Robert L. Maginnis

About the author: Robert L. Maginnis is the vice president for national security and foreign affairs at the Family Research Council, a conservative educational and lobbying organization. In 1999 he was appointed by Republican Senator Trent Lott to serve on the national Parents Advisory Council on Drug Abuse.

THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, has been found to have some medicinal properties. However, recent scientific studies reveal that marijuana's dangers greatly outweigh its benefits. Smokable marijuana is a harmful, unpredictable, and addictive substance that can cause or contribute to mental health problems, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and immune system disorders. For this reason, most scientific and medical authorities caution against the use of marijuana as medicine. Allowing marijuana to be used medicinally would also increase drug abuse—especially among teenagers...