AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION MAKING THE RIGHT MOVES

It seems strange that we are just now, in the 21st century,
applauding a call by the American Medical Association to see
marijuana classified as something other than a Schedule 1 controlled
substance, in the same category as heroin, ecstasy and LSD.

The association believes the change would allow scientists and
medical professionals to begin much more rigorous testing of the drug
to determine once and for all what its medicinal benefits might be.

We congratulate the AMA on taking the stance and hope the federal
government listens to the advice of doctors and reclassifies the drug.

Across the board, marijuana seems to be gaining more and more
cultural acceptance as a medicine, as is evident through the
increased number of states whose voters have decided to legalize it
as such. The problem, however, is that we continue to operate in the
dark. The drug's classification as a Schedule 1 controlled substance
means it is enormously difficult to study its true medicinal
properties, and so voters are approving medical marijuana reform laws
based on anecdotal evidence, or because they believe such reforms are
baby steps toward what they see as the ultimate and necessary reform
- -- total legalization.

By reclassifying the drug as something other than the worst of the
worst, medical professionals would be able to dig in and find out
what properties of marijuana are good for patients, and whether as a
whole it justifies being treated as a medicine.

By taking this bold stance, the AMA may just provide the impetus
necessary to rid the issue of the paranoia and confusion that's
plagued it for so many years and put the country on a path toward a
rational and coherent marijuana policy.

Similarly, we also applaud the AMA for taking the stance recently
that same-sex marriage bans translate into health care disparities,
and for openly opposing the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy
on gays in the military.

In both of these issues, we see our nation's scientists and medical
professionals say enough is enough on issues that up until now have
been handled with a lack of logic and too much emotion. It's about time.