Could the U. S. benefit from decriminalization of personal drug use, while keeping drugs illegal?

Professor Alexander’s research has turned a spotlight on the U. S.’s overly harsh and inequitable sentencing in drug-related crimes. The witch hunt aspect of our fear of drug addiction has caused us to go so far as to punish a parent for providing effective medical marijuana treatment to a child.

After Treating Son’s Head Injury with Cannabis Oil, Minnesota Mom Faces Jail Time

Ever since Angela Brown’s son suffered a severe brain injury in 2011, he’s been complaining of excruciating pain. Brown tried everything to ease her son’s suffering, but said nothing worked except cannabis oil. Although the 38-year-old Minnesota mother seemingly had good intentions, she’s now being charged with possession of a controlled illegal substance and child endangerment. She could now face up to two years in jail and a $6,000 fine.

The now 15-year-old Trey Brown was playing baseball when he was struck in the head by a line drive ball — a hard-flying, close-to-the-ground ball traveling on a straight path. After the incident, Angela said her son suffered regularly from head pain, seizures, and muscular spasms. “He was in so much pain that he didn’t want to live,” Brown told the Huffington Post. “No parent can understand it until they have to sit in their child’s bed and hold them down so they don’t hurt themselves, or they have to sit beside them because they hurt so much that they can’t handle your touch.”

Desperate to help Trey, Brown said she and her husband David tried several medicines, but unfortunately, nothing was effective. Brown said a doctor recommended the couple to try cannabis oil, so they went to Boulder, Colo., to purchase the medicinal drug. She began giving her son the oil, and to their amazement, the couple saw immediate results.”Once it hit his system, Trey said the pressure in his brain was relieved,” she said. “You could literally see the muscle spasms stopping. He felt amazing.”

To read the rest of this article, see: Jail time for treating with medical marijuana.

To see how Stuart McMillen investigated the Rat Park research, in preparation for his cartoon depiction of Rat Park, visit the next page.