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April 21, 2006

The Politics of Science

The Republicans continue their war on science:

The Food and Drug Administration says there is no sound scientific basis for believing marijuana use has medical benefits...

The statement contradicts a 1999 finding from the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, which reported that "marijuana's active components are potentially effective in treating pain, nausea, the anorexia of AIDS wasting and other symptoms, and should be tested rigorously in clinical trials."

Dr. John Benson, co-chairman of the Institute of Medicine committee that examined marijuana's effects, told the New York Times that the federal government "loves to ignore our report ... They would rather it never happened."

Bruce Mirken, a spokesman for the pro-legalization Marijuana Policy Project, said Thursday: "If anybody needed proof that the FDA has become totally politicized, this is it. This isn't a scientific statement; it's a political statement."

Mirken said Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., a foe of legalizing the medical use of marijuana, had asked the FDA to make the statement.

Hmmm, do I look to the National Academy of Sciences for my scientific information, or to an agenda-driven Representative? Tough call.

Given that many Republicans are fond of looking to a 2000-year old text full of holes for their understanding of the universe, maybe this shouldn't be that surprising.

Souder, chairman of the House Government Reform subcommittee on drug policy, has said the promotion of medical marijuana "is simply a red herring for the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Studies have continually rejected the notion that marijuana is suitable for medical use because it adversely impacts concentration and memory, the lungs, motor coordination and the immune system."

Because, you know, when you're suffering through the pain and wasting of chemotherapy, being able to concentrate on how much it hurts is a really good thing. But, hey, suffering makes you just like Jesus, so said Mother Theresa...

Anecdotal, but my friend Tom, before he passed away, told me of his experience with medicinal marijuana: it was the only thing that took care of his nausea and pain from chemo. He limited his use because he didn't like being, well, stoned and out-of-it. So much for it just being a pro-legalization step.

I've met a number of Republicans who also seem to think that libertarians like myself are just conservatives who want to do drugs, so - once again - I'm not surprised at yet another misrepresentation on their part.

Now, now, my rightwing readers, don't misunderstand me: the Democrats would abuse science to fit their agenda just as quickly. My point is that you're all a bunch of yahoos.