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American Medical Association 1937 Testimony to Congress

Cannabis was effectively made illegal in the United States in 1937.  Dr. William Woodward, the Director of the Bureau of Legal Medicine and Legislation

for the American Medical Association, testified to the House Committee on Ways and Means.  He was not allowed to speak to the floor of the House.

“I did receive instructions from the executive committee of the board of trustees of the American Medical Association to appear here and oppose this bill.”

“We ask cooperation on the part of the Federal Government by not imposing an unnecessary burden which in the end falls on the sick.”

“We cannot understand yet, Mr. Chairman, why this bill should have been prepared in secret for two years without any intimation, even, to the profession, that it was being prepared.”

The actual debate on the floor lasted only one minute and thirty two seconds.

A representative asked, “What is this bill about?”

The speaker of the House responded, “I don’t know.  It has something to do with a thing called marijuana.  I think it’s a narcotic of some kind.”

The representative went on to ask, “Does the American Medical Association support this bill?”
The speaker responded, “Their Dr. Woodward came down here and supported this bill 100%.”

1988 DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge Ruling

“From the foregoing uncontroverted facts it is clear beyond any question that many people find marijuana to have, in the words of the Act, an “accepted medical use in treatment in the United States” in effecting relief for cancer patients.” (p. 26)

“Marijuana has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States for spasticity resulting from multiple sclerosis and other causes.” (p.54)

“Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man.” (p. 58)

“A smoker would theoretically have to consume nearly 1,500 pounds of marijuana within about fifteen minutes to induce a lethal response.” (p. 57)

“Based upon the facts established in this record and set out above one must reasonably conclude that there is accepted safety for use of marijuana under medical supervision.  To conclude otherwise, on this record, would be unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious.” (p. 66)

“The judge recommends that the Administrator transfer marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II.” (p. 68)

Iowa Board of Pharmacy hearings

In 2009, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy was forced to review the issue of medical marijuana after a lawsuit revealed they had been told by law to do so in 1979.

Over 30,000 pages of studies and testimony were submitted.  The bipartisan board unanimously recommended legalizing medical marijuana, becoming the first in the country to do so.

These are just a few of those doctors and patients telling their stories.