Attorney General Eric Holder, the nation's top law enforcement officer, stated at a news conference on Wednesday that the president will keep his promise to end paramilitary raiding of state-approved medical marijuana facilities. Nearly 75 million Americans live in the 13 states where medical marijuana is legal.
"There has been a lot of collateral damage in the federal campaign against medical marijuana patients," said Steph Sherer, executive director of Americans for Safe Access, the nation's largest medical marijuana advocacy group. "We need to stop the prosecutions, bring the prisoners home, and begin working to eliminate the conflict between state and federal medical marijuana laws."
Personally, as an advocate of drug decriminalization, and as a natural healing practitioner, I believe this is a sound and prudent decision by the president that will reduce unwarranted incarcerations for those ailing Americans who benefit from this natural herb. Studies have shown that marijuana has medical value in treating many serious conditions, including AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and chronic pain.
Indeed, it is not the "use" of this herb that is problematic; it is it's "abuse."
Of course, despite its benefits, marijuana also has known contraindications:
Individuals who suffer from heart disease, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes should strictly avoid marijuana. The plant's active ingredient--tetrahydrocannabinol or THC--has a chaotic effect on the cardiovasular system, including heart function and performance. Marijuana increases the heart rate and causes some organs to exprience vasodilation (opening of the arteries) while other organs experience vasoconstriction (narrowing of the arteries). Thus, marijuana simultaneously causes both hypertension and hypotension on the cardiovascular system.
Marijuana also causes gnawing hunger (or "the munchies" which promotes chronic obesity and diabetes.
People with asthma and other respiratory airway disorders should also avoid smoking marijuana.
http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/129383/marijuana_milestone%3A_...