New DEA Chief: Marijuana Has No Medical Use, Should Stay in Schedule I

[Ichingcarpenter]

The head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made headlines last month by admitting that marijuana is less harmful than heroin, but in a new interview he says that cannabis should not be reclassified under federal law even though “it certainly is not as dangerous as other Schedule I controlled substances.”

Chuck Rosenberg, acting DEA administrator, told Fox News that he doesn’t “frankly see a reason to remove” marijuana from Schedule I, a category that’s supposed to be reserved for drugs that have a high potential for abuse and no legitimate medical value.


Rosenberg says that while he supports doing research on cannabis’s medical benefits, he doesn’t think the evidence is there yet. “If we come up with a medical use for it, that would be wonderful. But we haven’t.”

And, despite reaffirming that marijuana is less dangerous than heroin, the DEA chief is adamantly opposed to legalization. “I’m not willing to say that it’s good for you, or that it ought to be legalized. I think it’s bad for you and that it ought to remain illegal.”

When Fox interviewer Jay Rosen pointed out that there is a “common-sense disparity, or irony, or disconnect” stemming from the fact that alcohol is legal but marijuana is not, Rosenberg seemed to acknowledge as much.|



http://www.marijuana.com/blog/news/2015/09/new-dea-chief-marijuana-has-no-medical-use-should-stay-in-schedule-i/


Aren't you tired of these lies by your government?
Haven't we already proven beyond a reasonable doubt
that this is just total bullshit line?

[Kelvin Mace]

1. So, who appointed him again?

[Eleanors38]

5. As per my comments in #3.

[Warren DeMontague]

2. Well, sure. If you're chief engineer on the gravy train, last thing you want to do is

question the gravy.

[HassleCat]

51. Exactly!

The civil asset forfeiture that results from pot busts is enormous. Not to mention the careers based on arresting pot heads.

[Eleanors38]

3. Normal course for any prohibition....

It gets dug in to the bowels of law enforcement and political bureaus, and no one wants to deal with it, esp. those who have been regularly bullied over the issue of legalization, and that would be a modern, denatured brand of center-liberal pols and bureaucrats.

[Rex]

4. I shouldn't be forced to live by that assholes belief system.

SOOOOO tired of the DEA and their bullshit war on the poor. So we only legalize things that are good for us? Cigarettes? Booze? War?

FUCK the DEA, nothing but desperate people clinging to a paycheck they don't deserve.

[Amishman]

6. of course not, the war on drugs is a cash cow for enforcement agencies

They won't do anything which would reduce their power or budget

[yellowcanine]

7. The comparison should be made to alcohol, not heroin.

[freebrew]

31. That's BS...

any comparison made should be to tobacco, after all it gets smoked not drunk.
The 'high' is nothing at all like alcohol.
It's more like the feeling one gets the first time puffing a cigarette.
Health-wise, it maybe compares to aspirin, w/o the stomach troubles.

I'm really tired of non-users telling me what it does and what's good for me.

[yellowcanine]

46. I could have said tobacco as well. Point is it is nothing like heroin.

Calm down already. I am on your side here.

It is actually quite difficult to make comparisons because cannibis can be a stimulant like nicotine or a depressant like alcohol, depending on the person - and probably the form/strength. It can also be hallucinogenic which is not true of either alcohol or nicotine. Also cannabis is not always smoked so the comparison to tobacco may be superficial that way.

Note: there is evidence that dose can change the effect of a lot of these substances - nicotine can be a depressant at low doses. A lot of other things factor in as well, including environment - is the substance being consumed alone or in a social situation?

A reason I think the alcohol comparison may be apt is that both tend to be used socially and that prohibition has been tried for both with widespread disregard for the prohibition by the populace. The model of permitting use with strict regulation and high taxes more or less works for alcohol - maybe it is time to try it for cannabis?

[reddread]

59. nicotine and heroin, two of a kind

except to lying parasites like this.

[Throd]

8. Who gives a fuck? I smoke it to get high. Mind your own fucking business, fuckturd!

Oh, and fuck off.

[Faux pas]

9. ...

[SoLeftIAmRight]

10. the earth is flat

...

it is not good that people in power can be so stupid or tell such great lies

[Javaman]

11. Translation...

"we are making way too much money on the "drug" busts to legalize pot".

[hunter]

18. Not just law enforcement... big pharmaceutical companies, bankers, drug gangs.

The DEA is the official price support agency for all drugs, legal and illegal.

The pharmaceutical companies get to sell expensive drugs to law abiding citizens whose ailments might be better treated with inexpensive, easy to grow cannabis, the major drug gangs with connections to corrupt politicians and law enforcement agencies have their smaller competitors shut down by law enforcement, and the banks happily launder money from any source, never asking any questions.

[Javaman]

20. Very good point. nt

[arcane1]

28. And the CIA too n/t

[villager]

39. The bank profits from prohibition are rarely looked it...

But they are, of course, complicit in -- and profiting from -- all the laundering....

[KarenS]

50. Don't forget the 'For-profit' Prison Business.

That's what we have here in Arizona.

I've read they love, love, love the marijuana inmates, an extremely low-maintenance group of folks.

[TeamPooka]

12. Prohibition is a failed public policy. nt

[dreamnightwind]

13. Thanks Obama

We would get much the same from anyone Hillary appoints. She tries to hedge and say that in theory she supports it, but we have to do more research first. I've been hearing that from duplicitous prohibitionists my whole life, and on the back end they work to make sure the allegedly needed research never gets done. B.S. No more of these corporate-owned Democrats, they really don't care.

And it doesn't need to be classified as medicine anyway, just legalize it already. Less people in jails, less people with convictions on their record, it will undercut the drug cartels if we legalize, it'll help mellow out our militaristic race-to-apocalypse culture, expand some minds, decrease violence, allow millions of uses to live without the shadow of illegality over their lives (this is huge and not talked about enough), make a clearer path to employment for users (testing is used by a lot of employers now), etc.

We need to get Bernie on record re this, I'm pretty sure he's not a prohibitionist but really don't know his official position.

[Throd]

14. I honestly though this would end under Obama and become a state by state issue.

Oh well, let's keep putting people in jail over a plant.

[villager]

41. We thought a lot of things would end under Obama.

We actually dared hope for change.

[B Calm]

15. Fuck him, I smoke it for my arthritis pain and he can kiss my ass!

[FlyByNight]

16. "I think it’s bad for you and that it ought to remain illegal.”

So please, Chuck, tell me why are cigarettes and alcohol legal?

I hope that post-government job/lobbying position is worth your - for lack of better word - integrity.

[SoapBox]

24. Exactly.

[aidbo]

17. Other sch. I drugs: heroin, quaaludes, and bath salts. Cigarettes, alcohol, A-OK!

[WDIM]

19. peacefully using plants is a natural human right!

The governmemt has no right to come between me and mother nature. It has no right to dictate what can be grown in my garden if i am doing so peacefully without malicious intent.

We are destroying peoples lives over a plant that is obviously safe and benign. We take away peoples freedom we take away people right to economic prosperity we take away people lives because they possess a plant. The tyranny of the prohibition of cannabis is indefensible.

They know it is safe. We know it is safe. Obama should be ashamed for appointing this liar to the DEA.

[Matariki]

21. Wonder which cartel is paying him to keep the gravy in their train?

[NightWatcher]

22. I treat my peripheral neuropathy, Raynaud's, and chemo side effects with it daily

I hope everyone who's against cannabis needs it one day.....and is able to get it (I'm not a jerk)

[kath]

23. Wow. What a fucking liar.

Thanks Obama!

[hifiguy]

26. This.

[jomin41]

25. WHERE ARE THE BODIES???

5000 years of history and millions upon millions of American cannabis consumers over the last 60 years or so... and where is any evidence of harm? Where are the bodies? Where is the harm? How many more lives are you going to ruin for nothing?

[arcane1]

27. We're expected to LOVE this because to criticize it makes us "Obama Haters"

Fuck that! And Fuck Obama and Lynch for appointing this lying asshole.

[wildbilln864]

57. exactly! And Cinton will be no better! n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

60. I strongly suspect she'll be worse.

unfortunately.

[jtuck004]

29. It's a gateway drug. It opens the gates to the bank for the police like nothing else. It's

great for busting black folk, since it is so ubiquitous. White kids get off with losing their pot, and sometimes just a smirk.

Our DEA - might as well be flying a Confederate battle flag.

[zappaman]

30. He's right.

[hifiguy]

48. Remember, kids:

[SoCalMusicLover]

32. Hillary Will Continue This Policy

NOTHING will change if she is elected. More of the same from our corporate overlords.

[B Calm]

53. I fear you are right. She is still saying there needs to be more research on

the medical benefits. She said the same damn thing in 2007. I even wonder if she would approve of the funding of this research she thinks it needs. . .

[Warren DeMontague]

61. If anything, indications are that she'll be worse.

Her statements on marijuana policy to date have been less than inspiring. She appears to be to the right of everyone save Chris Christie, on the drug war.

[rainbow fish]

33. People see no value in DEA. It should be on the the cut list on the budget.

Marijuana does have medicinal value, and I'm a living proof.

[bpj62]

34. Budgets and forfeitures

What is striking about his comment is that it flies in the face of established medical research. Also the U.S. Government is on of the lasrgest growers of Marijuana in the U.S. and they grow it for distribution as Medical Marijuana. Due to shrinking budgets agencies like the DEA have to find different sources of income and seizures from drug busts are a huge source of income.

[dorkzilla]

35. Its good for big pharma - as long as its stays Schedule 1 not a lot of research is going to get done

Or maybe he just didn’t get the memo:

http://thehill.com/regulation/administration/231717-surgeon-general-backs-medical-marijuana

[PufPuf23]

36. Chuck Rosenberg is not suited to head the DEA.

He is out of pace with the preponderance of scientists and doctors (including the AMA!) and 2015 American culture.

Chuck Rosenberg can have his own thoughts but those thoughts make him unqualified to head the DEA.

The DEA has much more serious matters.

[Ichingcarpenter]

37. Does anyone really think this is not a real CONSPIRACY and just ignorance?

And if it is a conspiracy then what does that really say about
the rest of the system and the illusions they hold sway on your reality?

[wildbilln864]

58. thank you! n/t

[Truprogressive85]

38. The DEA can stfu

War Drugs aka War on Urban America & Poor beast -it has to fed with more jails, more prisoners, more tax dollars

[Danascot]

40. Obviously he's completely unqualified

for the position to which he was appointed.

[Ichingcarpenter]

42. That's the illusion they want you to believe

the truth is ........... he's there because he supports this bullshit.

[SamKnause]

43. Paid f**king LIAR !!!!

How many deaths have been contributed to cannabis ?

Zero, nada, zilch, none !!!!!!

It was a crime against humanity when cannabis was declared illegal !!!!

It was a crime against humanity when the 'war on drugs' (war on cannabis)

was launched !!!!

F**king LIARS and CONS !!!!!!!!

[Generic Other]

44. Colorado and Washington report drop in drug overdoses

and use of prescription pain meds.

I think instead of defunding Planned Parenthood, it is time to defund the DEA.

[rainbow fish]

62. CORRECT!

That's where the cuts should go, and/or restricted to harder drugs such as cocaine, heroin, meth - drugs that have no medicinal values (although coke and heroin does have extracts that do)

[tabasco]

45. Where do they find these assholes?

All the stupid bureaucrats want to do is protect their jobs and the prison-industrial complex created by the insane "war" on some drugs.

[hifiguy]

47. As moronic as the climate change deniers

and with the same motivation - keep the bucks rolling in and deny, deny, deny the science.

Thanks, Obama. Great fukkin' nomination.

[angrychair]

49. Wasnt that hard to find Chuck

There have been many studies...I find the majority of "concern trolling" over cannibis effectiveness and side effects to be laughable at best. I watch TV Chuck...anti-depression drugs that cause suicidal thoughts or actions is one hell of a side effect. Heart drug that can cause major bleeding that is supposed to be better than the other heart drug that can cause major bleeding.

[Tsiyu]

52. And this is why I have lost most respect for Obama

He appointed this asshat, the head of the DEA "snort blow off hookers' asses" brigade.

Obama smoked pot and managed to become president. So fuck the "cannabis ruins lives" shit.

The ONLY reason it ruins lives is because of the DEA.

Bernie Sanders will close for-profit prisons and make cannabis legal. Do you think I'll vote for the same-shit-different-day Democrat in the primary?

We have THOUSANDS of rape kits that have never been analyzed. We can spend BILLIONS putting sick, peaceful, law-abiding citizens in jail for a plant., but the goddamned motherfucking piece of shit Justice Department can't find money for rape kits? Oh, now all of a sudden they found a little bit to clear up a backlog going back nearly a decade.

Yes, world. This is America, where we let the rapists roam free but goddamned, don't use a fucking herbal substance or your life is destroyed. But come to America where you can rape all the men, women and children you want! America LOVES rapists! We hate plants!

FUCK the DEA and Obama for appointing this piece of shit, greedy, scum-sucking piece of human filth.

[Go Vols]

54. Fuck that Guy.

[Blue_In_AK]

55. I can't speak for everyone, of course,

but it's been very good for me for almost 50 years. I'm one of the healthiest , happiest, most mellow almost 69-year-olds you'll find anywhere. DEA dude lies.

[rainbow fish]

63. I'll smoke to that!

Smoking for close to 20 years, and still happy and mellow.

[Marrah_G]

56. ~facepalm~

Who picked him?

[Tsiyu]

65. An idiot, apparently.

I'd love for the DEA chief to walk up and tell parents of kids with seizure disorders that their kids aren't getting relief. How heartbreaking it must be for these parents to hear this assclown tell them their babies aren't seeing their seizures reduced by CBD oil.

It's absolutely criminal that he says these things. It's heartbreaking as well for all of those people who find relief with this herb that OUR FOUNDING FATHERS GREW.

Another bold face LIAR, and our wonderful president appointed him, despite overwhelming public support for the legalization of cannabis. Is this what Obama calls listening to the people and being responsive to their needs? Fuck no! This is Obama getting on his knees and felating the oligarchs.

Why? I have no clue, but it sickens me more than I can say that he's the best the Democrats could do.

[HereSince1628]

64. People always protect their jobs and power ...and this guys power and budget of millions

depends on fighting the most common drugs.