[robertpaulsen]

"... and not responding in anyway to the thrust of the article."

Really? According to the article, "The FDA is politically prohibited from recognizing the value of a medicine that can be grown by people for free because the agency has such close ties to the pharmaceutical industry. This is my “theory” ..."

I was responding to that "thrust". If you'll allow the author to make these unsupported claims, then certainly my tame analogy is appropriate.

It makes more sense to me that the FDA would reject the medical appropriateness of a smoked plant because of the harmful carcinogens than some vague political tie to "the pharmaceutical industry".

[mugs99]

It makes more sense to me that the FDA

LMAO!
The FDA no longer has any credibility at all. The FDA ignores the recommendations of independent scientific panels and its own staff in favor of politics.
.

[Labyrinthos]

It makes more sense to me that the FDA would reject the medical appropriateness of a smoked plant because of the harmful carcinogens than some vague political tie to "the pharmaceutical industry".

(A) I am not aware of anyone who has actually died from smoking marijuana. If you have ever heard of anyone dying from smoking the plant, then now is the time to name names or at least give us a link.

(B) There have been quite a few threads here on FR of late that reference recent studies that suggest that marijuana may actually protect against certain cancers, and that the risk of lung cancer from smoking marijuana is no greater than the non-smoking population.

(C) Do you really think that the possibly health risks and side effects of marijuana are any worse than the crap that the pharmaceutical industry pushes on the all too trusting population every day? Read the small print for Ritalin, Flomax, Accutane, Cipro, Tylenol, Motrin, Viagra, and the various drugs used to control hypertension, cholesterol, and other common ailments.

[budwiesest]

Get a prohibition ammendment. Otherwise, the states and individuals may do as they please.

[RobRoy]

>>If you'll allow the author to make these unsupported claims, <<

I've been watching the FDA for quite a while. Although the author does not support the claim directly, it is like saying the earth revolves around the sun. You really don't have to support it. There is plenty of support, although some people in primitive tribes probably still think the sun revolves around the earth - unless they have google access.