Marijuana is currently listed Federally as a Schedule 1 Substance (a category of drugs not considered legitimate for medical use) even though 15 States plus Washington, D.C. acknowledge it's many medicinal benefits. Many studies have shown it is a safe and effective way to treat pain, appetite loss, muscle spasms, nausea, and much more. In late March of 2011, The National Cancer Institute even admitted to it having "direct anti-tumor effects" so with further research marijuana could potentially be used to successfully treat cancer in the near future.

It's clear that marijuana doesn't belong in the Schedule 1 Category because it has a plethora of legitimate medical uses. I believe it is time for a discussion on a Federal Medical Marijuana Policy that would allow it to be prescribed* by a doctor no matter where they are in the country. According to the information gathered from data submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 4,824 people were reported killed from pharmaceutical drugs in the first quarter of 2008. it's time to give the people of the United States a safer alternative to pharmaceuticals. There are no recorded deaths caused by marijuana.

*(currently doctors can only "recommend" marijuana to patients in medical marijuana states, they can't prescribe it anywhere)