Given the increased use of marijuana and its derivatives for medicinal purposes, do you support the federal government conducting controlled research to determine whether cannabis, properly and specifically grown for therapeutic use, can be used effectively and safely for medical treatment?
We should consider the enormous cost to the government if the feds approve use for medicinal purposes. There are too many card-carrying users who claim medical conditions that are granted this status through unscrupulous “doctors” (thousands), so they can buy and get high legally. Then the VA and medicare will be paying for all those people that “need” marijuana to “be healthy”. Recreational legalization would not put this burden on the government (you could get it, but not through our medical industry). Also, what about big Agribusiness moving in and dominating the entire legalized pot industry. Puff carefully, hipsters.
Research should be private sector activity. Governments have proven their only interest in marijuana is the tax revenue offered by legalization.
The Federal Government needs to stay out of this business. If you want the best information let the public Sector do the research turn to big pharma they will get to the bottom of the debate.
Why are fox news watching dummies so scared of Marijuana? Is it because your imaginary god doesn’t like it?
Marijuana like any other natural herb should not be altered. It changes the medical benefits and to have government controlled research would only give big pharma more leeway to mess it up. Leave it alone and make it legal or not. To me it shouldn’t be an issue either way. I use Dandelion Root, Red clover blossum teas etc. I see a doctor maybe once a year and I truly believe we should can lots of meds and get back to basics.
Once again with the feds with their hands into right now are all failures. Keep the feds outta my business!
From this date – ALL – doctors and ALL professionals MUST TAKE DRUG TESTS AS THEIR WORK IS NOW TOO HARMFUL TO AMERICANS WHEN HAVING OPERATIONS DONE BY DRUG ADDICTS – LIKE W. BUSH – AND WHEN DENTISTS ANESTHETIZE OR TOUCH OUR MOUTH – AS DRUG ADDICTS – WE MUST HAVE VALIDE VISIBLE PROOF PUBLICLY BEFORE GOING TO ANY DOCTOR OR PROFESSIONAL – EVEN PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE PROBABLY ON DRUGS AND WE MUST KNOW WITH VISIBLE PROOF – ONLINE ON EVERY DOCTOR WE MUST SEE – THEY ARE REALLY KILLING US AND WE DO NOT EVEN KNOW THIS AS A FACT???? NO JOBS IF DRUGS ARE USED!!!! THIS IS URGENT – AND VERY SERIOUS RIGHT NOW!!!
As long as the polls are run fairly and not by researchers beholden to Big Pharma so that excludes the FDA.
With the track history of this “pay by big pharma” to the FDA they need to stay out. Sons of their decisions these days are killing people.
We already know smoking is bad for our health and no tests for driving under the influence. Smoking it should not be legal for any reason!
I do not think that the Feds need to control this by passing a law. But prescriptions for medical purpose should be available
The feds have been growing and dispensing pot for years through the USDA /University of Mississippi if I remember correctly. What makes you think they’re going to learn anything new that they don’t know and probably haven’t released to the general public. You really want the feds to be in the middle of this? As bad as they’ve messed most things up? That’s a no for me. Take it off of Schedule 1 and let the states deal with it as they will. The FDA is as corrupt and tainted as any other branch or agency of the federal government and they have it on Schedule 1 for control of the masses only.
My vote was NO. How many government departments already disagree on other subjects? It is not the job of the federal government to conduct studies, as I do not believe this relates to the general welfare of the people. Many studies have already been done by others, and this would only represent more tax dollars being wasted.
Marijuana cannabis, because these days it is grown for a higher THC content (than what was grown 30 yrs ago), should be regulated, not by Feds but by the States. There are some medical conditions helped by marijuana and it is less toxic than most pharmaceuticals. Marijuana cannabis should NOT be confused with Hemp Cannabis. CBD oil from Hemp Cannabis has been studied for over 20 years and is legal in all 50 States.
To be sold legally, the THC content has to be less than 0.3 % (whereas marijuana content can be as high as 30% THC). I hope “marijuana and its derivatives for medicinal purposes” is not lumping CBD Oil from hemp into that category–too many people do not know or make the distinction between the two–and the government policing agencies will not invest in the equipment that distinguishes between the two, hence people are criminalized for using CBD hemp which is legal. And the government should NOT be in the business of “medical research”.
I live in Maryland and this state is subsidizing farmers in growing hemp. Why does the state government even have to control or oversee a crop that is legal?….If they want to look at independent lab results to verify the level of THC is within the .3% limit, that’s fine. But no sticking their finger in the pie!
The poll says “ Do you support research for medical cannabis“. Why wouldn’t anyone support research for something that could help people with medical issues? My mother suffered from cancer when I was a young pot smoker…a long time ago. ( I gave that up over 35 years ago). I would make her brownies with pot butter, she was never a smoker so this worked for her. And calmed her nausea! I think people are afraid of recreational use but this poll was about research which I support whole heartedly.
I Like the idea, just not the federal govt. involvement. but voted yes anyway.
An addicted Nation is looking for a way to stay high.
Too little has been done to test and determine the long term detriments to children, aged and the working class. It is just another faddiction attempt to down this country.
You best be careful what you wish for where the govt is involved. Don’t you know yet the govt will pull your handgun license or prevent you from receiving a license? Better just grow your own pot and keep the govt out of your business.
It’s not the Federal Governments job! Medicinal Marijuana has already been proven to help certain conditions. Don’t need my money spent on more research.
The reason I voted no was the fact that they have already done lots of research and have results which state that marijuana has lots of medical benefits.
The Federal Government has not earned my trust for their involvement in any study they have undertaken. Remember ROUNDUP being deemed safe.
I voted No because the government has already been lying to WeThePeople and continue to do so for longer than I’ve been alive on this subject! the Federal Government is in league with Big Pharma and the last thing big pharmaceutical wants is for us to be able to grow our own medication. It’s the states right nay, its duty to secure and enforce our freedoms when it comes to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness if they won’t do it then it’s the People responsibility to eject said government and secure it ourselves!
It is a Pandora’s box. Once out, the genie will not return to the inside of the lamp.
If CBD (and even THC) have medicinal properties, then these can be regulated by the state and pharma. (Yea, I shrug to say that.) The problem is the growing sympathy for pot-heads surpasses the sympathy for the patient that needs the medicinal properties. Sadly, the doobie toker cannot differentiate between a government that allows the use of maryjane for medicinal purposes and a government (like Colorado) that allows it recreationally.
I have never used illegal drugs. Never had a desire. But I am around people who are salivating at the potential open door for medicinal use. Why? Because all that is needed is a prescription. And the U.S. is chock full of script docs……and those who cannot wait for big brother to sanctioning their puffing the magic dragon.
(BTW, anyone know where I can find a coca plant in the US? I am trying to fabricate the anesthetic properties for field surgeries in the apocalypse.)……honestly…….who wants to rely on a gulp of corn whiskey to numb the pain of bullet removal surgery?………anyone?
Amen to Arnie’s comments. Our Constitution seems to go totally ignored by those we elect to work for us. I wish we could actually drain the swamp.
No need to waste taxpayer’s money on unnecessary studies and trials. The benefits of cannabis are well documented the world over. They’ll just fabricate ways to regulate it to make it financially out of reach of many citizens.
There is no reason not to do actual research. What is on the market now is untested and in most states there is no quality control. It is buyer beware, and you have no clue where it came from (at least that is the way it is in Michigan). For anything to be “medicinal” there has to be a way to standardize the dosage of the effective ingredients. Like it or not, pharma companies have the medical personnel and the equipment to do this. Those states that have legalized medicinal marijuana have merely given quack doctors easy access to medicaid dollars as they charge for an office visit AND tack on a fee to write a scrip for medical MJ.
I don’t trust the federal government to honestly research anything. There are always special interests involved (big Pharma). Marijuana laws should be left to the individual states, not the feds.
LEGALIZE NOW. As someone who was injured in Baghdad a decade ago, and has been on opiates ever since (as low a dose as I can just so I can walk without agony), I would welcome being able to get OFF of opiates using hemp products. NOT LOOKING TO GET HIGH, just want to reduce my pain to manageable levels. CANNOT smoke as I also suffer from emphysema thanks to the burn pits in Iraq. NOT a military man, I was a contractor who purified water for the soldiers to ensure against nuclear, biological, or chemical attack through the water system. On my own, NO V.A., NO vet organizations, nothing, none, nada, zip, we contractors are used up and thrown away. I would gladly embrace hemp products if the fed actually legalizes. I am sure I could find a strain which did not make me high nor paranoid. Day by Day, only way to survive. Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours if you have actually read this far.
There is not a good reason to oppose research into medical marijuana, and it is insane for marijuana to be classified as a schedule 1 drug as it is not as harmful as alcohol.
It is known helpful. Government study would be yet another waste of our tax money.
The Gov’t (FDA) is in bed with the Drug Companies; I do not trust!
The federal government does not need to spend tax dollars for this. Marijuana has already been proven useful for medical use for several things, including glaucoma and relieving side effects of cancer treatment. If prescribed and monitored by a physician, let people use it.
Immediately, my reaction was that the federal government needs to be shrinking and getting smaller, not increasing its footprint into weed. The private sector is more than able to conduct its business without the dubious assistance of a ponderous bureaucracy(ies) and will adroitly manage it in an affordable manner due to the competition built into our free market system. Then I read Arnie’s post and must defer to his wisdom on the matter: no more big federal government authority.
Don’t waste our tax dollars. There is no need for medical marijuana. They are now able to produce organic hemp CBD oil that contains less than 0.03% THC. The theraputic/medical benefits are the same without the negative hallucinogenic effects of the THC in marijuana.
The FDA is one of the lease effective departments in that he federal government. Europe is light years ahead of us in medical treatments.
The Federal Government has been researching cannabis for decades. The largest legal cannabis farm in the country was planted and run by the University Of Mississippi, and its medical implications studied by their research hospital. What became of that research? Where did all that money go, and what was done with all that weed?
Inhaling any substance, even smog in the air is harmful to the airways and lungs. I’m fine using any or all substances contained in cannabis for medical conditions.
The adverse effects of aspirin on the stomach and other side effects it is questionable if it could pass the pharmaceutical tests to make it to market.
There could be many application of the compounds in cannabis, but inhalation is questionable.
Cannabis (CBD, THC) has already been determined by decades of use to be safe and effective. We don’t need “government” to do anything except full legalization.
I voted YES for only one reason… I support RESEARCH being done to determine if medical marijuana really is safe long term and does no harm. I still vote NO on legalizing it whether federal or local. If it can be scientifically proven to do no harm and be non-addictive only then would I consider voting YES to legalize medical marjuana. There are studies already done and some of them established even the slightest use causes brain damage.
I voted no because although I’m not opposed to the concepts for medical marijuana or it’s derivatives for medical purposes, the government has no business funding any such research. If it’s worth pursuing the private sector should do it.
As far as recreational marijuana is concerned, the Federal government should do something similar if not the same as what was done with alcohol. A federal law should be passed stating anyone 21 or over is exempt from any criminal prosecution or possession of small amounts of marijuana flowers, or growing their own small amounts of marijuana flowers for personal use, to be determined what that amount is. For young people under 21 to possess and use marijuana on a daily basis, I can not say I agree. Daily marijuana use, particularly with the highly potent strains available nowadays most definitely has a strong psychological and emotional addictive potential. I do not think kids in high school, or even still in college, should have recreational marijuana first and foremost on their minds rather than concentrating on their studies.
Each state should have control over all the many many different rules and regulations concerning safety in mass growing and sale of pesticide free plants, producing the different edible derivatives of THC, how it is sold and who can sell it, if it can be smoked openly in public or only indoors, etc, etc.
I agree the biggest issue is the taxing of it all and whether Federal or State government gets the biggest chunk of tax revenue, and how much.
As far as medical marijuana is concerned, the Federal government should not only remove medical marijuana from any controlled substances classification making it completely Legal, but a Federal law should be passed saying each State must also make medical marijuana legal and available. Not an overnight process, as police will need to be trained how to spot and test for driving under the influence of marijuana and other issues involved but No patient who needs medical marijuana should ever be denied access to it.
That is just the first step towards legalizing it for everyone. There is a lot of pot in California where I live, and the people who smoke it have very damaged judgement. Usually they are afraid of the things that are not dangerous and stupid about real dangers. We have enough stupidity as it is. Why should my tax dollars (or my grandchildren’s tax dollars) pay for research into what would be a bad idea if implemented?
First step is to encourage your Federal Representatives to have Cannabis removed as a category one drug from the DEA list. Once that is accomplished it will free up the states to decide their course of action.
My sister who is 62 has had several heart attacks. She had open-heart surgery with grafts for blockage of the left descending anterior artery known as the widowmaker. She still has stents, and she inherited the bad genes from both of my parents who died from cardiac problems. She still has spasms that are painful, and her doctor discontinued her narcotic pain reliever cold turkey. She got a medical marijuana card and she uses edibles to give her pain relief. We live in Oklahoma.
Works for me, but it is too darned expensive!!!! Don’t want government to get involved in anything like this. Let the free market make it work.
Anything the government gets involved with turns out to be a nightmare for all involved.
The only thing that the Federal government needs to do is to legalize all cannibals products and the growing and production of them. I see no need to drag that process down by trying to connect it with a bail out of all previous offenders. They should be reviewed on a case by case basis and if that offense for which they are incarcerated is the only blemish on their record then consider releasing them. But if they took a plea on the marijuana charge to escape trial on a more serious charge then forget any release.
The constitution as was written keeps the feds out of your business regarding any mind altering chemical. The only reason it was amended in my opinion is for control and most of all, MONEY. The feds don’t care one iota for Americans. They care about power and MONEY.
We need term limits and we need to stop this chasing trump around. They will raise taxes somewhere to pay for their BS.
I voted before I read the comments. I do agree with the idea that when the government gets involved it turns into something very different. More Government involvement is what we do not need.
Is this really about MEDICAL marijuana? When my state was gathering signatures partitioning to legalize so called medical marijuana, I confirmed those who were pushing for the signatures were hired from different states to collect the local signatures. It was wrapped in the flag for the veterns.
ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY.
Where is the trusted medical proof of the benefits?
The DRIP EFFECT is being used in each state to have all marijuana use legalized followed by all illegal drugs approved.
The enemy of people, families are waving the flag and big government to justify this process. Look what is happening to the nordic countries where all drugs are legalized.