Marijuana

822 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: background history of marijuana essay

Marijuana

Wether you call it Hemp, Mary Jane, Pot, Weed; it doesn't matter. It is still Cannabis Sativa, or cannabis for short. And it is still illegal. The use of marijuana as an intoxicant in the United States became a problem of public concern in the 1930s.

Regulatory laws were passed in 1937, and criminal penalties were instituted for possession and sale of the drug. "Marijuana" refers to the dried leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant, which contains the non-narcotic chemical THC at various potencies. It is smoked or eaten to produce the feeling of being "high." The different strains of this herb produce different sensual effects, ranging from a sedative to a stimulant.

The term "marijuana" is a word with indistinct origins. Some believe it is derived from the Mexican words for "Mary Jane"; others hold that the name comes from the Portuguese word marigu-ano, which means "intoxicant". The use of marijuana in the 1960's might lead one to surmise that marihuana use spread explosively. The chronicle of its 3,000 year history, however, shows that this "explosion" has been characteristic only of the contemporary scene. The plant has been grown for fiber and as a source of medicine for several thousand years, but until 500~ AD its use as a mind-altering drug was almost solely confined in India. The drug and its uses reached the Middle and Near East during the next several centuries, and then moved across North Africa, appeared in Latin America and the Caribbean, and finally entered the United States in the early decades of this century. Marijuana can even be used as "Biomass" fuel, where the pulp (hurd) of the hemp plant can be burned as is or processed into charcoal, methanol, methane, or gasoline. This process is call...

... middle of paper ...

...ke of argument - that marijuana has no medical value whatsoever, despite the fact that it has a several thousand year history of medical use and that a prescription drug is made from its primary active ingredient. Let's assume - for the sake of argument - that all these medical marijuana patients are just fooling themselves. Even in that case, what would we stand to gain as a society by punishing sick people and putting them through an already overloaded criminal justice system? Even if they are deluding themselves- what benefit is there to prosecuting sick people?"

In conclusion to this, it is important to state that there have been hundreds of studies showing that smoking cannabis is potentially harmful to the brain and body and the same number of studies contradicting what these have stated.

Bibliography

Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia 1996 Marijuana

Show More
Related

  • Joyas Voladoras Interpretive Essay

    715 Words  | 2 Pages

    What is Doyle’s message in Joyas Voladoras? Well, there could be many interpretations, but I specifically think that he’s trying to tell us about the heart. It does talk about many different subjects, like hummingbirds and blue whales, but it always comes back to ONE subject: the heart, the physical one and the emotional one.

    Read More

  • The Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850

    637 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Missouri Compromise had an interesting political action, It depicted the norths disagreement towards slavery was more of a political issue rather than a moral argument. In the early 19th century , the north was populated with abolitionists and radicals, those who believes in abolition. Their main aim was not to stop slavery because it was inhumane, but the fact that white people were becoming unemployed and the south were becoming more powerful.

    Read More

  • Brutus and Antony’s Use of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos in Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare

    1103 Words  | 3 Pages

    Brutus and Antony’s use of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos throughout the novel are just examples of the everyday persuasion used around us daily, when reading the play it does look like one giant competition to see who is the most persuasive and influential character. Even in today’s economy companies have to compete for the attention of consumers’ worldwide and politicians who argue their beliefs and views to millions of voters in order to get what they want, because the art of persuasion is just one big game.

    Read More

  • Manifest Destiny and American Politics

    665 Words  | 2 Pages

    Manifest Destiny was the idea that it was the United States’ destiny to take over all of North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Most of the public was in favor of territorial expansion, though some politicians felt it contradicted the constitution.

    Read More

  • Isolation in Winesburg Ohio and Death in The Woods

    2170 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Winesburg Ohio, the reader is first introduced to “The Book of the Grotesque”. This introductory chapter, provides the reader with what might be considered a summary of the characters in the novel itself. The elderly writer, who has obviously seen and experienced a lot of the world’s turmoils, e.g. The Civil War , has been haunted by the faces of all the people he has ever known. The faces of these people are twisted and distorted, and ultimately appear “grotesque” to the elderly writer: It was his notion that the moment one of the people took one of the truths to himself, called it his truth, and tried to live his life by it, he became a grotesque and the truth he embraced became a falsehood.” (p.24).

    Read More

  • The American Civil War was Avoidable

    1144 Words  | 3 Pages

    As previously mentioned, slavery was at the root of most tensions that arose between the North and the South, and the annexation of new land created much conflict concerning the status of slavery. Missouri Compromise dictated that the lands of the Louisiana Purchase north of the 36¢ª30¡¯ parallel were to be free of slavery. Democratic senator Douglas, introduced a bill in early 1854 which proposed the division of the Nebraska Territory into two units, Kansas and Nebraska, and the application of his idea of ¡°popular sovereignty¡± which would allow the territorial vote to decide the area¡¯s status concerning slavery. This proposal would, in effect, repeal the Missouri Compromise, which greatly angered abolitionists and Northerners. Douglas and Southern supporters won a congressional debate and shortly after, the bill was signed. With the passage of this bill, many conflicts arose. Much personal turmoil erupted in the territories with almost immediate tragic results in ¡°Bleeding Kansas.¡± Also, the bill resulted in a complete realignment of the major political parties: The Democrats lost influence in the North and were to become the regional proslavery party of the South, the Whig Party, which had opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, died in the South and was weakened in the North, and a new Republican Party ...

    Read More

  • Galahad as a Christ Figure

    741 Words  | 2 Pages

    Performing miracles to make life better for human beings is a characteristic that Christ figures possess. When the silver table appeared on Galahad?s boat, he needed help taking it off. He called to an old crippled man to help him carry it. The old man told Galahad that he had been crippled for far too long and such a task would be impossible for him. Finally, the cripple obeyed Galahad and when he stood up he ...

    Read More

  • Essay On Manifest Destiny

    1336 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...e new territories, and these debates led to a sectional crisis between the states. The Missouri Compromise was the started debates about slavery in the new territories. The Kansas-Nebraska Act led to further extending sectionalism by allowing popular sovereignty to choose whether a state has slavery or not. The Compromise of 1850 spread the idea of popular sovereignty to more territories, while increasing sectionalism and the conflict within congress. By the 1850's, there was a great tension between the states. In 1860, Lincoln, a Republican, was elected. The South feared the ideals of the Republicans, and also feared what Lincoln would do to the Southern states. The South went to war with the North over slavery. Manifest Destiny added to the existing sectional crises by introducing the problems of slavery in the new territories, thereby leading the country to war.

    Read More

  • Direct Characterization In Julius Caesar Essay

    399 Words  | 1 Pages

    In addition to this characteristic of Cassius, he also has a devious nature. This attribute allows him to invent informed manipulative plans to eliminate his opponents. For instance, after saying his farewells to Brutus, he gives a soliloquy that reveals his idea of throwing writings of different handwritings in Brutus’ windows “as if they came from several citizens” all of which “tending to the great opinion that Rome holds of his name, wherein obscurely Caesar’s ambition shall be glancéd at” (Shakespeare I. ii. 306-309). Since Brutus and Cassius have been friends for a long period of time, Cassius holds an abundance of knowledge pertaining to his values--in this case being his honor and desire to please Rome’s citizens. This undermining plot Cassius has devised is based on an informed opinion of the most effective way to subvert Caesar’s authority, and because of the valid observations made of Brutus by Cassius, the likelihood that this clever scheme will be carried out successfully should make Caesar concerned about the intentions of his judicial

    Read More

  • The Book of the Grotesque

    532 Words  | 2 Pages

    "The book of the Grotesque " is basically one big list of the supposed truths of this world. The old man who wrote this book believes that these truths are beautiful in and by itself; that is until people come along and snatches them up as their own truth. The truth then becomes a falsehood, making the person a grotesque. People will encounter many "truths" in their lives. These truths have only the potential to make people become grotesques, and cannot be used to define or identify one as being a grotesque. It is up to those who have to choose to select between living by these truths or just letting it go and getting on with their lives.

    Read More

  • The 1820 Missouri Compromise

    1149 Words  | 3 Pages

    The 1820 Missouri Compromise played a large role in the campaign against slavery. In 1819 Missouri became a statehood and congress considered framing a state constitution, with this a representative attempted to add a anti-slavery legislation with it. This is what started the process of the campaign against slavery. Henry Clay made a large contribution toward this compromise in 1820, with his new ideas on how to settle the conflict between the North and the South, which lasted until 1954.All the compromise’s made from 1820's to the Kansas Nebraska compromise in 1854, were all factors which led to the civil war.

    Read More

  • Winesburg Grotesque Definition

    1214 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... good thing, however in the case of the old writer, it is something that is very unique. To the old writer, being a grotesque is not being strange and ugly, but letting one truth run one’s life and create falsehoods out of all other parts of life. This quirky definition, given by the old writer, shapes Winesburg, Ohio and each and every story that lies within in the books. As the book is read more characters are revealed. However, the level of difficult of revealing the grotesque of the characters becomes more difficult. This is due to the fact that each character is grotesque in their own way. There is no single way to be a grotesque. Each character being a grotesque allows the old writer’s definition or theory to shape each story in the book. Not a page goes by where Anderson isn’t alluding to a truth that a character holds or why that truth makes them grotesque.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Signs And Miracles In The Gospel Of John

    1877 Words  | 4 Pages

    This miracle took place in Jerusalem. “We find Jesus at an unnamed festival (probably Passover) where He healed a man who had been lame for 38 years.” This certain man has been lying by the pool, and witnessing everyone around go to the pool of Bethesda, I would think this happened year after year. The people believed that this pool had healing powers, so many gathered there. First, Jesus asked the man did he want to be made whole. However, this certain man was one with many excuses of why he couldn’t go to the pool. Jesus then gave him specific instructions. “Jesus said to him, Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” After following Christ instructions, the man picked up his pallet and began to walk. This miracle shows that Jesus is the Lord over all things even the Sabbath. God is more concern with the well-being of people instead of any traditional events or ceremonies. This miracle shows that Jesus operates outside of time, and also His

    Read More

  • Sherwood Anderson as the Father of Realism

    1068 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ther." (14) Each of the grotesques depicted follow a unanimous theme of being gifted, creative dreamers. Unable to satisfy their hunger for life and expression, their desolation is multiplied. The most critical theme found throughout Anderson's stories is the clear reflection of real life. The problems faced by the people are actual troubles faced by society at large. The only difference is that these tribulations, as well as their effects, are exaggerated to make a point. Everyone lies to himself or herself at one time or another, and living outside one's heart is not uncommon. All individuals have some way of uniquely expressing themselves, some passion to focus their lives on. Perhaps Anderson is trying to warn us that the decision to establish all of one's existence on an absolute truth transforms people into grotesques, and thus their truths into lies.

    Read More

  • Essay On Turning Point In King Lear

    665 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...breathing but it is his abundant amount of grief that kills him. Lear weeps “Pray you undo this button” Act V, sc. iii, ll. 309 allowing the audience to observe a final change in Lear, when he comes to recognize that he is only human.

    Read More

More about Marijuana

Open Document