Changes
federal medical marijuana laws
Critics doubt that there are any medicinal effects of marijuana, other than an overall effect sought by drug addicts. However, some studies show that Cannabidiol, a chemical compound found in marijuana, inhibits cancer cell growth in lab animals<ref>Mechoulam R., Peters M., Murillo-Rodriguez E., Hanus L.O. '''Cannabidiol - recent advances'''. <i>Chemistry & Biodiversity</i>. August 2007. Vol. 4, Issue 8. Page 1678-92. pmid=17712814. doi=10.1002/cbdv.200790147</ref>. Recent studies have shown cannabidiol to be as effective as [[atypical antipsychotics]] in treating [[schizophrenia]].<ref>Zuardi A.W., Crippa J.A.S., Hallak J.E.C., Moreira F.A., Guimarães F.S. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research [http://www.scielo.br/pdf/bjmbr/v39n4/6164.pdf Cannabidiol as an antipsychotic drug] (PDF) 2006. Vol. 39. Page 421-9. ISSN 0100-879X</ref>, and [[marijuana]] is commonly viewed as a natural alternative to any otherwise synthetic pharmaceutical drugs. It has also been shown to increase brain cell growth <ref>[http://www.peak.sfu.ca/the-peak/2005-3/issue9/ne-mj.html science: Study shows marijuana increases brain cell growth ]</ref>
Opponents of [[drug abuse]] charge that efforts to legalize medical marijuana are intended to be a step towards complete decriminalization and generally decry marijuana as a "[[gateway drug]]". Many supporters of "medical marijuana" use marijuana recreationally. In California, medical marijuana is even available from [[vending machine]]s,<ref>[http://www.planetc1.com/cgi-bin/n/v.cgi?c=1&id=1236007310 Marijuana Medicine Practices Are Hazy and Confusing], Planet Chiropratic dot com</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,326634,00.html Medical marijuana vending machines take root in LA] Fox News</ref> similar to automated perscription dispensers at some [[pharmacies]] <ref> [http://www.scriptpro.com/products/spud/main.htm Scriptpro: Robotic Pharmaceutical Dispensing System]</ref>, still despensing medical marijuana remains illegal under federal law, except that the legality to patients of dispensing marijuana this way is disputed by the Compassionate Investigational New Drug Enforcement Agency (IND) program. Additionally, the seriousness of having a marijuana vending machine for supposedly medical reasons is off-set by the presence of a Bob Marley poster in at least one location<ref>[http://www.medicalcannabis. Marley was a member com Patient's out of the Rastafari cultTime, which advocates the recreational use of the drug under the guise of "spiritual" reasons.Nonprofit run mainly by federal IND patients] <ref/>
==References==
