Medical Marijuana Marijuana has been used around the world for thousands of years to treat a wide variety of ailments. Chinese emperor Shen Nung was the first to record marijuana as a medical drug in 2737 B.C. He documented the drug’s effectiveness in treating the pains associated with rheumatism and gout. The legalization of medical marijuana has long been debated within American society and Government. Marijuana was a legal source for medicines in the U.S. until the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, which federally prohibited marijuana. Prior to the enactment of the Marijuana Tax Act, there were at least twenty-seven legal medicines that contained marijuana available in the U.S. In 1970, The Controlled Substances Act placed marijuana into a …show more content…
In March 2008, then Governor Barack Obama stated in an interview with Gary Nelson of the Oregon Mail Tribune, “When it comes to medical marijuana, I have more of a practical view than anything else. My attitude is that if it's an issue of doctors prescribing medical marijuana as a treatment for glaucoma or as a cancer treatment, I think that should be appropriate because there really is no difference between that and a doctor prescribing morphine or anything else.” In a Harris Poll taken in February of 2011, 74 percent of Americans support the legalization of marijuana for medical treatment. Government organizations send the message that legalization of medical marijuana will result in increased recreational use, especially among adolescents. This claim is unfounded and sends the wrong message to the general public. Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the U.S. By legalizing marijuana, even for medical reasons, the wrong message is being sent out to our nation’s youth. Currently there are more young people being treated for marijuana dependency than for all other illegal drugs, and alcohol combined. Marijuana is also a gateway drug. A study conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that out of 300 sets of twins, the marijuana-using twins were four times more likely than their siblings to use cocaine and crack cocaine.
For years there have been debates on weather or not marijuana should be legalized. Now the controversial issue we face is the legalization of medical marijuana. Currently several states such as California and most recently Michigan has legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. Many people believe that this drug should be legalized for medical use, and others disagree. Either way you look at this situation people are going to continuing smoking marijuana if it’s legal or not. Keeping marijuana illegal is expensive and should be legalized for the citizens of Ohio who require it for its medicinal use.
The cannabis plant (marijuana) has been used medicinally by a variety of cultures around the world. It was used as medicine in the United States until when a new tax fee led to its discontinued use. Congress has voted on several bills to legalize the medical use of marijuana; however none of those bills were passed. In June 2005 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that federal laws against marijuana, including its medical use, are valid. The government has authorized few research studies into the health effects of medical marijuana. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved
“For me, the medical marijuana was a miracle drug, a life saver. I wish I had used it from the beginning because it was so helpful, and according to our current law, I should go to jail for it”, said Jeanette Bokland a nurse, dealing with cancer. Jeannette said she tried everything, then she got ahold of medical marijuana, and ate it because, “I do not want to smoke anything”. She is so happy she got ahold of medical marijuana, it took away my nausea, restlessness, anxiety said Jeanette Bokland. Our nation estimates 2,434,192 medical marijuana smokers; (Number of Legal) like Jeanette medical marijuana does help some patients dealing with cancer. It did not get her “high” it made her feel halfway normal. Jeanette was helped tremendously by
Marijuana has a deep history in America, being in the Americas since 1545 when the Spanish brought it over with them. Later, it was again brought over with the English colonists to Jamestown. Here it was used as a large cash crop similar to tobacco and was used as a major source of fiber. Later in the 1890s, a similar plant, hemp, became another large cash crop in the southern half of the US even replacing cotton. Around this time marijuana was also used in medications, although it was not on the scale of cocaine and opium, being used to treat everything from labor pains to rheumatism, “any disorder of the extremities or back, characterized by pain and stiffness” (The Definition of Rheumatism). Further on, in the 1920s marijuana became increasingly more popular with jazz musicians and even special cafes/clubs opening for its use. It was not until the 1930s when a campaign conducted by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics whom labeled marijuana as the harmful “gateway drug” it is seen as today. Though
First, from 1900 to 1940, marijuana, including opium and cocaine were considered part of everyday drugs. As time went on, the U.S. cracked down on crack and opium, eventually outlawing them, but continued to be very “loose” with the use of marijuana. Hoxter a weed smuggler explains how he began in the 1960’s trying weed and years later saw himself unloading four hundred pounds of pot in Vancouver. The story of this man ends in his isolation and argument of why he couldn’t smoke weed even if he stopped selling? He asked a parole officer and she didn’t know what to respond. It is true what Hoxter states, fifty years ago alcohol was illegal and now it’s not, was it bad then? Will weed be legalized? And will the conflicts have been in vain? (Schou 8). Around the late 90’s and early 2000’s, scientific studies started to produce jaw-dropping results. Scientists started to discover that marijuana can significantly help people who have become ill. Medical Marijuana has been tested to help people with cataracts, cancer and severe depression (Zeese 1999). With this new worldwide discovery, the argument about medical marijuana ignited. States wanted to only make medical marijuana legal so it may help sick people, but the government did not want any form of marijuana legal. The law that was known throughout the United States was any form of marijuana was illegal. But now with this new discovery, doctors in states across the country want the
Since 2900 BC, Marijuana, has been used as a medication for people suffering from illnesses. The Chinese, Egyptian, Indian, Roman, as well as the Ancient Greece cultures became extremely interested in Marijuana’s healing properties when they realized that the drug helped treat people suffering from glaucoma, gout, cramped joints, violent pain, earaches, inflammation, leprosy, edema, and other diseases affecting the body (Deitch). The idea of using Marijuana as a healer became popular all around the World and by the 1900s, it was being used in South Asia to treat asthma, bronchitis, and the loss of appetite (“A Note on Marijuana”). Eleven years later however, Marijuana would be outlawed and prohibited, starting with the state of
But only 9 percent of marijuana users develop a dependence” (Boffey). Even still, of those 9 percent that develop a dependence, marijuana addiction is dissimilar to that of heroin, alcohol, or nicotine, from which withdrawal is often an extremely painful, physical experience. In addition, the long-held belief that marijuana is a gateway drug has been debunked, and even quietly removed from D.A.R.E’s list of gateway drugs. As far as medical research is concerned, the clear consensus is that marijuana use is less harmful to human health than most other banned drugs. While tobacco causes cancer, and alcohol abuse can lead to cirrhosis, there is no clear causal connection between marijuana use and any deadly diseases. Furthermore, it is less dangerous than highly addictive but legal substances like alcohol and tobacco. Marijuana use cannot, in and of itself, lead to fatal overdoses, and there is little evidence that it causes cancer. Like tobacco and alcohol, public policy concerns support the notion that it should be kept out of the hands of minors. The downsides to marijuana use are less compelling as reasons to foist criminal penalties on its possession, especially not in a society that allows nicotine use and celebrates
The initial usage of marijuana for medical or therapeutic purposes emerged in the early nineteenth century and gradually gained popularity among physicians. It was not until the late 1930s that the prescription of marijuana faced any legal restrictions. Minor federal limitations such as the Marijuana Tax Act, Boggs Act, and Narcotics Control Act eventually propelled the ultimate legislation which is still in place today (Clark). This legislation, the 1970 Uniform Controlled Substance Act, categorizes marijuana as a Schedule I illicit drug. That is, the possession, purchase, distribution, or medical prescription of marijuana is considered a felony. It characterizes marijuana as a substance subject to abuse and lacking any medical purpose or
All of America should be concerned about this situation because it effects the economy of agriculture and medical industries. The production of hemp could be an alternative and more sustainable way than our current method of deforestation. Medical marijuana may be a safer and better alternative to some of the drugs on the market today. The audience for this paper will be for people who want to stand-up for themselves and not to just believe what people say not even myself but to go out and find out for themselves the effects these plants can have for our country, economy, and our planet as a whole. Voters, protestors, and anybody in politics need to read the important information to
Chemotherapy related nausea, glaucoma, migraine headaches, and epilepsy; all of these common medical ailments can have devastating effects and cause pain and discomfort to the sufferer. What they also have in common is the potential treatment of these illnesses with the use of medical marijuana, which can alleviate symptoms, bring relief, and help manage pain. The process has been simplified with a physician simply recommending medicinal marijuana, by concluding, after considering other treatment options that marijuana may benefit the patient and has become fairly easy to satisfy. Medical marijuana is a majorly controversial topic and encompasses legal, ethical, societal, and workplace issues, creating many arguments about how it should be handled at the state, federal, and local levels, particularly in relation to how employers interpret employee use of the drug. 23 states,
Legal marijuana has been in debate for decades. Whether it be for medical purposes or recreational purposes. I’m going to be going over the medical benefits in this argument. Take this hypothetical situation to mind. There are 2 girls sitting in line for a roller coaster ride. Both were very prone to epilepsy seizures in the past. In both cases when they are sitting in line they start having an episode. In one case the girl’s mom is able to pull out a THC pen because there in a legal state and give her a dose. She calms down and the family is able to spend the rest of the day having fun at the amusement park. In the other case, they are in a state where medical marijuana is still illegal. When she has her episode, the mom has to go get medical attention. They end up being rushed to the hospital and instead of spending the day at the park, they are spending it in the hospital. Marijuana has had little research done on it due to law issues; However, with new states becoming legal, the full medical potential in marijuana will soon be known.
The use of Medical Marijuana is a widely argued and criticized issue that is at the forefront of issues affecting our community and lives in this day and age. During my search for and against the use and legalization of Marijuana, I have been able to find extensive research which either supports or opposes the belief that Medical Marijuana should be an available option for medical treatment and the recreational use of it. I have committed myself to maintain an open mind while researching both the pro and con on the use of Marijuana, and have concluded that Medical Marijuana should be available for use. As for my opinion on the recreational use of Marijuana I have yet to decide whether it should be legal.
When people hear the word marijuana, they think of it being an illegal drug. But
Marijuana, scientific name: Cannabis Sativa, is pertained to as dried: flowers, stems, seeds and leaves of the hemp plant and has been recorded in history as early as 2727 BC used by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung. This contains a substance that triggers to alter the mind’s way. This substance is called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is commonly called by teenagers as “weed”.
Drugs are heavily used throughout the entire world. However, it is important to understand and not undermine the variability in which drugs are used. It is clear some are for distinct medical treatment and others are for recreational use. In the United States, marijuana has been and continues to be a very controversial drug. Some states have allowed marijuana consumption for medicinal purposes, while others have completely outlawed the drug. Those who are against the legalization and regulation of marijuana suggest the economical and health risk associated with consumption of the drug are too high. Although there is risk involved with the legalization of the marijuana, our country has already been risking too much banning the drug.