Marijuana Essay, Research Paper
Thecontroversy of whether or not marijuana should or should not be legalized started in
1996 when Califrnia passed Proposition 215. The proposition made marijuana medically
available in california. Although not an permanent solution, it does provide a defense in
criminal cases.
If marijuana were to be legalized throughout the United States, would it be of
more harm or help to the patient? Both sides of the argument have very strong cases for
what they believe. ON the anti-legalizatoin side ther are concerns of helath and mental
risk, the problem of marijuana being a stepping stone drug, and risk that the use of
marijuana encites violence. While advocates of marijuana believe it is a more effective
drug, it is more cost efficent, and the worry of once it is legalized how will it be obtained.
Both of the sides to the argument will be presented and supported fairly and in an uniased
manner.
First a brief description of what marijuana is , its past uses, and what it has become
will be presented. Marijuana is a psychoactive or mind altering drug obtaqined by
processing the hemp plant. THere are three types of the plantt which include, Cannibas
sativa, indica and rudualis.(Sussman 2) In the 1600’s hemp was a major product used in
teh manufacturing of many things, and it did not befin its recreatoinla use until the 1900’s
when it was brougth from Mexicao to replace alcohol.(Sussman 1)
Now I will begin to present the arguments brought forth by those opposing the
legalization of marijuana. In the battle against the legalization of marijuana the major
arguement is the adverse efffects of marijuana on both the mind and the body. THe most
well known damage done to the body is lung cancer. When compared to a normal
tobbacco cigeratte a joint contains five times as much carbon monoxide, four times teh
amount of tar, and it does ten times as much damage to the lining of your respiratory
system.(Sussman 3) ONe would think why would you wnat to do this to your lungs? It is
because tetrahydrocanninol or THC, the strongest psychohactive part of marijuana relaxes
and takes away your pain very quickly and effectively. Another physical risk is that you
immune system will not be as effective when using marijuana.(Sussman 3) WHich is a
very goood point. You are a ill person and you want to get better. Would you wnat to
take something that would shut down the very thing that is fighting your disease. It is a
complete contridiction as to what you ate trying to accomplish.
Another major problem found with the use of marijuana is it can cause problems in
the mind. Use can cause confusion, disorentation, and hallucinations.(Sussman 3) There
are also other mental problems created by the use of marijuana. Wehn reporting of the
mental effects users have stated they cann’t stop using the drug, loss of self confidence and
memory, family and financial problems, and withdrawl symptoms.(Sussman 6) A
physcological effect also know in the fight is that marijuana has benn studied as a stepping
stone drug. Approximately sixty percent of adult users use other drugs. While it is not
clear how one effects the other it is believed that are pleasurable drug supports the use of
other drugs.(Sussman 4) This is an effect that would cause many more problems for those
who are fighting to stop the spread of drug use.
The final arguement I will Discuss im marijuanas link to violence. Many early
studies said that marijuana was not linked to violence, but recent studies show quite the
oppostie. Twenty-seven percent of murderers had smoked marijuana twenty-four hours
before comitting the crime and twenty-five percent say that marijuana was related to the
crome.(Sussman 9) Violence ahs also occured in order to obtain the drug. They include
the crimes of theft and drug dealing.(Sussman 9) These have been just a few of the man
arguements t okeep marijuana illegal.
While ther are many good arguements to keep marijuana illegal, ther are also very
many to help legalize it. Ther are many advocates in the fight to legalize marijuana.
SOme include the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Marijuana, Jerome P. Kassier who is the editor
in chief fo the New England Journal Of medicine, and Kevin B. Reeese the attorney and
president of Common Sense for Drug Policy.
Right now marijuana is a Schedule I drug, this means it has no medical value.
Advocates wth fro it to be reclassified as a Schedule II drug. An example of a Schedule II
drug is morphine. If marijuana were t be reclassified it could prove helphull medically in
many ways.
THC has been shown to help paitents inmany areas. Its’ greatest contribution may
be to chemotherapy patients. THC can ward off theeffects fo nausea adn vomitting brougt
on by chemotherapy treatments.(Fackelmann 2) Rhicard Gralla, director of the Ochaner
Cancer INsitute in New Orleans, says that drugs availabel today offer man cancer
pationets complete freedom form nausead and vomiting.(Fackelmann 2) On the other
hand Kevin Zeese says many patients can’t take these drugs that are required to be taken
orally.(Fackelmann 2) Pro-marijuana legislators syatha tinhalatoin delivers a quicker relief
which would enable the patient to regualte the amount they recieve.(Fackelmann 2)
Which would be best for the patinet because the could keep the pain away before and still
regualte how much they will recieve.
The use of marijuana may help in other areas as well. One is Glaucoma, a disorder
in which ther is exterme pressure in the eye. One study which took place over a period of
twenty-one years showed tha tthe pressure was relieved.(Fackelmann 3) WIth the help of
a glaucome presctiptoin and marijauan the subject was able to ward off the
pressure.(Fackelmann 3) Neither approach worked alone, which is why it make many
scientist uneasy to presctibe this treatment. This is a perfect example of why I believe that
the government should fund research to help find out why this happens. The more people
know then the less they willhave to fear.
Many people ahve a great fear of hwo they will obtain the drug if it were legalized.
When Prpostion 215 was passed the DEA interpreted that law so that only pople with
prescriptoins an those tha tlook after them could grow marijuana themselves. It also
stared that they couldnot get it from “pot clubs”.(Saccamano 1) Which leaves them to
deal with drug dealers and exposes them to danger.
The cost of marijuana is also a good basis to legalize marijuaana. The cost would
be twenty to thirty dollars an ounce or thirty cents a cigarette. Zofaran a commonly used
drug would cost a patient thirty to fourty dollars a dose almost a hundred itmes as
expensice as marijuana.Grinspoon 4) Thes have been a few of the main arguements
presented by marijuana advocates.