This article originally created by Focus on Family in 2005
Protesters Call for Medical Marijuana Use
by Josh Montez
Rallies in seven cities call on Washington to change pot’s classification.
Americans for Safe Access protested in seven U.S. cities yesterday asking the Department of Health and Human Services to take marijuana off the ‘dangerous drugs’ list or face a lawsuit. Twenty-five protesters showed up for the Washington D.C. rally while two hundred gathered in San Francisco. Hillary McQuie with Americans for Safe Access wants marijuana taken off the government’s list of Schedule 1 drugs.
“Schedule 1 is reserved for drugs that are addictive, highly dangerous, and have no medical use. That does not describe marijuana at all.”
McQuie would like to see marijuana brought down to a Schedule 5, which means most doctors could prescribe it. Tom Riley with the Office of National Drug Control Policy says the government has good reason for keeping marijuana in a dangerous category.
“Marijuana is a much more dangerous drug than most people realize. It’s implicated in a vast number of psychological problems, health problems, it’s involved in accidents.”
Christian Medical Association also opposes the plan.
“I would advocate for no move; to keep it a schedule 1 so that we don’t start that slippery slope process it can get to. Marijuana is still a very dangerous drug it is the gateway drug to many other forms of drug use.”
Americans for Safe Access is giving HHS 30 days to act before taking them to court.
Rallies were also held in Denver, Chicago, Kansas City, Seattle and Dallas.
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