The American Medical Association (AMA) has a tendency to take positions on matters that are not directly related to healthcare services or delivery. Such is the case with three resolutions involving cannabis. If nothing else, the resolutions clarify the organizations stand on cannabis from two different standpoints: legality and marketing.
The AMA’s House of Delegates recently voted to approve the three resolutions. Now the organization will write letters and begin lobbying government leaders accordingly. Their efforts come as Congress is seriously considering complete decriminalization.
Record Expungement
A resolution calling for the expungement of criminal records for those convicted of marijuana crimes was the first of the three approved measures. The AMA now believes that, with so many states legalizing cannabis, it is time to clear the records of those people whose marijuana crimes seem comparatively unimportant. They are also in favor of releasing those still incarcerated for marijuana crimes.
It is the AMA’s position that incarcerated individuals are more likely to suffer with poor health. Therefore, releasing marijuana criminals from jail is about giving them opportunities to live healthier lives. In addition, the organization doesn’t see how it is healthy for a person’s whole life to be destroyed by a marijuana conviction. That is why they believe record expungement is so important.
Marketing Rules for Marijuana
Next up, the AMA is concerned about the “over-medicalization” of marijuana. Their resolution calls out the fact that marijuana is being hyped in some places as a cure for anything and everything. The AMA believes consumers are not getting all the information they need about medical marijuana. They might even be led to believe that marijuana is “as safe as Tylenol, or carrots”, according to the resolution.
It is hard to argue with the AMA on this point. Anyone can go online and do a cursory search of the supposed medical benefits of cannabis consumption. All sorts of posts claim all sorts of unsubstantiated things. Even in highly regulated states, like Utah, misinformation is readily available.
Beehive Farmacy is a state-licensed pharmacy with locations in Brigham City and Salt Lake City. They say that Utah operators must be incredibly careful about what they say in regard to medical cannabis. But that does not stop amateur bloggers, influencers, and general proponents of cannabis from making unsubstantiated claims. The AMA knows this, and they want Washington to step in with marketing rules.
Labeling Rules for CBD
The third resolution follows closely behind the second. AMA delegates have let it be known that they are not happy about misleading labeling on CBD products. This particular resolution should not be surprising to anyone who follows the news. Recently, there have been a spate of reports about CBD mislabeling. The AMA believes something should be done at the state level to remedy the problem.
CBD labeling is subject to very few standards. Manufacturers do not necessarily have to be clear about the ingredients in their products. They can put substances in their products, like Delta-8 THC, and not include it on the label. They don’t even have to ensure that customers are getting exactly what a product label says. It is troubling.
The AMA isn’t the only organization hoping to convince the powers that be to come up with labeling rules. This is a big topic with a lot of interest right now. A resolution from the AMA simply gives it more weight.
Now that the AMA has officially weighed in, their three resolutions are likely to make some groups extremely happy and others unhappy. That’s the way it goes. Cannabis continues to be a hotly debated topic in this country.
