Challenge to federal marijuana laws to be heard in New York

by Icetruck

6 years ago

Challenge to federal marijuana laws to be heard in New York

The Associated Press

Iraq war veteran Jose Belen, who takes marijuana to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, poses in front of federal court, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018, in New York. Belen is one of five plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging federal marijuana laws. He is set to appear in a New York courtroom on Wednesday for arguments in a lawsuit that claims classifying marijuana as a dangerous drug is irrational and unconstitutional. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Army veteran Jose Belen (beh-LEHN') says the horrors of the Iraq War left him with post-traumatic stress disorder.

And the drug that he says helped him deal with the symptoms was one Veterans Affairs doctors couldn't legally prescribe: marijuana.

Now, Belen is one of five plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging federal marijuana laws.

He is set to appear in a New York courtroom on Wednesday for arguments in a lawsuit that claims classifying marijuana as a dangerous drug is irrational and unconstitutional.

The government has filed a motion to dismiss. Government lawyers say there are logical reasons for listing marijuana as a dangerous drug under federal law.