Feds Slam Door on Medical Marijuana

Advocates will appeal decision that keeps pot a schedule 1 narcotic
By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 10, 2011 8:48 AM CDT
Feds Slam Door on Medical Marijuana
A cannabis plant at the growing facility of the Tikun Olam company on March 7, 2011 near the northern city of Safed, Israel.   (Getty Images)

Medical marijuana may be gaining acceptance at the state level around the US, but the DEA remains as anti-pot as ever, ruling that the wacky tobacky has no medical use and is as dangerous as heroin, reports the LA Times. Marijuana advocates had asked the feds to reclassify the narcotic nine years ago on the grounds that marijuana helps with a range of medical conditions, such as glaucoma, nausea, and MS.

The DEA administrator rejected the request because marijuana "has a high potential for abuse," "has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States" and "lacks accepted safety for use under medical supervision," she said in a letter. Surprisingly, many medical marijuana advocated were pleased by the negative ruling, because simply having a ruling, any ruling, allows them to appeal the decision in federal courts. "We have foiled the government's strategy of delay, and we can now go head-to-head on the merits," said the lead attorney for the lawsuit. (More marijuana stories.)

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