Here's a fun fact: since 1968, only one US institution, the University of Mississippi, has had a Federal license to grow marijuana for medical research [1], although this may be (finally) changing [2]. The barriers to Federally funded medical research of cannabis remain significant [3]. It's almost like the University of Mississippi and the Federal government are doing everything they can to stymie research and limit access.
Also, cannabis remains a Schedule 1 drug at the Federal level. Schedule 1 drugs are "drugs of abuse" that have "no accepted medical use" [4], the same as methamphetamine and crack cocaine (and of course it's worth mentioning that powdered cocaine is the less serious Schedule 3).
All the while ~18 states have legalized recreational and/or medical cannabis at the state level [5].
The case for the continued criminalization is beyond ridiculous.
I fully support decriminalization and further study of the effect of psychedelics but I'm not confident that the US government, even with a Democratic president, a Democratic House and a (notionally) Democratic Senate won't make this as difficult as possible.
The roots of US criminalization of cannabis and psychadelics is rooted in racism (eg crack cocaine vs powder cocaine), cracking down on counterculturalism and anti-Vietnam protesters (ie the hippy movement of the 60s and 70s) and virtue signaling to a conservative and fearful voter base under the guise of "law and order" and "family values".
It's truly ridiculous we're still here some 50+ years later.
Although there may be more nefarious reasons behind why crack is penalized more harshly under the law than cocaine, that scheduling is at least technically correct: powdered cocaine is indeed used as a medical anesthetic, whereas crack isn’t used for anything medically.
The classification of marijuana as not having any medical use despite being used to treat all sorts of ailments all over the country is, of course, ridiculous.
Now that I think about it - regardless of your stance on recreational drug prohibition - it does seem strange to tie penalties for illicit use or sale of a drug with whether or not the drug has so-called legitimate uses.
It's worth adding that the DEA scheduling classification is a little weird. Example: fentanyl is a Schedule 1 drug but it's an extremely potent opiate that is prescribed typically to end-stage cancer patients and others in extreme pain.
Fentanyl is schedule 2, as is methamphetamine [1]. I'm not sure why certain users repeatedly claim they are schedule 1 despite being able to easily verify that they are not. This isn't the first time I've had this back and forth on HN.
Meth is not schedule 1, it's sold under prescription under the name of Desoxyn !!! According to the weird US federal drug schedule weed is more abusable that Meth...
I’m 100% with you, but this country will forever be legislating the fact their neighbors might be happy and enjoying life. And then the fact so much race enters into it too as you mention, just makes it addictive for certain people. It’s like crack or something.
Also, cannabis remains a Schedule 1 drug at the Federal level. Schedule 1 drugs are "drugs of abuse" that have "no accepted medical use" [4], the same as methamphetamine and crack cocaine (and of course it's worth mentioning that powdered cocaine is the less serious Schedule 3).
All the while ~18 states have legalized recreational and/or medical cannabis at the state level [5].
The case for the continued criminalization is beyond ridiculous.
I fully support decriminalization and further study of the effect of psychedelics but I'm not confident that the US government, even with a Democratic president, a Democratic House and a (notionally) Democratic Senate won't make this as difficult as possible.
The roots of US criminalization of cannabis and psychadelics is rooted in racism (eg crack cocaine vs powder cocaine), cracking down on counterculturalism and anti-Vietnam protesters (ie the hippy movement of the 60s and 70s) and virtue signaling to a conservative and fearful voter base under the guise of "law and order" and "family values".
It's truly ridiculous we're still here some 50+ years later.
[1]: https://www.drugdiscoverytrends.com/nations-only-federally-a...
[2]: https://mjbizdaily.com/dea-preparing-to-ok-companies-to-grow...
[3]: https://cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/natural-products/Ca...
[4]: https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling
[5]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cannabis_by_U.S._j....