Herbalists believe that whole
plants provide a broad spectrum of desirable effects, from specialized nutrition (herbs contain vitamins and minerals that drugs do not) to synergy of the various
components, which may
allow lower doses of pharmacologic ingredients to be used.
Ertmer concedes that federal law exempts from regulation the mature stalks, fiber, oil, and seed of the cannabis
plant but says that while the exemptions «may
allow certain
plant components to be imported into the United States,» it doesn't «change the fact that Congress did regulate the growing marijuana
plant.