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On the one hand, United States federal government officials have consistently denied that marijuana has any medical benefits. On the other, the government actually holds patents for the medical use of the plant.

Just check out US Patent 6630507 titled “Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants” which is assigned to The United States of America, as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services.

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In a recent blog post on the website TownHall.com 20/20 anchor John Stossel has officially advocated the legalization of all hard drugs. “Of course medical marijuana should be legal,” he says, “For adults, everything should be legal.”

He goes on: “After years of reporting on the drug war, I’m convinced that this “war” does more harm than any drug.

I find it hard to disagree with that statement when considering the countless number of no knock raids that end up at the wrong house or the fact that violent crimes occur around drugs because they are illegal.

Here is a fact that everyone should consider: You have been lied to about the harms of most drugs.

Here is some food for thought from the article:

Myth No. 1: Heroin and cocaine have a permanent effect.

Truth: There is no evidence of that.

In the 1980s, the press reported that “crack babies” were “permanently damaged.” Rolling Stone, citing one study of just 23 babies, claimed that crack babies “were oblivious to affection, automatons.”

It simply wasn’t true. There is no proof that crack babies do worse than anyone else in later life.

Myth No. 2: If you do crack once, you are hooked.

Truth: Look at the numbers — 15 percent of young adults have tried crack, but only 2 percent used it in the last month. If crack is so addictive, why do most people who’ve tried it no longer use it?

People once said heroin was nearly impossible to quit, but during the Vietnam War, thousands of soldiers became addicted, and when they returned home, 85 percent quit within one year.

People have free will. Most who use drugs eventually wise up and stop.

And most people who use drugs habitually live perfectly responsible lives, as Jacob Sullum pointed out in “Saying Yes”.

Myth No. 3: Drugs cause crime.

Truth: The drug war causes the crime.

Few drug users hurt or rob people because they are high. Most of the crime occurs because the drugs are illegal and available only through a black market. Drug sellers arm themselves and form gangs because they cannot ask the police to protect their persons and property.

In turn, some buyers steal to pay the high black-market prices. The government says heroin, cocaine and nicotine are similarly addictive, and about half the people who both smoke cigarettes and use cocaine say smoking is at least as strong an urge. But no one robs convenience stores for Marlboros.

Alcohol prohibition created Al Capone and the Mafia. Drug prohibition is worse. It’s corrupting whole countries and financing terrorism.

Read the full article here. 

In case you missed it, the state of California has decided to allow Medical Marijuana Vending Machines to be placed around the city, in front of several of the dispensaries:

Good for California, I say.  We all know the DEA has been shutting down Medical Marijuana dispensaries all over California, because they violate national laws, but now another organization wants to have a say in California’s state laws.  A supranational organization.  The International Narcotics Control Board, a U.N. affiliated organization, is claiming that the vending machines are illegal under international law.

“The International Narcotics Control Board is deeply concerned about reports that computerized vending machines to dispense cannabis (marijuana) have been put into operation in Los Angeles,” Philip O. Emafo, president of the board, said in a statement.

Not only are they “deeply concerned”, but they are also calling for the U.S. government to take action.  Emafo said, “We know that the use of cannabis is illegal under federal law of the United States and we trust the authorities will stop such activities, which contravene the international drug control treaties.”

It has always been clear, by the actions of the federal government, that states within the United States are not free to make laws regarding substances that the federal government deems to be illegal.  Now, however, something even more insidious seems to be happening.  The U.N., an organization in which there are no elected officials representing the United States, is now able to have a say in the states laws.