A little known fact in the marijuana debate
Our very unscientific survey suggests so far that the second most commonly requested entry to this site is marijuana. Believe me, I’m looking.
In the mean time, here’s a “little known fact” about marijuana from Medical Marijuana ProCon.org.
“Marijuana extracts were one of the top three most prescribed medicines in the United States each year from 1842 until the 1890s.”
Interesting, but useless in debating the value of marijuana today.
Lots of drugs that were popular a hundred years ago are of minimal significance today. For example:
- “Swaim’s Panacea.” Syrup of sarsaparilla
- “Doctor Hostetter’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters.”
- Lydia E. Pinkham’s “Vegetable Compound” to cure “female complaints.”
Today, drugs become obsolete after just a few years. Newer drugs are more effective and generally safer.
- Aldomet (methyldopa) to treat high blood pressure
- Valium (diazepam) to treat anxiety
What we need are clinical studies that show marijuana is better than standard treatment — or at least complements standard treatments beyond just gettin’ high.
11/29/06 21:49 JR