This past Sunday, in an unexpected move, Puerto Rico's governor, Alejandro Garcia Padilla, signed an executive order authorizing the use of medical marijuana.

"We're taking a significant step in the area of health that is fundamental to our development and quality of life," Garcia said in a statement, addressing the order, which went into effect immediately. "I am sure that many patients will receive appropriate treatment that will offer them new hope."

Garcia said the Puerto Rican government would soon outline the specific details pertaining to the newly authorized use of marijuana and its derivatives for medical purposes in the U.S. territory. He said medical marijuana is already used in the U.S. mainland, as well as other nations, as an effective pain treatment for many ills, ranging from migraines to multiple sclerosis.

Medical marijuana is currently legal in 23 U.S. states. By and large, the decriminalization of cannabis seems to be continuing as a trend the world over, as Jamaica has recently passed a law that allows for small amounts of pot to be toted around.

The Associated Press reports Jaime Perello, the president of Puerto Rico's House of Representatives, announced his support for Garcia's executive order saying, "It's a step in the right direction."

Whatever will happens with the future of medical marijuana, the official U.S. view of the drug remains fairly negative.

As quoted in ProCon.org, John Walters, the former Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, was pretty clear about his feeling on the subject, saying: "Smoked marijuana damages the brain, heart, lungs, and immune system. It impairs learning and interferes with memory, perception, and judgment."

Noting that marijuana contains cancer-causing compounds, Walters further stated that pot has been "implicated in a high percentage of automobile crashes and workplace accidents."