Big Pharma Take-Over of Cannabis Industry in 2013?

Ignore the source, just read the content.  I pick sources based on content, not name and certainly not the supposed political affiliation of it's writers.

Toke of The Town has a new article pointing to the reasons why we'll see the Pharmaceutical companies (I won't say "big pharma" because I hate when people say that as if they're bad companies) takeover the medical marijuana in 2013.

The U.S. government is in an untenable position; the war on marijuana has failed completely, but the U.S. government also holds the sole medical marijuana patent ever granted, which proves that cannabinoids from cannabis are powerful medicines that can save thousands of lives annually and save the government billions of dollars in health costs, treating everything from cancer to neurological diseases. 

But after 75 years of misinformation and brainwashing the U.S. population, and the world, that marijuana is an evil drug that must be eliminated, how can it now do a 180 degree turn and sell marijuana as a medicine to the same population? The coming verbal somersaults will be amazing! . . .

Isn't it odd that President Obama, who is very thoughtful and very articulate, will not discuss the topic of medical marijuana and becomes tongue-tied when he tries to explain his administration's position on marijuana? He even had the nerve to blow off the White House petitions on marijuana that were on the whitehouse.gov website this past year. 

Isn't it odd that Romney, who is a Mormon and who doesn't even drink tea, coffee, or alcohol, and with his business history of corporate takeovers at Bain Capital as a vulture capitalist who would love to slice and dice, and transfer medical marijuana into the hands of a for-profit corporation, also stands with Obama on this same issue, refusing to take reporters' questions? . . . There wasn't even a ripple on the Republican side after the leaked story of Obama's marijuana use as a teenager and college student. So why aren't Republicans beating Obama over the head with this club? Isn't it odd that Republicans are not using this issue to their advantage? . . . . 

Also mentioned in the article is GW Pharmacuticals revolutionary new drug Sativex which is a 100% cannabis based medicine used to treat MS, neuropathic and "cancer pain."  Patients in MMJ states currently use cannabis flowers or homemade tinctures and preparations for this (at a much more lower cost). 

GW Pharmaceuticals has Sativex undergoing FDA trials and hopes to see approval in 2013.

Poll: 66% Repub.; 75% Americans Support Fed Hands Off MMJ

A recent Mason-Dixon survey reveals that more than two thirds of Republicans polled believe that federal officials should mind their own business and respect state law when it comes to medical marijuana.  The survey also reveals that more than 75% of Americans favor the same. 

"What the results of this survey show is that there is absolutely no political justification for what President [Barack] Obama is doing with respect to medical marijuana laws," Steve Fox, director of government relations for The Marijuana Policy Project, told HuffPost on Tuesday afternoon. "Across the board ... there is extremely strong support for respecting state medical marijuana laws."
Medical cannabis is currently legal in 16 states and the District of Columbia but remains illegal under federal law, even in states that have passed laws allowing for its use in medical treatment.  Read More>>>>

Hopefully, our Congress-critters will see this survey and understand that its foreshadowing the trend of Americans increasingly favoring freedom over government nanny-statism.

Med. Marijuana Bill Introduced into PA House

On April 29, 2009 Rep. Mark B. Cohen introduced the bill to legalize medical marijuana with PA4MMJ. HB1393 would allow registered patients to grow six plants or purchase cannabis through Compassion Centers. A provision in the bill allows these medical cannabis sales to be taxed. READ MORE>>>

What do I think about it?

Well, it's a step in the right direction. However, largely all of the recent medical marijuana legislation are a means for politicians to distance themselves from their long held position that marijuana is a dangerous, possibly addictive, and harmful substance while not receiving any blow back for 'flip-flopping'.

It allows them to argue, "This bill isn't about recreational marijuana use... it's about "medical" marijuana use." As if giving a 'dangerous, possibly addictive, and harmful substance' to a immuno-compromised or seriously ill individual is better than giving it to a healthy individual.

The text of the bill allows for medicinal marijuana use without fear of arrest or prosecution for violating state laws. I have to give props to all of the Democrats that introduced the legislation, and a strong rebuke to the lack of Republicans that have shown support for it (only one Republican is listed on the bill).

What really pushes my buttons is the fact that Medical Marijuana Legislation is making news (controversially I might add) while Industrial Hemp legislation is no-where to be found. It's easy to see why people would be concerned about legalizing marijuana for recreational and medicinal use, but it's unfathomable why a useful product such as Industrial Hemp is still classified as a pyschoactive substance.

It's a step in the right direction.

AMA Reverses Position on Pot

The American Medical Association reversed their previous ruling on marijuana earlier this week. They are now pushing for marijuana to be rescheduled so that further clinical trials can be performed regarding the usefulness of marijuana cannabinoids as medicine. Currently marijuana is a schedule 1 drug. It resides in the same classification as heroin, LSD, and MDMA.

According to the Controlled Substances Act, schedule 1 drugs have:

• High potential for abuse
• Currently no medical use in the United States
• A lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

Read more about it on the NORML's Blogpost.

Our AMA urges that marijuana’s status as a federal Schedule I controlled substance be reviewed with the goal of facilitating the conduct of clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines, and alternate delivery methods. This should not be viewed as an endorsement of state-based medical cannabis programs, the legalization of marijuana, or that scientific evidence on the therapeutic use of cannabis meets the current standards for a prescription drug product.