In a startling display of honesty that might cost her job, DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart slammed President Obama’s recent remarks regarding marijuana and alcohol. During an address to the Major Association of Sheriffs last week, Leonhart was critical of Obama’s pro-pot efforts and his close relationship to the pro-pot lobby. She stated that the lowest point in her 33 years in law enforcement was when an American flag made of hemp was flown over the Capitol. Leonhart went on to state that Obama’s comments were a slap in the face of cops who have lost their lives keeping drugs off the street. Her comments were met with a standing ovation by the assembled sheriffs.
“She’s frustrated for the same reasons we are, she said she felt the administration didn’t understand the science enough to make those statements,” said Bristol County Sherriff Thomas M. Hodgson.
DEA spokeswoman Dawn Deardon issued the following statement: “I think it’s important to clarify that the administrator’s remarks were not at against the president, as the story portrays, but continued messages that the DEA is not in support of legalization — and neither is the administration.”
Opponents of legalizing marijuana have repeatedly cited that marijuana holds no medicinal value and should remain in its current classification along with heroin and cocaine. But if this is the government’s position one has to wonder why the U.S government holds U.S. patent 6630507. This patent states in part:
“Cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties, unrelated to NMDA receptor antagonism. This new found property makes cannabinoids useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of wide variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases The cannabinoids are found to have particular application as neuro-protectants, for example in limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and HIV dementia.”
The very fact that the government acknowledges the medicinal benefits of the drugs in a patent yet denies in public policy that pot is beneficial is hypocritical.
