Why have we permitted the aggravating continuation of the national dispute over marijuana and refused to resolve it in an orderly, scientific manner? At present, the dispute remains in every region of the U.S., thanks to the relatively few numbers of constant users.

In some regions, marijuana is permitted because it is reputed to be a medical relief for persons with certain health problems, while in others it is considered criminal to grow, use, or utilize it for medical relief. It’s about time honest science meets the issue head-on and provides a permanent solution to the pesky issue.

Overlooked for a variety of reasons these days is the work of a group of scientists that came up with the notion that there exists certain medications that are superior to marijuana in giving relief to those persons with certain ailments. But their research has been ignored for reasons that are obscure.

Science owes it to the American public to come up with a permanent solution to this dilemma. The misuse of marijuana is a serious national problem. It leads users to other, more serious drugs that ruin their lives. Young, misguided persons are specially in danger as they experiment with what is called pot.

The American Medical Association should lead the way in calling for an all-out research program to settle the issue once and for all. It should request Congress to provide the funds and the research materials for a thorough plan of action that will utilize the best scientific brains in industry, the professions, and academia.

In the meantime, Congress should declare a moratorium on the use of marijuana everywhere in the nation — a moratorium that would last until the national research is completed and a final decision on the use of marijuana is available.

Such a program is needed for other reasons. Courts, lawmaking bodies, and police are at odds over what action to take in the meantime. In some areas, police are conducting raids on properties used to grow marijuana that is designed to be used for medical purposes. In some of those cases, the home-grown patches are supported by the law.

While the research program is going on, a ban on the use of marijuana should be imposed in every city and state in the union. Of course, such a ban would touch off a national howl by the pot users, whether they use the stuff for so-called medical purposes or just for tying on a “high one.”

They would say such a ban has never been tried before, but they would be wrong. Way back in the last century, we saw a ban on alcohol sales and use in what was known as the Prohibition Era. While it lasted, police raided homes and distilleries that were producing and selling illegal liquor.

The Prohibition Era also produced a murderous crop of racketeers and gangland slayings, and we certainly don’t want a repeat of that foul history. But a marijuana ban imposed by a group of honest, dedicated scientists would certainly not bring about an era like the Prohibition days.