By 1937, 23 states had outlawed marijuana and the Federal Government passed the Marijuana Tax Act, which made nonmedical use of marijuana illegal. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana. Marijuana can be used for medical purposes if used correctly. There is a lot of evidence that marijuana can relieve certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms caused by such illnesses as multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS. It can even help the symptoms caused by the harsh drugs used to treat these illnesses.
The purpose of this paper is to discuss and analyze Medical Marijuana Policy utilizing the benefit-allocation framework. Policy Analysis Although Cannabis remains a federally controlled substance, the Controlled Substances Act has made medical marijuana policy discretionary among the states and local governments (Smithon, 2012). Highly selective regulations have been implemented by those states that authorize marijuana for medical purposes in order to prevent trafficking or other modes of abuse. Currently there are twenty-one states that have approved this policy including Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey (Smithon, 2012). Who?
The Act led to further myths such as the "gateway" term, which describes marijuana as a drug that leads to more dangerous drug abuse. Since the time our representatives took the uneducated initiative to ban the drug for medical purposes, it has been tested and found innocent of addictive qualities (Bonnie and Whitebread 4). "The best established use of smoked marijuana is an anti-nauseate for cancer chemotherapy. During the 1980's, smoked marijuana was shown to be an effective anti-emetic in six different state-sponsored clinical studies involving nearly 1,000 patients" (Randall 217-243). According to Peter McWilliams, an AIDS and cancer patient, marijuana gave him the most rel... ... middle of paper ... ...nd Consulted Bonnie, Richard and Whitebread, Charles.
The evidence of scientific research and clinical studies alone should be proof enough to change the current policy governing the use of marijuana. The use of medical marijuana should be an optional treatment for people who are inflicted with a serious illness. In today’s society the use of marijuana including other drugs like heroin, methamphetamines, and cocaine has been a big concern for every parent r... ... middle of paper ... ...l Academies Press, 1999. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). EBSCO. Web.
This prohibition was started because the researchers at the time could not find solid facts that supported the idea that Marijuana helped heal the body of diseases. The prohibition really took over by the mid 1900’s when the Boggs Act was passed which established minimum prison sentences for simple possession of Marijuana and then the Narcotics Control Act which lead to even stricter penalties for people possessing Marijuana (“Busted: America’s War on Marijuana”). In the 1970’s, however, the first advocacy group emerged known as the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). The NORML’s mission was to end the Marijuana prohibition, and since the 1970’s, numerous research studies have taken place, looking at the effects Marijuana has on the human body (“About NORML”). Throughout the 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s, and 2000’s, many studies have been done and have proven that Marijuana has healing properties that can help the human body fight diseases as well ... ... middle of paper ... ...Ed.
Despite government efforts to isolate and eliminate its use, it is clear that the use of marijuana is still very popular. There is an obvious problem concerning marijuana today. Governments on all three levels: local, state, and federal are trying desperately to find an appropriate policy involving marijuana. National polls show that more than 70% of the American people, from both ends of the political spectrum, support controlled access to marijuana for medicinal purposes. Despite fierce opposition from the federal government, voters in California and Arizona passed ballot initiatives in the fall of 1996 favoring the legalization of medicinal marijuana (Randall 33).
The solution to this problem could be traced back to one medication known as medical marijuana. Medical marijuana has proven to be effective in treating illnesses, it is easily accessible, and substantially beneficial to the economy. According to the file “Issues and Controversies”, medical marijuana is an alternative medicine which is used to both treat and prevent illnesses in ways that are not currently being used in hospitals right now (Alternate). The file named “Medical Marijuana” describes this plant as being beneficial in multiple ways and having great potential in helping people all over the country. This medication has been outlawed by the government since 1990 as a Schedule I illegal drug because it was said to be harmful and addictive (Issues).
Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. Mehling, R. (2003). Marijuana. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers.
Marijuana History. Narconon International, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. "Pros and Cons - Medical Marijuana."
Many believe that marijuana is a gateway drug but false facts and naive people create false hope for those who truly know what cannabis can do to the mind.Medical cannabis for centuries has been used for its soothing and hallucinogenic qualities. With so many states that have already legalized marijuana for medical use, the positives of this mind changing plant have altered peoples opinions and should now lead to its legalization throughout every state. From 1900 to 1940 marijuana, opium and cocaine were considered everyday drugs. After the United States outlawed both opium and cocaine,the United States government became very strict on their cannabis laws and it soon became frowned upon. Around the 90’s and early 2000s scientist began to discover that marijuana can significantly help people that became ill.Medicinal marijuana has been tested to help people with many forms of disease such as cancer, AIDs, cataract and severe depression.