The most egregious outcome of marijuana prohibition is that many sick people cannot legally access the medicine that works best for them. For many seriously ill people, medical marijuana is the only medicine that relieves their pain and suffering, or treats symptoms of their medical condition, without debilitating side effects. Marijuana has been shown to alleviate symptoms of a huge variety of serious medical conditions including cancer, AIDS, and glaucoma, and is often an effective alternative to synthetic painkillers.
Although an overwhelming majority of Americans support medical marijuana, the federal government continues to impede state medical marijuana laws. Marijuana prohibition has also thwarted research within the United States to uncover the best and most effective uses for marijuana as a medicine, making efforts to reform medical marijuana laws particularly difficult.
The Drug Policy Alliance is committed to increasing the number of states with medical marijuana laws, supporting and improving existing state medical marijuana programs, protecting medical marijuana patients, and ending the federal ban on medical marijuana.
Conflict Coming to a Head as More States Pass and Implement Medical Marijuana Laws While Obama Administration Escalates Assault on Patients and Providers
Drug Policy Alliance: Obama Will Continue to Suffer Politically for Ignoring Public Opinion on Medical Marijuana
The U.S. House is expected to vote soon – possibly today – on a bipartisan amendment to the Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill that would prohibit the Department of Justice from undermining state medical marijuana laws. The amendment, co-sponsored by Rep. Rohrabacher (R-CA), Rep. Hinchey (D-NY), Rep. McClintock (R-CA) and Rep. Farr (D-CA), is a rebuke of President Obama’s aggressive assault on medical marijuana patients and providers.
Don and Gerry McGrath's Story
We would like to take just a few minutes of your time to tell you our story and ask for your help in relieving suffering in New Jersey. Our son Sean died of a rare form of cancer in the summer of 2004. He was only twenty-eight years old.
Scott Ward's Story
Scott Ward is 24 years old and suffers from Multiple Sclerosis. He was diagnosed in November of 2006 while training for the Marine Corps Marathon. Scott went from running five miles everyday to relying on family members to assist him in and out of his bed and the bath tub.
Sean McGrath's Story
Sean McGrath was 28 years old when he died from a rare form of cancer. Sean had great doctors, a loving family and friends to support him during his illness. But Sean’s struggle was made more difficult because none of the available medications worked to relieve his terrible nausea and vomiting.
Law enforcement attitudes towards medical marijuana in California have been mixed. Generally, many law enforcement officials and associations have been hostile to medical marijuana, since California’s voters legalized it in 1996 and continuing today.
In the past few years, marijuana reform advocates have won dozens of significant victories to reduce the role of the criminal justice system in marijuana policy across the U.S. – and have gained the support of many eyebrow-raising names that place the issue squarely in the mainstream of national and international politics.
Patients and Advocates Cheer This Important Step Forward
Trenton, NJ— Yesterday, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services issued a permit to Montclair-based Greenleaf Compassion Center to begin growing medicinal marijuana. Advocates, patients and families cheered this long-awaited act as an important step in the process of bringing medical marijuana to the state of New Jersey and ensuring safe access to an effective medication for seriously ill individuals.
Coalition to President Obama: “It is time for a new approach on marijuana policy.”
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