Reply #130: And meanwhile people suffer and die...

[skids]

...not just from the prohibition on cannabis, but also from the total ignorance of our medical establishment on the therpeutic effects of thousands of chemicals readily available to the public. Stuff like cumen, capsaicin, and for goodness sake Vitamin C itself is not being used effectively in many areas because nobody will fit the bill.

Man if I were rich and had billions to spare (after hiring the bodyguards to protect me from big pharma) I know exactly what I'd do as far as philanthropy goes...

(And in case you are interested, most of the "detrimental effects" -- not so bad IMHO compared to those many prescription pills already have -- from medical use of marijuana don't require a patented engineered chemical to remove, they simply require separation of the active ingredients so that if you are, say, an epileptic, you take the cannabidiol not the delta nine THC, and if you need the THC without the braindeadedness, you don't get the cannabidiol. There are lots of components to the natural form, and choosing the right mix makes a big difference. Doesn't really require chemistry, though, just botany and an accumulation of patient experiences.)