Although authoritative researchers have been reporting on the medical benefits of cannabis on a regular basis, the DEA continues to classify it as a Schedule I drug.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) churns out approval after approval for numerous prescription drugs, which are later pulled from the market for a variety of reasons. Those reasons can range from their lack of ability to cure anyone to their distinct ability to harm or kill someone.
While cannabis—known not to kill or maim anyone but rather to do just the opposite—has not had the courtesy of even an invitation to be considered for review.
In a true case of Catch-22, prohibitionists will often cite inadequate research as a reason for opposing legalization.
But with the exception of a few instances, major obstacles continue to block cannabis research here in the United States.
Recently, for example, Attorney General Jeff Sessions effectively shut down the DEA’s new research program.
Meanwhile, according to ProCon.org, the FDA has recalled 35 prescription drugs from the U.S. market since the 1970s.
The FDA, per ProCon.org, says that a “drug is removed from the market when its risks outweigh its benefits. A drug is usually taken off the market because of safety issues with the drug that cannot be corrected, such as when it is discovered that the drug can cause serious side effects that were not known at the time of approval.”
If negative side effects were not known at the time of approval, doesn’t this beg the question: Why? Apparently, these prescription drugs were not properly researched, yet they hit the market, did their damage, then were quietly removed from the shelves.
Welcome to the vicious cycle.
If you’re feeling ambitious, check out ProCons list of 35 drugs that have been removed from the market.
Then, if you’re still feeling ambitious, call, write or visit your Congress person and ask her/him the same question posed above: Why?
Why isn’t cannabis re-scheduled, researched and open for FDA approval—just like all the rest of them?
