Legalization Of Cannabis Research Paper

Seeing Through the Smoke

Introduction

As of today, with twenty-nine states having legalized medical cannabis use on a state level already, many people are curious what will happen next. In The Long and Winding road to Cannabis Legalization it is stated, “Clearly, prohibition does not work and the debate on legalization of cannabis gains momentum. This debate is often emotional, with strong views of both proponents and opponents. Those who are in favor of legalization tend to ignore the negative health effects of cannabis use. Those who are against legalization ignore the fact that legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco also have bad health effects.” Imagine a sustainable resource capable of producing medicine to treat depression or chronic

Cannabis has been a staple crop in mankind since the beginning. It can be said, that cannabis has had a large influence on our culture long before it was illegal. Native Americans were known to mix the flower of the cannabis with milk, to create an anesthetic, proving the medicinal value of the plant. Archaeologists have unearthed marijuana paraphernalia dating back to the first millennium, showing just how long this plant has been cultivated. As stated in the article History of Marijuana, “Marijuana also has a long history of spiritual use in India. It is said that the Hindu god Shiva rested under a cannabis plant and ate its leaves following a family argument... The Vedas, a collection of ancient scriptures, refer to cannabis as an herb to release people from anxiety. One story in the Vedas describes a drop of heavenly nectar falling on the earth and becoming the cannabis plant” (Tackett). With so many medicinal and spiritual examples throughout history, it is not quite clear why cannabis has not received the research it has earned and as well as simply deserves; it is a natural plant with so much to

Yes, Maybe, it is said that, “Hemp contains one of the longest and strongest natural fibers, rivalling synthetic fibers such as glass fiber. In the past it was used in clothing - it is said that Californian gold diggers' jeans were made from hemp”. Living in a world where resources have now become limited, and more natural approaches to every day life have become more appealing, hemp seems to offer some aid in producing natural materials able to aid in extending the life of the resources we have now. The fibers of which make up the cannabis plant is one of the most valuable parts of the plant. Commonly known as bast, the fibers bring the plants strength. Hemp fibers can be between approximately three feet up to fifteen feet long, running the entire length of the plant. Depending on how the fiber was removed from the stem, the hemp may naturally be white, brown, gray, black or green. In Europe and China, hemp fibers have been used in prototypes to strengthen concrete, and in other composite materials for many construction and manufacturing applications. A mixture of fiberglass, hemp fiber, kenaf, and flax has been used to make composite panels for automobiles. The first identified coarse paper, was also known to be made from hemp (Hemp