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MEDS Act promotes FDA-compliant medical research of marijuana<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0(Alexandria, VA)<\/strong>\u2013 Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Chris Coons (D-DE) for introducing the Marijuana Effective Drug Studies (MEDS) Act of 2016. Once passed, it would make it easier for researchers to perform legitimate research on the medical effectiveness and safety of marijuana\u2019s components.<\/span><\/p>\n Rather than rescheduling marijuana, the MEDS Act comprehensively identifies barriers to legitimate research and offers comprehensive, responsible solutions instead of \u201cmedicine by ballot initiative.\u201d More specifically, the bill:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThese steps are important because despite state laws, raw marijuana (smoked or ingested) is not medicine, and has never passed through the rigorous FDA approval process to ensure the health and safety of patients,\u201d said Dr. Kevin Sabet, President of SAM.\u00a0 \u201cThe plant\u2019s components should be studied so those in need can access any therapeutic benefits while knowing dosage, side effects, and contraindications. \u00a0And more broadly speaking, the MEDS Act upholds the important, basic principle that all medications-including marijuana-based drugs-should go through the scientific process and accessed through legitimate doctors.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n SAM is proud to join the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Society of Addiction Medicine, American Preventive Medical Association, American Pain Society, American Society of Anesthesiologists, and the American Academy of Pain Medicine in support of the MEDS Act.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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