Marijuana News: Advocacy Group Filed A Petition Against The DEA For Misinformation With Regard To Cannabis Effects

The never-ending battle between the effects of marijuana is currently brought to the court. The DEA shows some negative feedback with regard to cannabis. Now, an advocacy group filed a petition to reassess the statement as no evidence of such claims has been found.

SF Gate reported that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) declared on its website that marijuana is one of the dangerous drugs. It also states that the cannabis can cause mental illness and leads the youths to cocaine and heroin addiction.

Thus, the advocacy group Americans for Safe Access has asked the DEA to remove the claims from its website as there is no evidence of its stated conclusions. The group said that it causes misinformation about the health risk of medical cannabis.

Attorney Vickie Feeman, Menlo Park lawyer who represents the Americans for Safe Access, said that, "We have taken this action to stop the DEA's relentless campaign of misinformation about the health risks of medical cannabis." Also, the Agency's "refusal to acknowledge the scientifically proven benefits of medical cannabis" can cause harm around the country, according to Crime Report.

The American for Safe Access mentioned in a statement, "This is something President Obama can correct before he leaves office." The lawsuit will be filed if the agency will not remove the claims. However, the DEA does not want to comment.

Meanwhile, last Monday, the group said that the website of the agency contains more than two dozen statements with regard to marijuana. However, the group shared that the claims it has posted years ago are no longer credible.

Examples of the statements written on its website are as follows: "Marijuana use can worsen depression and lead to more serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, anxiety, and even suicide." "Smoking one cannabis cigarette increases the chances of developing lung cancer by as much as an entire packet of 20 cigarettes." Youngsters who use marijuana are "15 times more likely to use heroin later in life."

In line with this, the advocacy group is worried as the DEA has kept its negative comments on its website. So, it has the tendency to influence members of the Congress that somehow consider reclassifying the marijuana.