1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support federal cannabis legalization. The current Schedule I classification contradicts modern biological science and perpetuates policies rooted in racial discrimination rather than evidence. Cannabis interacts with the endocannabinoid system, which regulates neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus. CB1 receptors inhibit adenylate cyclase and trigger the MAPK/ERK pathway, stimulating neural stem cell proliferation, while CB2 receptors promote differentiation into functional neurons. Cannabinoids also stabilize mitochondria, offering neuroprotection against Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The FDA approved Epidiolex in 2018 for treating Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, with clinical trials showing some patients experienced near-100% reduction in seizure frequency. This creates an absurd contradiction where the federal government maintains marijuana as Schedule I while simultaneously regulating an FDA-approved cannabis-derived medication. Research demonstrates that cannabinoids selectively target cancer cells through apoptosis and autophagy pathways, and CBG eradicates MRSA within 60 minutes by disrupting bacterial lipid membranes. Our own military has conducted research at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Edgewood Arsenal studying cannabinoids for biomedical defense and soldier resilience, including CBD as an anti-convulsant against organophosphate poisoning from chemical warfare. The origins of prohibition reveal its true purpose. The 1937 Marijuana Tax Act was driven by Harry Anslinger, who used racist rhetoric claiming cannabis made "white women seek sexual relations with Negroes." John Ehrlichman, Nixon's advisor, admitted in 1994 that the War on Drugs was designed to disrupt anti-war activists and Black communities by criminalizing marijuana and heroin respectively. The U.S. cannabis industry is projected at $47 billion annually in 2026 despite federal obstruction. Federal legalization could reach $200 billion by 2030, allowing standardized testing, interstate commerce, and removal of the 280E tax burden that prevents small business growth. I urge you to support federal cannabis legalization that reflects scientific reality and corrects historical injustice.