Legalization of Marijuana

[Moustapha Floyd]

                 The controversial issue of the legalization of marijuana contests on (as it seems to be a 50-50 battle at the moment).  What started in the Arab world of the early 1200s by Muslims who were, religiously, not permitted to drink alcohol transcended to the new world (America) by Christopher Columbus in 1492.Once the Americans saw that the French and British were trading marijuana the law was passed in Jamestown, Virginia Colony in 1619 to allow the growth and trade of marijuana. George Washington’s primary harvest in 1797 at Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson’s secondary harvest at Monticello were both marijuana. It was Napoleon who banned marijuana in 1798 because of the lower class Egyptians who abused the use of marijuana. [However, in 1840 when the development of medical cannabis (botanical label) were all over in U.S pharmacies] the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) was established in 1906 then the Pure Food and Drug Act and DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), and then anti-marijuana law in New York (1927), Utah(1915), Texas(1919), Louisiana (1924). California was the first state to omit the anti-marijuana law in 1913 and also first to pass the medical marijuana law – Proposition 215 – in 1996, which led to 19 other states doing the same.

                Despite all the attempts by the federal government (the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Uniform State Narcotic Act in the 1930s, Reefer Madness in 1936, 1960 Anti-Drug Propaganda and the 1937 Marijuana Tax Law and its Stamp Act, so on.) marijuana is still popular on college campuses and among adult users across the country.  According to Lydia Saad “Thirty-eight percent of Americans admit to having tried marijuana, compared with 34% in 1999 and 33% in 1985” and at the current rate of 38% as of July 2013. The legalization of marijuana seems evitable due to the facts; the usage of Cannabis/Marijuana is over three decades ago and yet not a single death on record. It is not addictive compare to alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine. Marijuana helps relieve stress, anxiety, depression, slows down tumor growth, and patients undergoing chemo/radiation therapy. And lastly, legalization would save taxpayers billions of dollars and generates more revenue.

            Hungry, happy and sleepy are all the effects of smoking marijuana; Dr. Leo E. Hollister author of Marijuana and Immunity, Health Aspects of Cannabis, Staff of the Veterans Administration Medical Center and Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California whose studies support the above claim. Dr. Hollister spent his adulthood researching and studying the effects of cannabis in the human body, his results are outstanding and his studies range from acute and chronic effects and panic reaction of cannabis in humans, possible adverse effects of cannabis on health (pregnancy, fetal development, psychopathology), therapeutic, and so on. Dr. Hollister conclusion caution the use of marijuana among the very young because a drug that alters reality detriments on the user psychosocial maturation, also chronic use may stunt emotional growth thus strongly advised not to use during pregnancy and if any aggressive emotional disorders exist. On the other hand, motivational syndrome, marijuana psychosis, brain damage, physical dependence, emphysema or lung cancer, toxicity, immune response, chromosomes or cell metabolite, therapeutic uses, such as treatment of bronchitis, asthma, insomnia, hypertension, abstinence syndromes, migraine, anorexia, and alcoholism ether falls under lies or rumored because Dr. Hollister studies and creditability demonstrations his expertise on the subject of medical marijuana According to Dr. Hollister “compared with other licit social drugs, such as alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine, marijuana does not pose greater risks. One would wonder, however, if society were given a choice based on current knowledge, whether these drugs would have been granted their present status of acceptance. Marijuana may prove to have greater therapeutic potential than these other social drugs, but many questions still need to be answered”

        Additionally, Lester Grinspoon, M.D., is associate professor emeritus of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and the author of Marihuana Reconsidered, and Marijuana: The Forbidden Medicine.  Grinspoon is often called the most eminent scientist because of his passion he later discovered for medical marijuana. He began his research as a skeptic. One bored day and three years later, however, he came to the same conclusion as Dr. Hollister.  Due to this new found passion for medical marijuana Grinspoon changed his original thesis for his book Marijuana Reconsidered to support the legalization of marijuana. “Aspirin is ‘safe,’ although it claims between 1,000-2,000 people per year. With cannabis, it’s been around for thousands of years. There has never been a death – never been a death. Is there any other substance in the pharmacopeia about which you can make that claim? I’m not sure there is.” –Dr. Grinspoon

        Dr. Grinspoon was the founder and editor of the Harvard Mental Health Letter for 15 years and if that wasn’t impressive, he also was the first physician to prescribe lithium carbonate for bipolar disorders. He wasn’t afraid to tell the congress about this passion in the research and often was a witness for various legal proceeding such as John Lennon’s deportation hearing. Grinspoon illustrate his claim in his book, Marihuana, The Forbidden Medicine, describing the usage of marijuana as medicine. He identified therapeutically useful of Sativex and Morinal compounds of cannabis to treat pain, appetite loss and many other ailments. There is very-to-none evidence that suggest any significant health risk by smoking marijuana (inhaling in the smoke or getting high). Throughout the Western countries marijuana has been smoked for over four decades and yet no legitimate report cases of lung cancer or emphysema.

             However, the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) claims “Marijuana is properly categorized under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), 21 U.S.C. § 801, et seq. The clear weight of the currently available evidence supports this classification, including evidence that smoked marijuana has a high potential for abuse, has no accepted medicinal value in treatment in the United States, and evidence that there is a general lack of accepted safety for its use even under medical supervision.” The DEA claims that there isn’t such thing as “smoked marijuana is a medicine”, the DEA reiterated its department position by ensuring that the DEA job is neither to babysit people nor to stop them from making naive decision. The department’s job is to target criminals who cultivate and traffic marijuana – not sick and dying people using marijuana. This happens within the District of Columbia and the 19 other states that “medical” marijuana is approved in too.

            The DEA pointed-out Attorney General Eric Holder announcement of the formal guideline for which federal prosecutor will obey in states that enact laws authorized marijuana for medical purpose, on October 19, 2009, ensuring the DEA clear position. The federal resources do not focus on individual whose complain with state laws, and that the Department only prosecutes those who try to take advantage of state and local law to conceal illegal activities.  However, Controlled Substance Act (CSA) will be enforce in all states and the thought that the federal government has relaxed on its policy on “medical” marijuana is far from the truth; investigations and prosecutions of violations of local, federal and state law continues. According to FDA “The Fallacy of Marijuana for Medicinal Use” implies that “. . . there is currently sound evidence that smoked marijuana is harmful,” and “that no sound scientific studies support medical use of marijuana for treatment in the United States, and no animal or human data support the safety or efficacy of marijuana for general medical use.”  Yet such evidences haven’t seen the day of light.

             At the bottom line there are some major facts that still remind: The usage of Cannabis/Marijuana is over three decades and yet not a single death record; It is not addictive comprise to the other social drugs, Marijuana helps relieve stress, anxiety, depression, slows down tumor growth, and patients undergo chemo/radiation therapy, and legalization would save taxpayers billions of dollars and generates more revenue. Nothing will or can stop children or adults from buy or selling marijuana, however if legalize and being sold in stores; the same regulation applies – valid ID, prove of 21-years-old, the whole nine yards. This way the government knows what the kids are getting into their body and minds, because they control the flow of marijuana. Once customers begin purchasing from delis and weed dispensaries there wouldn’t be a need for drug dealers and kids who are focusing more on dealing than school may switch back because there isn’t anything out there anymore. If legalized marijuana can be taxed and be a new resource of revenue, producing billions of dollars annually in profit and creating job opportunities for the unemployed who in turn would help the nation get out of debt. Marijuana isn’t going anywhere so make the best out, what’s the worst that could happen?

 

 

 

sources:

"Marijuana and the Responsible Parent." Marijuana & the Responsible Parent. a href="http://envrc.org/parents-marijuana.htm?gclid=CNia9Kqjib0CFUxp7AodozEAoA%3E">http://envrc.org/parents-marijuana.htm?gclid=CNia9Kqjib0CFUxp7Aodoz...;.

Lydia Saad, "In U.S., 38% Have Tried Marijuana, Little Changed Since '80s." In U.S., 38% Have Tried Marijuana, Little Changed Since '80s. 2 Aug. 2013. Web. 20 May. 2014.

"Brainz." Marijuana (Weed) History and Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May. 2014.

Harris, Louis S. "A Memorial Tribute To Dr Leo E. Hollister (1920–2000)." Drug & Alcohol Dependence 65.3 (2002): 207. Academic Search Complete. Web. 20 May. 2014

Grinspoon, Lester, and James B. Bakalar. "Marihuana: The Forbidden Medicine." Marihuana: The Forbidden Medicine. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May. 2014

“Inter-Agency Advisory Regarding Claims That Smoked Marijuana Is a Medicine.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration,April20,2006.a href="http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2006/ucm/108643.htm%3E">http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2006/ucm/...;