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Sources

Our goal is to use the unique power of the internet to spread the truth about marijuana.

We realize that the case for the legalization of Marijuana must be supported with evidence and analysis. We therefore intend to provide sources to support our arguments. This is a process that requires intense research. In the future we plan to have links to sources incorporated in the text of the other topic pages. We are still working on this. If you would like to help us compile sources please volunteer.

The issue of sources is a tricky one in the debate over marijuana legalization. Who can we trust? Everyone involved in the debate is probably biased in some way. Agents of the government are biased toward the use and expansion of their power, since their jobs often depend on it. We in the legalization movement are biased because we have strong opinions and a clear legislative agenda. In order to be credible, we make every effort to provide evidence from impartial sources. We believe that all issues should be considered from a variety of perspectives, so we try to incorporate evidence from a wide range of sources.

• Sources on Marijuana as Medicine
  • "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base" (1999) -- The Institute of Medicine (IOM) published this report in response to the the White House's request for a review of scientific information about marijuana's medical uses. This report is informative and straightforward, and states the clear conclusion that scientific evidence indicates the therapeutic effects of "cannabinoid drugs, primarily THC, for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation." The report states that smoking marijuana is an undesirable method of intake because of health hazards associated with smoking, but that the physiological effects of the drug itself are within the limits accepted for other types of medicine. In other words, if marijuana is ingested by means other than smoking (such as by eating marijuana brownies) then it no longer poses an unacceptable health risk. The report also makes a clear statement refuting the "gateway" theory, which says that marijuana leads people to use harder drugs. The report shows how this theory is really just a semantic trick; marijuana is the most popular illegal drug, so of course most people who use other drugs have tried it. The report even argues that alcohol and tobacco are the real "gateway" drugs, if the theory is to be taken seriously. In sum, this is a valuable report that shows why a lot of the information that the government spreads about marijuana is untrue, and why we need more good research to clarify the medicinal role that marijuana can play. Read the report here!

  • The American Public Health Association (APHA) is a respected organization of public health professionals that has been active in promoting public health since 1872. In 1995, APHA published a statement on Access to Therapeutic Marijuana. This document explains why APHA believes that the government should make cannabis a legal drug, based on the conclusion that "greater harm is caused by the legal consequences of its prohibition than possible risks of medicinal use."

  • "Federal Foolishness and Marijuana," is an excellent article by Jerome P. Kassirer, M.D. The article appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine (Volume 336:366-367, January 30, 1997, Number 5) and explains why the federal government's position on medicinal marijuana doesn't make sense. The New England Journal of Medicine is one of the nation's most respected medical journals.

  • The Science of Medical Marijuana is a website sponsored by Americans For Medical Rights, and it has lots of information about the scientific, legal, and political issues related to medicinal marijuana.

• Historical Reference
  • The National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse (also known as the Shafer Commission) was ordered by President Richard M. Nixon to study the effects of marijuana on society. The commission's report, titled "Marihuana: A Signal of Misunderstanding," was published in March 1972 and concludes that marijuana prohibition is "Philosophically Inappropriate", "Constitutionally Suspect", and "Functionally Inappropriate." The commission decided that while marijuana use should be discouraged, prohibition is not a good solution. This report is essential reading for anyone who wants to be well informed on the issue of marijuana legalization. This online version of the report is hosted by the Schaffer Library of Drug Policy.

  • The La Guardia Committee Report, published in 1944, was commissioned by New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia to investigate the effects of marijuana. The full report is available online from the Schaffer Library of Drug Policy. The La Guardia Committee essentially found that the popular claims about the negative effects of marijuana were wildly exaggerated.

• Government Sources
  • The Office of National Drug Control Policy represents the White House Drug Policy online. Their site includes information about drug policy, with factsheets on various drugs and a section on marijuana.

  • The U.S. Department of Justice has a "National Drug Intelligence Center" (NDIC) -- Check out their marijuana "National Drug Threat Assessment 2001 - The Domestic Perspective."

  • The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) offers an "infofax" information page on various drugs; click here for NIDA's marijuana infofax, or click here for the main NIDA website.

  • The Office of National Drug Control Policy has two separate websites for dispensing anti-marijuana propaganda. The Anti-Drug is aimed at helping parents address the issue with their kids, and FreeVibe is supposed to be the 'hip' way for teens to learn about drugs.

  • The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) publishes this guide to speaking out against drug legalization. Anyone who wants to argue FOR legalization should understand the arguments that the DEA makes against legalization. Take a look at the DEA's "Questions to Ask" file, and then compare it to the DRCNet response.

• Mainstream Media
  • "The case for legalisation" appeared in The Economist on July 26, 2001. The Economist is a widely respected publication that gives logical arguments for why we'd be better off if drugs were legal.

  • Probably the best source on the web regarding the situation of marijuana in America today is the PBS Frontline documentary "Busted: America's War on Marijuana", which approaches the issue from several perspectives.

  • Rich Lowry, editor of the National Review, refutes the anti-marijuana arguments in "Weed Whackers: The anti-marijuana forces, and why they're wrong".

• Organizations:
  • The Lindesmith Center recently merged with the Drug Policy Foundation. The newly created organization is one of the major players in the drug policy reform movement. Their website is a good resource for anyone who wants to learn more about drug policy. Specifically, they have a set of the greatest hits of the drug policy reform literature. You might also want to check out their bibliography of marijuana regulation and reform and their fact page on Drug Prohibition and The U.S. prison system.

  • The Drug Library is an extensive collection of resources presented by the The Drug Reform Coordination Network. Make sure to check out the Schaffer Library of Drug Policy, which has a great selection of documents about marijuana.

  • Drug Sense is an organization that promotes sensible drug policy.

  • The American Civil Liberties Union is devoted to defending civil rights. Check out the ACLU spotlight on "Why Marijuana Law Reform Should Matter To You" By Ira Glasser.

• Other:
  • Public Opinion: The results of a Gallup poll from April 1999 indicate that a vast majority of Americans support legalization of marijuana for medical purposes, and that support for full-scale legalization is increasing. Another more recent poll again shows that support for full scale legalization is increasing.

• Do you know of a site that should be on this list? Please tell us about it.