patients use marijuana, despite its illegality, may suggest that many of these physicians have little respect for post-prohibition laws. The article also fails to address the negative side-effects of marijuana that result from smoking the plant. While there are many physicians who support the reclassification (and, sometimes, legalization) of marijuana, still others make different claims. In July of 1995, one month after “Marijuana as Medicine- A Plea for Reconsideration” was published in JAMA, the Department of Health and Human Services held its first research conference on marijuana. At this conference, several respected physicians noted that “marijuana use during pregnancy has harmful effects on children’s intellectual abilities... compulsive marijuana use may lead to an addiction similar to that of other illicit drugs...” (Claim V); and, finally, that “marijuana use can put a serious choke-hold on users who try to quit” (Claim V). Conflicting reports, such as these, are at the center of the smoke filled battle concerning medical legalization. In this case, the physicians assembled at the conference commented only on the drug’s negative effects, and they failed to discuss any possible beneficial effects. Although there are physicians both for and against the medical legalization of marijuana, the DEA enforces the laws. The DEA regularly makes publications against legalization. Claim V of these publications is entitled “There are no Compelling Reasons to Prescribe Marijuana or Heroin to Sick people”. In this claim, the DEA makes contradictory claims to those published in JAMA by Dr. Grinspoon. The DEA claims that “Not one American health association accepts marijuana as medicine. Statements issued by these organizations express concern over the harmful effects of the drugs and over the lack of solid research demonstrating that they might do more good than harm” ...
