Iowa Pharmacy Board says marijuana has no medicinal value

"And that's what's slowly dying in our country: individuals' freedom to choose what's best for themselves."

I don't know that I would choose the adjective "slowly."

There is no shortage - and in fact an abundance - of scientific information supporting the medicinal potential of cannabis. Problem is, with a Schedule I classification, it's near impossible for anyone to participate in serious, longitudinal research.

As such, I don't hesitate to call any person who opposes cannabis a categorical psychopath, unaware of their innate bigotry and the debilitating effect it has on millions of people who're unjustly shunned by society.

Here's a better, more relevant question with regards to Grandma's favorite "jump off the bridge" analogy:

Q: If all your friends jumped off a bridge, dove into a river, and then came out okay, would you jump? Would you choose to stand back, stay on the bridge, and take pictures of their antics? Or would you call the police because there's a sign posted that says "No Diving"?

A: It's up to you. That's called "freedom". That's what (allegedly) makes this country great.

And that's what's slowly dying in our country: individuals' freedom to choose what's best for themselves.

" One advocate called the board's decision "blockheaded."

"Public opinion polls nationally are running 80 to 90% in favor of this and they're starting to get close to 50% on flat out legalization," Olsen said. "It's inevitable, one way or another it's happening..."

The cause for medical marijuana doesn't need that kind of "advocacy." The board said they needed to have the scientific evidence presented so that they could make a recommendation, and based upon their charter they probably do. There are mounds of evidence which could be presented, but this person starts raving about opinion polls? If this speaker is at all representative about the quality of "advocacy" that was making the case, it's entirely possible that no one there did present a cogent, scientific case for medical MJ.

I've dealt with many bureaucratic groups, and while making a strong case for something is no guarantee that they will decide rationally, if such a case isn't made, it's pretty much a given that they will opt for the status quo.

It sounds like a pretty standard business challenge: increasing one's market share. People are different and do different things, but in general people will opt for what is easiest, most convenient, and cheapest. Some folks will grow their own, for example, but most people would rather just buy a product. Pharmacies would probably never be able to compete in terms of knowledge and personalized service, but perhaps they could on convenience and price.

But given that, when an industry can get by without having to complete -- if they can just get the legal climate in their favor -- they will usually opt for that path. I don't know how "in bed" the pharmacy industry is with the state boards of pharmacy, but I would expect pretty heavy lobbying.

I would think that medical marijuana would be one of the biggest profit makers for the pharmacists, if cannabis were legalized for medical use and treated just like any other medicine. Let's not forget that, before criminalization, cannabis was available in pharmacies. In the 19th century that's where people got it.

They've short themselves in the foot in CA, forcing medical MJ into special dispensaries. Let's hope they're not stupid enough to do that again.

Yes, you should, but only if you're high, and only if you lack a sharp instrument with which to stab yourself.