Pubdate: Wed, 27 Apr 2016 Source: Times-Tribune, The (Scranton PA) Copyright: 2016 Townnews.com Contact: http://www.thetimes-tribune.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4440 Author: Neill Ackerman RECLASSIFY MARIJUANA Editor: Medical marijuana has now been legalized in 24 states, with about 51 percent of the U.S. population. Its use it well-known for treating patients suffering from a range of serious conditions, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and other disorders. In light of the effectiveness of medical marijuana, I urge our representatives in Washington, including U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright and Sens. Pat Toomey and Bob Casey, to take the initiative and sponsor a bill that would remove marijuana from its present classification as a Schedule I substance that has no medical use. That classification is outdated and clearly false. This would allow medical centers and universities to conduct research on this substance, which has many benefits. It may be found that medical marijuana could help control pain more safely than the opioids that contribute to an epidemic of addiction, overdoses and deaths. NEILL ACKERMAN SCRANTON - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom