Page 22 - Layout 1

LEGISLATIVE
CHALLENGES

Should Mob-Rule

be the Litmus Test in

Legalizing Marijuana?

Op-Ed by Alan Preston, MHA, ScD

M arijuana is becoming a popular ballot measure in and no accepted medical use, making the distribution of marijuana
many states in an effort to legalize it. There are a
a federal offense. The challenge is that while marijuana remains a
number of individuals that are ardent advocates of
legal marijuana and claim that marijuana is safe and Schedule 1 substance, the law was signed in 1970. There has been a
lot of studies since then about marijuana, of which some are legit-
effective in treating a number of illnesses. Their claim is that it is, imate while others should never be considered a "study" given the
after all, a "natural" product. And if they "feel" it is effective and poor design of the so-called study.
safe, then why not let the citizens decide the fate of such? The The question we should all ask ourselves is whether drug policy
Nightshade (Atropa Belladonna) berry is also natural. Eat 3 to 5 of should be decided based on mob- rule or through the oversight of
these, and you will die, naturally of course! the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Many states have allowed
At the federal level, marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I citizens to determine as to whether marijuana should be approved
substance1 under the Controlled Substances Act, where Schedule I for medical and recreational use by a ballot measure of your average
substances are considered to have a high potential for dependency citizen. If a majority of voting citizens decide that marijuana is ap-

22 San Antonio Medicine • January 2019