The United States of America (as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services) owns United States patent 6,630,507: a patent for "cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants." The patent acknowledges that "cannabinoids are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants, for example in limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and HIV dementia." Such a discovery should be made available for the benefit of public health and the products claimed in the patent should be specifically legalized for personal medicinal use.



