Medicinal use of marijuana keeps getting fresh evidence in support. Ignore?

Scientists in Israel have discovered that certain chemicals in cannabis help broken bones mend faster. This chemical can possibly slow down or avert the onset of osteoporosis. How do we treat this constant accumulation of evidence in support of medicinal use of marijuana? One possible response, of course, is to dismiss this as yet another conspiracy to get Palestinians, among whom broken bones are as common as houses broken by Israeli shelling, hooked to weed and happily at peace with the world. But this would ignore other beneficial effects of cannabis. It helps, when stricken by ataxia, one of those conditions medical students learn to diagnose early on, after a spirited get-together. Cannabis used to be prescribed in certain types of mental illness, and some people argue it should be allowed to perform this service to mankind as well.

In India, cannabis consumption is part of the tradition in many societies, and we are not talking only about Naga sadhus. Till Rajiv Gandhi was led by some global organisations to criminalise the weed, its use was perfectly legal in this country. Rajiv Gandhi is dead and gone. We now have a political regime that sets much store by tradition and ancient glory. Should this spirit of revivalism embrace this piece of vegetation? To weed or not to weed? That is the question.