious as foods 50 years ago even though our soils are leeched and our chemicals are seeping into our crops and have been.

but that's another story.

[laughingwillow]

Right on sistah-j. Speaking of our food supply......

I'm having a tough time figuring out why there is so much sugar being added to processed foods. For example, I used to be able to eat soup out of a can for lunch with no problem. Then a few years back most canned soups became too sweet for me to eat. I now see there is often 10-12 grams of sugar added to a can of soup. If I were to follow the commercial maker's lead, I'd be adding at least 60 to 80 grams of sugar to each large pot. However, somehow I manage to make whole pots of soup from scratch without needing to add ANY sugar and they taste hella better than that out of a can.    

lw

[meme]

Lw

I totally agree with you.  It seems like a while ago, adding salt was "cool", but I have to admit that sometimes when seasoning to taste, I do add a bit of salt.  However, now commerical foods are sweet too, and I rarely add sugar to things just to season them.  Sugar can be a wonderful thing, but since it covers up sour and bitter tastes, it really makes me wonder what nasties are being covered up.