Thousands Petition Obama to Fire DEA Chief over Medi-Weed Comments

Soft Secrets
13 Nov 2015

Chuck Rosenberg rejected the efficacy of medical marijuana, saying it is a “joke”


Chuck Rosenberg rejected the efficacy of medical marijuana, saying it is a “joke”

Pro-pot supporters, spearheaded by advocacy group Marijuana Majority, have launched a petition against DEA head Chuck Rosenberg over his recent comments regarding the legitimacy of medical Cannabis.

On Wednesday, November 4, DEA Acting Administrator Rosenberg stated in a press briefing that he does not believe that there is any real medicine behind the medical Cannabis industry. "What really bothers me is the notion that marijuana is also medicinal - because it's not," Rosenberg said. "We can have an intellectually honest debate about whether we should legalize something that is bad and dangerous, but don't call it medicine - that is a joke."

In response to Rosenberg's declaration, more than 36,000 have signed a petition to the president that calls for the removal of the DEA head from his position as Acting Administrator. Marijuana Majority and other supporters of the petition hope to acquire at least 100,000 signatures throughout the collection campaign.

The petition suggests that "President Obama should fire Chuck Rosenberg and appoint a new DEA administrator who will respect science, medicine, patients and voters."

Most of those in the pro-pot camp, supporting the legalization of either recreational or medical Cannabis access - or both - agree that an honest discussion must take place in the United States so that the safest and most effective policies regarding such can be enacted. The main obstacle preventing such open discussion is the stringent tirade launched by the anti-pot side, based upon little to no fact and spewing emotion-based counter-claims and pseudoscience.

Ignoring decades of international scientific and medical research - in addition to literally centuries'-worth of anecdotal evidence - those fighting against legalization still claim that not only is medical Cannabis not effective, but that it is also dangerous.

The petition attacks Rosenberg's baseless claim, stating:

"Medical marijuana is not a 'joke' to the millions of seriously ill patients in a growing number of states who use it legally in accordance with doctors' recommendations.

"It is not a 'joke' to the growing number of prominent medical organizations - American Nurses Association, American College of Physicians, American Academy of Family Physicians, for example - who know that Cannabis has real and proven medical benefits.

"And it's not a 'joke' to the clear majority of U.S. voters who support passing laws to protect medical marijuana patients from harassment by police and the DEA."

Tom Angell, chairman of Marijuana Majority, explained to HuffPo that, "It's simply unacceptable for the Obama administration's top drug official to make comments that are contrary to what science and doctors say about medical marijuana."

 

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