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February 17, 2008
Better Late than Never (Political)
The position just adopted by the American College of Physicians calling for less opposition to the medical use of cannabis and more studies of its potential benefits, although predictably timid and long overdue, was nevertheless a big surprise to this observer because it comes at a time when the the unholy alliance that has developed between feds and local cops since the 2005 Raich decison was exerting maximum pressure on retail distribution facilities.
Perhaps the most reasonable interpretation is that when it comes to medical pot, nothing is quite as it seems and the developments taking place offstage have become more important than ever. The big question is why a normally cautious representative of the Medical Establishment would take a position backers of federal drug policy will be sure to find very troublesome and are increasingly unequipped to deal with.
It’s also interesting that the harm reduction wing of reform has been quick to hail the announcement as a victory, well in advance of knowing just what new clinical evidence and/or political considerations might have been responsible.
Doctor Tom
Posted by tjeffo at February 17, 2008 07:33 PM