On April 19, 2005, the Canadian government gave conditional approval to prescription sale of a medicine made from extracts of marijuana plants ingested as an oral spray.

While the US blocked privately-funded research, a British pharmaceutical company developed a cannabis extract spray that supplements existing non-smoking delivery systems such as vaporization.

The risks versus the benefits of alternative methods need to be established. But the US government is obstructing the science¹ because it fears the results will demonstrate an acceptable risk/benefit ratio even for smoked marijuana.

This research would be welcomed by the 14,600,000² Americans who currently use marijuana socially or medically.

It is time our officials take off their "drug war" blinders and recognize marijuana for what it is: a natural, relatively benign substance that can help bring relief to millions.