8 replies to this topic

[AlternativeSolutionsPlus]

White House Petition Response: What We Have to Say About Marijuana and Veterans

What We Have to Say About Marijuana and Veterans

By Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy

Many brave men and women who have risked their lives in service to our country are now suffering from physical, mental health, and substance abuse problems. We have an obligation to care for our military families and veterans and to improve their lives by increasing access to vital treatment services specifically geared toward our military heroes. While the Administration continues to support research on what parts of the marijuana plant may be used as medicine, neither the Food and Drug Administration nor the Institute of Medicine has found smoked marijuana to meet the modern standard of safe or effective medicine. We will continue working with our partners in the medical community to ensure that veterans have access to science-based medical treatments and get the help they and their families need.

For more about what we have to say about marijuana, please see the President's National Drug Control Strategy, as well as this earlier petition response below:

What We Have to Say About Legalizing Marijuana

When the President took office, he directed all of his policymakers to develop policies based on science and research, not ideology or politics. So our concern about marijuana is based on what the science tells us about the drug's effects.

According to scientists at the National Institutes of Health- the world's largest source of drug abuse research - marijuana use is associated with addiction, respiratory disease, and cognitive impairment. We know from an array of treatment admission information and Federal data that marijuana use is a significant source for voluntary drug treatment admissions and visits to emergency rooms. Studies also reveal that marijuana potency has almost tripled over the past 20 years, raising serious concerns about what this means for public health – especially among young people who use the drug because research shows their brains continue to develop well into their 20's. Simply put, it is not a benign drug.

Like many, we are interested in the potential marijuana may have in providing relief to individuals diagnosed with certain serious illnesses. That is why we ardently support ongoing research into determining what components of the marijuana plant can be used as medicine. To date, however, neither the FDA nor the Institute of Medicine have found smoked marijuana to meet the modern standard for safe or effective medicine for any condition.

As a former police chief, I recognize we are not going to arrest our way out of the problem. We also recognize that legalizing marijuana would not provide the answer to any of the health, social, youth education, criminal justice, and community quality of life challenges associated with drug use.

That is why the President's National Drug Control Strategy is balanced and comprehensive, emphasizing prevention and treatment while at the same time supporting innovative law enforcement efforts that protect public safety and disrupt the supply of drugs entering our communities. Preventing drug use is the most cost-effective way to reduce drug use and its consequences in America. And, as we've seen in our work through community coalitions across the country, this approach works in making communities healthier and safer. We're also focused on expanding access to drug treatment for addicts. Treatment works. In fact, millions of Americans are in successful recovery for drug and alcoholism today. And through our work with innovative drug courts across the Nation, we are improving our criminal justice system to divert non-violent offenders into treatment.

Our commitment to a balanced approach to drug control is real. This last fiscal year alone, the Federal Government spent over $10 billion on drug education and treatment programs compared to just over $9 billion on drug related law enforcement in the U.S.

Thank you for making your voice heard. I encourage you to take a moment to read about the President's approach to drug control to learn more.

Check out this response on We the People.

Stay Connected

Stay connected to the White House by signing up for periodic email updates from President Obama and other senior administration officials.

http://links.whiteho...n=ondcpresponse


http://links.whitehouse.gov/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTIwNDI0LjcwODAxNTEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTIwNDI0LjcwODAxNTEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNjg2NTc4NyZlbWFpbGlkPW1pY2hpZ2FuY2VydGlmaWNhdGlvbkBnbWFpbC5jb20mdXNlcmlkPW1pY2hpZ2FuY2VydGlmaWNhdGlvbkBnbWFpbC5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&114&&&https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/!/response/what-we-have-say-about-marijuana-and-veterans?utm_source=wethepeople&utm_medium=response&utm_campaign=ondcpresponse

[Herb Cannabis]

!
This is the email that I received today. They are going to use science and this is what the national institute of health said, "bla, bla, bla,." What liars, didn't our government take out a patent on canabinoids? Yes they did! Didn't our government just complete a 20 year long study and find that tokers actually had better lung function/capacity? Yes they did! This just pizzez me off. Is there nothing that we can do to stop the lies?

The White House

What We Have to Say About Marijuana and Hemp Production
By Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
America’s farmers deserve our Nation’s help and support to ensure rural America’s prosperity and vitality. Federal law prohibits human consumption, distribution, and possession of Schedule I controlled substances. Hemp and marijuana are part of the same species of cannabis plant. While most of the THC in cannabis plants is concentrated in the marijuana, all parts of the plant, including hemp, can contain THC, a Schedule I controlled substance. The Administration will continue looking for innovative ways to support farmers across the country while balancing the need to protect public health and safety.
For more about what we have to say about marijuana, please see the President's National Drug Control Strategy, as well as this earlier petition response below:
What We Have to Say About Legalizing Marijuana
When the President took office, he directed all of his policymakers to develop policies based on science and research, not ideology or politics. So our concern about marijuana is based on what the science tells us about the drug's effects.
According to scientists at the National Institutes of Health- the world's largest source of drug abuse research - marijuana use is associated with addiction, respiratory disease, and cognitive impairment. We know from an array of treatment admission information and Federal data that marijuana use is a significant source for voluntary drug treatment admissions and visits to emergency rooms. Studies also reveal that marijuana potency has almost tripled over the past 20 years, raising serious concerns about what this means for public health – especially among young people who use the drug because research shows their brains continue to develop well into their 20's. Simply put, it is not a benign drug.
Like many, we are interested in the potential marijuana may have in providing relief to individuals diagnosed with certain serious illnesses. That is why we ardently support ongoing research into determining what components of the marijuana plant can be used as medicine. To date, however, neither the FDA nor the Institute of Medicine have found smoked marijuana to meet the modern standard for safe or effective medicine for any condition.
As a former police chief, I recognize we are not going to arrest our way out of the problem. We also recognize that legalizing marijuana would not provide the answer to any of the health, social, youth education, criminal justice, and community quality of life challenges associated with drug use.
That is why the President's National Drug Control Strategy is balanced and comprehensive, emphasizing prevention and treatment while at the same time supporting innovative law enforcement efforts that protect public safety and disrupt the supply of drugs entering our communities. Preventing drug use is the most cost-effective way to reduce drug use and its consequences in America. And, as we've seen in our work through community coalitions across the country, this approach works in making communities healthier and safer. We're also focused on expanding access to drug treatment for addicts. Treatment works. In fact, millions of Americans are in successful recovery for drug and alcoholism today. And through our work with innovative drug courts across the Nation, we are improving our criminal justice system to divert non-violent offenders into treatment.
Our commitment to a balanced approach to drug control is real. This last fiscal year alone, the Federal Government spent over $10 billion on drug education and treatment programs compared to just over $9 billion on drug related law enforcement in the U.S.
Thank you for making your voice heard. I encourage you to take a moment to read about the President's approach to drug control to learn more.
Check out this response on We the People.
Stay Connected
Stay connected to the White House by signing up for periodic email updates from President Obama and other senior administration officials.

[ilynnboy]

Lie after lie.
Same old sheet.
I believe it was Thomas Jefferson who said, if a law is unjust we have a moral duty to disobey it.

I shall be disobedient.

[solabeirtan]

Derisive commentary of a failed and devisive program that does nothing to clarify the issues of substance abuse. While demonizing canabis and promoting their less effective, more costly "scientific" [addictive] solutions.

Their 'drug ' policies do more to destroy lives and create unnecessary jobs. While promoting an invasive failed foreign policy that has drawn the condemnation of foreign govts affected by its practices ..... {Latin America}.... Just another Govt Boondogle. American Politics and policies at their worst.

[ilynnboy]

Finally some truth.
Thanks Solabiertan, too bad the governing powers cannot speak the truth.
Lies and more lies.
How do you know someone in gov is lying?
That's right you got it, Their lips are moving.

Edited by ilynnboy, 25 April 2012 - 08:07 AM.

[Fat Freddy]

"while balancing the need to protect public health and safety."
How is prohibition protecting the public health?
Tell it to the 50,000 Mexican families and the American families that have lost a loved one in the so called war on drugs.
Tell it to the sick and dying that have exhusted their life's savings fighting cancer.

I am so offended by this crony speak that I want to puke!!

[xxsesimeseedxx]

our government wants to cure us of "drug abuse" by getting us addicted to their drugs....this stuff makes me want to chose the f**k out of someone.....litterally. smh

[amish4ganja]

Does anyone else find it interesting that they continuously refer to "smoked" marijuana as not having any medical benefits? They never say "marijuana", only "smoked marijuana". Are they trying to say that the potential harm from smoking outwieghs any beneficial effects?

[Fat Freddy]

Does anyone else find it interesting that they continuously refer to "smoked" marijuana as not having any medical benefits? They never say "marijuana", only "smoked marijuana". Are they trying to say that the potential harm from smoking outwieghs any beneficial effects?

They are telling us that they are aware of medical uses for other forms of mj