:compcoff: Oh, boy…
Marijuana in it’s natural state must be filtered to remove unwanted byproducts to extract the THC. Without this process, marijuana is not much safer than opium plants and their byproducts. This process is the same with marijuana. Only when the target chemical can be exactly measured will it be approved for medicinal purposes.
Poppy plants in raw form can produce heroin, but processing can produce morphine, codeine, methadone, and other approved medicines that are much safer than the original product. Each carries its own risk that must be assessed with the patient, but dosage can be exact, enabling to the doctor to monitor and predict its effects to determine the best treatment.
Opiate addiction is a widespread problem, but is on the decline in most areas. States like Florida were behind the curve and became a target area for prescription diversion in surrounding southern states. Legalizing marijuana will only move the drug from Class 1 on the list of controlled substances to either Class 2 or 3. The government must continue to recognize that the drug is addictive and has a high potential for abuse, meaning it will continue to be a controlled substance that is monitored by DEA.
The illegal trafficking of prescription drugs carries penalties just as severe of penalties as trafficking of illegal drugs. Current law makes no distinction between the two. The ability for people to gain illicit profit from prescriptions currently approved means that the underground drug trade of marijuana will not go away simply because a drug has been approved as medicine. This is the sad reality of our society.