Drug Czar: Medical Marijuana No Longer a Political Issue
Dateline: June 2005
Medical marijuana is no longer a "political issue," since the Supreme Court's recent ruling on the drug, according to President Bush?s ?Drug Czar" John Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy.
In a White House press release, Drub Czar Walters urged Americans who depended on doctor-prescribed marijuana to look instead to "proven medicine by legitimate doctors," for relief of pain caused by chronic illness.
"Smoking illegal drugs may make some people 'feel better.' However, civilized societies and modern day medical practices differentiate between inebriation and the safe, supervised delivery of proven medicine by legitimate doctors," stated Walters.
On June 6, 2005, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that federal law can be used to prevent doctors from prescribing marijuana for treatment of pain caused by serious illnesses, including cancer.
Walters also questioned the proven effectiveness of marijuana as a pain reliever. "To date, science and research have not determined that smoking a crude plant is safe or effective," he said. "We have a responsibility as a civilized society to ensure that the medicine Americans receive from their doctors is effective, safe, and free from the pro-drug politics that are being promoted in America under the guise of medicine."
Walters further cited a 1999 report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), which concluded that, "smoking marijuana is not recommended for any long-term medical use," and that, "marijuana is not a modern medicine.?
"For years, pro-drug groups seeking the legalization of marijuana and other drugs have preyed on the compassion of Americans to promote their political agenda and bypass F.D.A.?s rigorous standards which have safeguarded our medical supply for over 100 years. Marinol ? the synthetic form of THC and the psychoactive ingredient contained in marijuana ? is already legally available for prescription by physicians whose patients suffer from pain and chronic illness," concluded Walters.
Medical marijuana is no longer a "political issue," since the Supreme Court's recent ruling on the drug, according to President Bush?s ?Drug Czar" John Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy.
In a White House press release, Drub Czar Walters urged Americans who depended on doctor-prescribed marijuana to look instead to "proven medicine by legitimate doctors," for relief of pain caused by chronic illness.
"Smoking illegal drugs may make some people 'feel better.' However, civilized societies and modern day medical practices differentiate between inebriation and the safe, supervised delivery of proven medicine by legitimate doctors," stated Walters.
On June 6, 2005, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that federal law can be used to prevent doctors from prescribing marijuana for treatment of pain caused by serious illnesses, including cancer.
Walters also questioned the proven effectiveness of marijuana as a pain reliever. "To date, science and research have not determined that smoking a crude plant is safe or effective," he said. "We have a responsibility as a civilized society to ensure that the medicine Americans receive from their doctors is effective, safe, and free from the pro-drug politics that are being promoted in America under the guise of medicine."
Walters further cited a 1999 report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), which concluded that, "smoking marijuana is not recommended for any long-term medical use," and that, "marijuana is not a modern medicine.?
"For years, pro-drug groups seeking the legalization of marijuana and other drugs have preyed on the compassion of Americans to promote their political agenda and bypass F.D.A.?s rigorous standards which have safeguarded our medical supply for over 100 years. Marinol ? the synthetic form of THC and the psychoactive ingredient contained in marijuana ? is already legally available for prescription by physicians whose patients suffer from pain and chronic illness," concluded Walters.
