Legalization of medical marijuana/cannibis usage in the state of NC

The U.S. Patent Office issued patent #6630507 to the U.S.Health and Human Services filed on 2/2/2001. The patent lists the use of certain cannabinoids found within the cannabis sativa plant as useful in certain neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and HIV dementia.

Since cannabis sativa (marijuana) contains compounds recognized and endorsed by an agency of the U.S. government- Why is it that marijuana remains on the Federal Schedule One list of drugs? The issuance of patent #6630507 is a direct contradiction of the governments own definition for classification of a Schedule 1 drug.
US Patent 6,630,507 Cannabinoids as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants

"Cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties, unrelated to NMDA receptor antagonism. This new found property makes cannabinoids useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of wide variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The cannabinoids are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants, for example in limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and HIV dementia. Nonpsychoactive cannabinoids, such as cannabidoil, are particularly advantageous to use because they avoid toxicity that is encountered with psychoactive cannabinoids at high doses useful in the method of the present invention."...

The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) classifies marijuana as a dangerous drug with no medical value. That classification contradicts mounds of evidence showing marijuana to be a very safe and effective medicine. Marijuana is more effective, much less expensive, and much safer than many drugs currently used in its place. Marijuana can provide excellent relief for those who suffer from cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, arthritis, rheumatism, asthma, insomnia, and depression.

If knowledge of marijuana's many medicinal uses, its remarkable safety, and hemp's enormous potential as a natural resource become widely known, the DEA fears that support for Marijuana Prohibition will collapse, and thus threaten the DEA's budget. To maintain the myth that marijuana/hemp is useless and dangerous, the DEA prohibits medicinal use of marijuana, denies researchers access to marijuana for use in clinical studies, and rejects all applications to grow industrial hemp.

In 1988--after reviewing all evidence brought forth in a lawsuit against the government's prohibition of medical marijuana--the DEA's own administrative law judge (Judge Francis Young) wrote:
"The evidence in this record clearly shows that marijuana has been accepted as capable of relieving the distress of great numbers of very ill people, and doing so with safety under medical supervision. It would be unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious for the Drug Enforcement Administration to continue to stand between those sufferers and the benefits of this substance in light of the evidence." Judge Francis Young of the Drug Enforcement Administration went on to say: "Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known. In strict medical terms, marijuana is safer than many foods we commonly consume."Judge Young recommended that the DEA allow marijuana to be prescribed as medicine, but the DEA has refused. -Source: US Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, "In the Matter of Marijuana Rescheduling Petition," [Docket #86-22], (September 6, 1988), p. 57.

Above Taken from uspatent6630507.com

I am a 37 year old who had a wonderful life, great career with a college graduate education. About 6 years ago I had a tragic accident that left me permanently physically disabled, as well as having cognitive impairment from a traumatic brain injury and neurological issues. Chronic pain everyday, and to top it off - "fibromyalgia" have ruined my daily life. I'm married with 4 children and have difficulties with everyday tasks.

I've been on oxycodone, nerve medications, depression, and PTSD meds along with 9 other medications everyday for the past 6 years. I'm not even going to mention the therapy and the spinal injections I get regularly.

I refuse to take more pain medication, but the catch is that I am no longer getting anymore benefit from it. These pills have a systematic reaction on me negatively, not to mention the synthetic opioids deteriorate your organs.

However the issue goes further than myself. Cannibis has many health benefits for all ages that should not be ignored, and for he good of health and humanity are upsetting to not be addressed or recognized. The children of this nation should not be made to suffer any longer because of the governments need for political gain. Cancer patients should not have to suffer in pain because if the ill effects of poison and radiation. Chronic pain sufferers and those with neurological conditions shouldn't have to fight this hard. This should not be part of politics whatsoever.

I am asking for your support in signing this petition so that NC legislation understands that this is no laughing matter, and needs to be recognized as a health and humanity issue. We are not asking to "smoke weed". We are asking for the legalization of medical marijuana. We want a decent quality of life, as our local government has for themselves and would want for their families as well. I want to be a productive mother and wife, and so do those with other impairments who could benefit from medical cannibis.

Thank you govenor for getting the ball rolling on house bill 983. The bill should however be for more than just epilepsy.