<!–</p><p>/* Font Definitions */</p><p>@font-face</p><p>{font-family:”ＭＳ 明朝”;</p><p>panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;</p><p>mso-font-charset:128;</p><p>mso-generic-font-family:roman;</p><p>mso-font-format:other;</p><p>mso-font-pitch:fixed;</p><p>mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}</p><p>@font-face</p><p>{font-family:”Cambria Math”;</p><p>panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;</p><p>mso-font-charset:0;</p><p>mso-generic-font-family:auto;</p><p>mso-font-pitch:variable;</p><p>mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}</p><p>@font-face</p><p>{font-family:Cambria;</p><p>panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;</p><p>mso-font-charset:0;</p><p>mso-generic-font-family:auto;</p><p>mso-font-pitch:variable;</p><p>mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}</p><p>/* Style Definitions */</p><p>p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal</p><p>{mso-style-unhide:no;</p><p>mso-style-qformat:yes;</p><p>mso-style-parent:””;</p><p>margin:0in;</p><p>margin-bottom:.0001pt;</p><p>mso-pagination:widow-orphan;</p><p>font-size:12.0pt;</p><p>font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;</p><p>mso-fareast-font-family:”ＭＳ 明朝”;</p><p>mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;</p><p>mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;</p><p>mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;</p><p>mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}</p><p>.MsoChpDefault</p><p>{mso-style-type:export-only;</p><p>mso-default-props:yes;</p><p>font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;</p><p>mso-fareast-font-family:”ＭＳ 明朝”;</p><p>mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;</p><p>mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;</p><p>mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;</p><p>mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}</p><p>@page WordSection1</p><p>{size:8.5in 11.0in;</p><p>margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;</p><p>mso-header-margin:.5in;</p><p>mso-footer-margin:.5in;</p><p>mso-paper-source:0;}</p><p>div.WordSection1</p><p>{page:WordSection1;}</p><p>–><!–</p><p><style></p><p><!–</p><p>/* Font Definitions */</p><p>@font-face</p><p>{font-family:”ＭＳ 明朝”;</p><p>mso-font-charset:78;</p><p>mso-generic-font-family:auto;</p><p>mso-font-pitch:variable;</p><p>mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}</p><p>@font-face</p><p>{font-family:”Cambria Math”;</p><p>panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;</p><p>mso-font-charset:0;</p><p>mso-generic-font-family:auto;</p><p>mso-font-pitch:variable;</p><p>mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}</p><p>@font-face</p><p>{font-family:Cambria;</p><p>panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;</p><p>mso-font-charset:0;</p><p>mso-generic-font-family:auto;</p><p>mso-font-pitch:variable;</p><p>mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}</p><p>/* Style Definitions */</p><p>p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal</p><p>{mso-style-unhide:no;</p><p>mso-style-qformat:yes;</p><p>mso-style-parent:””;</p><p>margin:0in;</p><p>margin-bottom:.0001pt;</p><p>mso-pagination:widow-orphan;</p><p>font-size:12.0pt;</p><p>font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;</p><p>mso-fareast-font-family:”ＭＳ 明朝”;</p><p>mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;</p><p>mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;</p><p>mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;</p><p>mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}</p><p>.MsoChpDefault</p><p>{mso-style-type:export-only;</p><p>mso-default-props:yes;</p><p>font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;</p><p>mso-fareast-font-family:”ＭＳ 明朝”;</p><p>mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;</p><p>mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;</p><p>mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;</p><p>mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}</p><p>@page WordSection1</p><p>{size:8.5in 11.0in;</p><p>margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;</p><p>mso-header-margin:.5in;</p><p>mso-footer-margin:.5in;</p><p>mso-paper-source:0;}</p><p>div.WordSection1</p><p>{page:WordSection1;}</p><p>–></style></p><p>I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time believing that heroin and marijuana should be lumped together in the same class of drug.</p><p>But that is exactly what the DEA does. They list them both as Schedule I drugs, and that is the main reason  marijuana is illegal. The DEA website describes these types of drugs as having “no accepted medical use” and having “a high potential for abuse.”</p><p>It also calls them “the most dangerous drugs … with potentially severe psychological or physical dependence.”</p><p>And yet according to Patent number 6630507 B1, which was invented by Aidan J. Hampson, Julius Axelrod and Maurizio Grimaldi, “Cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties. This newfound property makes cannabinoids useful in the treatment an prophylaxis of wide variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.”</p><p>This patent clearly states that despite the DEA claiming marijuana has no medical value, it was pursued for the express purpose of medical advancement and study.</p><p>I can’t be the only one to take immediate notice of the direct hypocrisy here. I am also probably not the only one to take note of the drugs listed alongside marijuana as a Schedule I drug, specifically heroin.</p><p>This demands our utmost attention. It calls into question a very unjust situation with the potential of advancing a medical measure that could offer either remedy, or at the very least relief, for millions who suffer from the various ailments.</p><p>I call into question the continued classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug. If its continued classification as Schedule I is based upon “having no medical value,” the pursuit of a U.S. Patent exclusively for medical purposes renders the first statement void.</p><p>I stand behind marijuana advocates and support the cause of its legality. I believe it can offer a healthy alternative to the medicines currently being offered to millions suffering from illnesses, or at the very least offer a non-addictive alternative to current pain relief medicines.</p><p>Additionally, marijuana legalization is proving beneficial to state economies where it is legal. The Huffington Post cites a long list of these benefits, but one of the most notable is the job growth.  “7,500-10,000 — the estimated number of marijuana industry jobs that currently exist in Colorado.”</p><p>In a job hungry economy, that number should definitely grab a person’s attention.</p><p>The possibilities of either a state – to – state legalized industry coordinated through cooperative measures, or better yet, a federal legal marijuana industry, could lead to a tremendous job boom as well as a major and progressive boost in our economy.</p><p>It’s the change America needs, both for the health of the sick and hurting, and the health of our nation’s economy. It’s a daring change, and a progressive move toward a better-balanced future.</p><p><i>Greg Welch is an English senior and is running for the U.S. Senate.</i></p><p><i> <a href=”mailto:[email protected]”>[email protected]</a>.</i></p><p><style><!–</p><p>/* Font Definitions */</p><p>@font-face</p><p>{font-family:”ＭＳ 明朝”;</p><p>panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;</p><p>mso-font-charset:128;</p><p>mso-generic-font-family:roman;</p><p>mso-font-format:other;</p><p>mso-font-pitch:fixed;</p><p>mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}</p><p>@font-face</p><p>{font-family:”Cambria Math”;</p><p>panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;</p><p>mso-font-charset:0;</p><p>mso-generic-font-family:auto;</p><p>mso-font-pitch:variable;</p><p>mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}</p><p>@font-face</p><p>{font-family:Cambria;</p><p>panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;</p><p>mso-font-charset:0;</p><p>mso-generic-font-family:auto;</p><p>mso-font-pitch:variable;</p><p>mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}</p><p>/* Style Definitions */</p><p>p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal</p><p>{mso-style-unhide:no;</p><p>mso-style-qformat:yes;</p><p>mso-style-parent:””;</p><p>margin:0in;</p><p>margin-bottom:.0001pt;</p><p>mso-pagination:widow-orphan;</p><p>font-size:12.0pt;</p><p>font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;</p><p>mso-fareast-font-family:”ＭＳ 明朝”;</p><p>mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;</p><p>mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;</p><p>mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;</p><p>mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}</p><p>.MsoChpDefault</p><p>{mso-style-type:export-only;</p><p>mso-default-props:yes;</p><p>font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;</p><p>mso-fareast-font-family:”ＭＳ 明朝”;</p><p>mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;</p><p>mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;</p><p>mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;</p><p>mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;</p><p>mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}</p><p>@page WordSection1</p><p>{size:8.5in 11.0in;</p><p>margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;</p><p>mso-header-margin:.5in;</p><p>mso-footer-margin:.5in;</p><p>mso-paper-source:0;}</p><p>div.WordSection1</p><p>{page:WordSection1;}</p><p>–></style></p>