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These senseless comments come from Chuck Rosenberg, the acting chief of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) during a speech at an Ohio hospital.
Rosenberg said, “If it turns out that there is something in smoked marijuana that helps people, that’s awesome. I will be the last person to stand in the way of that. But let’s run it through the Food and Drug Administration process, and let’s stick to the science on it.”
Although Rosenberg’s tone toward medical marijuana has not changed since he became chief of the DEA in 2015, these comments are more concerning due to recent anti-cannabis rhetoric from members of the Trump administration.
Cannabis has Medical Benefits and the Time to Act is Now
Painkillers have become a serious issue in the United States. During the past 15 years, America has seen a tremendous growth in both the sales of prescription opiates and the number of people who die each year from abusing them.
Researchers from the RAND Corporation and the University of California-Irvine (UCI) may have found the answer and that is marijuana. The researchers discovered a reduction in the number of opioids related overdoses, as well as a reduction in number of admissions to addiction treatment center in states that legalized marijuana. The researchers also found that these states experienced significant reductions in both measures if they also legalized marijuana dispensaries.
In the states where doctors can prescribe marijuana, but retail dispensaries are prohibited, the study found no evidence of reductions in substance abuse or mortality. In the states where medical marijuana dispensaries are allowed, the researchers found a 16% reduction in opioid-related mortality and 28% reduction in opioid-abuse treatment admissions.
Ample Evidence Supports Medical Benefits of Cannabis
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are two completely different chemical compounds. Over the last few years, researchers have found that THC helps with pain management, anxiety, and nausea, but they have barely cracked the surface since cannabis has been illegal for the last century.
Although there is less research supporting the medical benefits associated with CBD, studies have found that it reduces pain, can impact mood and anxiety, and act like an anti-inflammatory and a neuro-protectant.
The National Academies of Science, Medicine and Engineering recently conducted a study and found strong evidence for cannabis as an effective treatment for chronic pain when compared to a placebo.
Less than two years ago, the National Cancer Institute updated its website to include various studies revealing how cannabis may inhibit tumor growth by killing cells, blocking cell growth, and blocking the development of blood vessels needed by tumors to grow. The institute also said that cannabis does this while protecting healthy cells.
Before that, the National Institute on Drug Abuse revised their April 2015 publication after it found that cannabis can kill certain cancer cells and reduce the size of others.
A few months earlier, the Journal of Urology reported a study by scientists who reported that cannabis helps lower the risk of bladder cancer for males. The researchers said that cannabis usage lowers the risk of developing bladder cancer by 45%.
The Time to Act is Now
Although clinical research is very important, the current Schedule I label makes it challenging for companies to conduct research on the plant. Companies like GW Pharmaceuticals (GWPH) have proven that cannabis has medical benefits and the time to act is now.
From epilepsy to cancer, from diabetes to heart disease, cannabis can improve daily life for millions of people across the globe.
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