Chuck Rosenburg, the new Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) chief has clarified that marijuana is safer than heroin. According to the Huffington Post, Rosenburg told reporters at the administration’s headquarters that “heroin is clearly more dangerous than marijuana.” This statement was issued by Rosenberg to clarify a statement he made last week stating that heroin is probably not as dangerous as heroin.
Rosenburg’s statement aligns with the science that has been clear for a while, that marijuana is one of the least dangerous recreationally used drugs. The new DEA chief’s comments represent a significant shift in the DEA’s perception which continued to classify marijuana as a highly dangerous drug, similar to heroin and LSD. Rosenburg’s comments also represent the departure of former head of the DEA, Michele Leonhart. Leonhart failed to acknowledge that marijuana is possibly not as unhealthy or as hard as drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine.
Marijuana has long been classified as a Schedule I for decades, Schedule I substances are classified as drugs which have the highest potential for abuse and no medical value. However, as more research is conducted it’s becoming clear that the drug isn’t as dangerous as public opinion. As a result, several states have legalized the use of recreational marijuana and/or medicinal use of marijuana. Currently, five states, including the District of Columbia have now legalized recreational marijuana, in addition 23 states have legalized marijuana for medicinal use. Activists and lawmakers who support the legalization of marijuana are remaining hopeful that Rosenburg will leave behind the DEA’s past of heavy-handed marijuana prohibition. Supporters of the marijuana policy reform are also in favor of the DEA using a pragmatic approach to monitoring and enforcing the drug.
In spite of Rosenburg’s statements he still would like for the DEA to continue enforcing the current marijuana laws, however he would like them to specifically focus on “the biggest and most important cases.” Rosenburg suggests that cases involving heroin, opioids, meth, and cocaine, essentially in that order, are cases which should be of more importance than marijuana cases.
According to Huffington Post, advocates for marijuana reform offered praise and jeers for Rosenburg’s new and clarified remarks. In regards to Rosenburg’s newest statements, Ethan Nadelmamm, executive director of Drug Policy Alliance says
“It’s sort of remarkable that a DEA chief simply saying heroin is more dangerous than marijuana could actually make news. I guess that’s a reflection of how out of touch his predecessor was — that she couldn’t bring herself to simply state the obvious.”
Would you agree that heroin is more dangerous than marijuana or vice versa?
Keep Up With Trending Addiction News
Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest | Instagram
The post New DEA Chief Chuck Rosenburg Claims Heroin Is More Dangerous Than Marijuana appeared first on Harbor Village Florida.
from Misc http://ift.tt/1SVKLpL via Heroin Rehab Dallas
No comments:
Post a Comment