Today it is not uncommon to be watching television and come across an advertisement promoting the use of alcohol and cigarettes. Both substances are detrimental to your health, and have no medical value yet both are legal to anyone of age.
To a Cancer or AIDS patients seeking relief from marijuana, these commercials must be difficult to bear. Peter McWilliams stated, "Marijuana is the finest anti-nausea medication known to science, and our leaders have lied about this consistently. (Arresting people for) medical marijuana is the most hideous example of government interference in the private lives of individuals. It's an outrage within an outrage within an outrage”. Many people do not realize the benefits of Marijuana and hemp because of conservative views and misconceptions.
Marijuana, or Hemp has been used since the beginning of recorded history. It has been used recreationally, medically, and for industrial uses. On August 2, 1937 Marijuana was made illegal. The cause was based on discrimination and racism most notably by Harry J. Anslinger director of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics.
Anslinger brought the Marijuana Tax Act to congress in 1937 making many racial slurs and statements such as “ There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others”. After a series of statements like this Congress passed the bill and Marijuana became officially illegal. This was hard to believe since less than a decade before the government encouraged the growing of hemp because of its many uses.
The main reason Marijuana is still illegal is mainly due to misconceptions about the drug, and conservatives who would not stand for it….Until they are diagnosed with Glaucoma, Cancer, or Aids; That might change there view a bit. Many people do not even know the benefits of the hemp plant. It can be used for fuel, food, oil, housing, paper, textiles, and for medicinal uses. People who are undergoing Chemotherapy are suffering from nausea and lose all sense of hunger; marijuana is the perfect antidote. It a...
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...e role, and routinely contact our elected officials.
There is no reason America should be denied this god-given plant. Its uses are endless unlike drugs such as cigarettes and alcohol. Whether you hate or love the ideal of marijuana being decriminalized, America is about freedom, and If you want to use marijuana medically you should be given your freedom of choice.
Works Cited
www.ThinkExist.com
Marijuana and Health, May 24 2014 www.Norml.com
Why is Marijuana Illegal? December 22 2014 www.blogs.salon.com
Anslinger sees a Demon. www.drug-culture.com/history
Hemp Could Save America. February 2 2014 www.RENSE.com EPSCOhost
Paul, Pamela Attitudes Towards Marijuana. American Demographics June 2014 p18 2p EPSCOhost
Sheramata, Davis. The Rehabilitation of Hemp Newsmagazine August 8 2014 p14 2p EPSCOhost
Klein, David. Marijuana During Adolescents Medical Journal November 2014 p976 EPSCOhost
America is in a war. A drug war with marijuana.Marijuana is a hallucinogen grown naturally as the cannabis plant. Smoking pot clearly has far fewer dangerous and hazardous effects on society than legal drugs such as alcohol, yet it is federally illegal. It is established scientific fact that marijuana is not toxic to humans; marijuana overdoses are nearly impossible, and marijuana is not nearly as addictive as alcohol or tobacco. But, the marijuana prohibition continues to be thriving. Marijuana prohibition causes more problems than it solves. This nation spends too much money where it could be making more money. If America were to legalize marijuana, it would cause a healthier economy, improve health care, and it would be safer than legal drugs like alcohol and cigarettes. The prohibition ruins thousands more lives than it supposedly tries to save and it should stop.
Evidence based on research shows that marijuana has been used since the beginning of recorded history or longer. The first known record of its use was from Emperor Shen Nung in 2727 B.C. (Deamuseum.org, N.D.). There is also evidence that the ancient Greeks and Romans were familiar with and used marijuana as well (Deamuseum.org, N.D.). According to historical information on Narcon International’s website, marijuana was used to treat various medical issues as well as for recreational purposes (Narconon.org, 2010-2014). From there, marijuana spread throughout the Middle East, then into Africa and northward to Europe. The Spanish brought it to the New World in 1545 and the Engli...
The legalization of marijuana is, and has been a heavily disputed issue for decades. On one hand, marijuana could lead to a medical breakthrough, or at least provide relief to cancer and AIDS patients. On the other hand, legalizing a drug could expose it to too broad an audience. As a drug, marijuana has never proven to be anywhere near as harmful as cigarettes or alcohol. Each year in the United States, 400,000 people die from tobacco, 50,000 from alcohol, and from marijuana, zero. Regardless of what side one may take to this argument, there are some causes to this marijuana debate that everyone should know. Marijuana was not always illegal, and the reasons behind the history of narcotic regulation are interesting when viewed from today's perspective. The history of marijuana prohibition is a story of racism, political repression, and poorly represents the qualities this country claims to embody.
Marijuana or cannabis, according to the Federal Government is considered dangerous and addictive and is, therefore, placed on the controlled substance list as a schedule 1 drug, making its use and possession illegal, as well it is considered one of the worst drugs. Other more harmful drugs such as cocaine are considered schedule II drugs, so according to the U.S Government cocaine is considered less hazardous than marijuana. There have been many studies conducted by scientist proving the benefits of medical marijuana in relieving chronic pain, nausea and a full array of other ailments. The benefits of legalizing marijuana far outweigh the bad. By allowing people to possess and use marijuana for medicinal purposes, we are improving society as a whole and increasing the happiness or utility of individuals who are living with debilitating conditions in turn this would create a happier society all around.
California was the first state to pass a marijuana law in 1913 followed by the rest of the states in the nation until the year of 1937, when marijuana became completely illegal at the federal level. (Guither) Before then, marijuana and specifically hemp had many uses for colonists and farmers and was such a critical crop for a number of purposes, that the government even encouraged its growth. It was not until Henry J. Anslinger saw the Bureau of Narcotics as a fascinating career opportunity that he latched on trying to make marijuana illegal so he could make a name for himself. It stayed outlawed until November 6, 2012, when Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize the sale and possession of cannabis for recreational use since 1937.
Marijuana is a relatively harmless drug that governments around the world have made illegal. If legalized, marijuana can be beneficial to society in a number of ways: whether it be for medical, economic, or public safety reasons. Marijuana has been proven to treat several life debilitating, and even life threatening diseases. Although it is not a cure, marijuana can ease the pain and suffering of a dying person. Another benefit of legalization is the financial gains that governments will accomplish through the taxation of marijuana. This is a realistic claim if marijuana sales are compared to that of cigarettes; governments make billions each year from cigarette taxes (Caputo and Ostrom 484). Every year law enforcement spends countless man-hours trying to apprehend marijuana dealers and growers. This time would be better utilized in dealing with more serious crimes. This essay will display some main reasons why marijuana is a substance with beneficial uses and applications. First, marijuana can be used as a treatment for the effects of diseases such as AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, and other terminal diseases. A study carried out in California clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of marijuana as a treatment for cancer: “Over 74 percent of the cancer patients treated in the program have reported that marijuana is more effective in relieving their nausea and vomiting than any other drug they have tried.”(Zeese 1990). Chemotherapy for cancer patients often produces nausea and vomiting. Marijuana has been proven to relieve these symptoms and there have been no known side effects recorded (Ad Hoc Group of Experts part 4).
Why is Marijuana illegal in the first place, if it provides so many benefits? Shockingly, throughout most of our history, marijuana has been legal. Its earliest use dates back to 7000 B.C. Marijuana or hemp plants have a vast amount of uses, such as fabric, food, incense, cloth, rope, and much more. In fact, the first law regarding marijuana was a law requiring you to grow hemp as a settler in the new world. The “United States Census of 1850 counted 8,327 hemp “plantations” (minimum 2,000-acre farm) growing cannabis hemp for cloth, canvas and even the cordage used for baling cotton” (Guither, 2013). However, in the early 1900s, the western part of the United States of America developed significant tensions regarding the flood of Mexican-Americans. One of the “differences” seized upon during this time was the fact that many Mexicans smoked marijuana and had brought the plant with them, and it was through this that California apparently passed the first state marijuana law, outlawing “preparations of hemp, or loco we...
“Prior to 1937, at least 27 medicines containing marijuana were legal in the U.S. Many of these medicines were made by well-known pharmaceuticals that are still around today. Eli Lilly being one of there that sold medicines containing marijuana had to stop production because of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. It was legal once so let it be legal again.
Marijuana has been illegal for less than 1% of the time that it’s been in use (Guither, 2014). Going back to 1619, the Virginia Assembly passed legislation requiring every farmer to grow hemp. Hemp was allowed to be exchanged as legal tender in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland (Block, 2014). It was actually a crime in some states to refuse to grow hemp in the 1700's. In the late 19th century, marijuana was a popular ingredient in many medicinal products and was sold openly in public pharmacies (PBS, 2014). However, in the early 1900’s things changed, a prejudice and fear began to develop around marijuana because it was being used and associated with Mexican immigrants. In the 1930’s, the massive unemployment rates increased public resentment and disgust of Mexican immigrants, which escalated public and governmental concern (PBS, 2014). In 1930 a new federal law enforcement agency, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) was created. Harry J. Anslinger was appointed the first commissioner of the FBN in 1930 (...
Marijuana has a long standing history of being one of the most controversial substances in America. While the history or the Cannabis plant indicates not only acceptance as a useful plant, but even advocated as a source of revenue and medicinal usage, much of the United States government propaganda over the last 100+ years has led Americans to accept very slighted and often false information about the plant and its uses. Based on the origin of the illegalization of marijuana and the inconsistent findings of its effects in comparison to other substances, both legal and illegal, marijuana should be decriminalized and treated as a recreational substance just as alcohol and tobacco are.
Marijuana in the early 1800’s to 1936 was being used as a cash crop was being grown more than corn and even tobacco because of its resource. throughout the United States and other countries marijuana strain fiber Hemp from the plant that were being used to make a lot of items. Hemp which was made popular in the 1800’s is the stong thread from the marijuana was being used to make, paper, clothes, furniture, etc. at one point it was going to replace cotton and wood, even the declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper. In the article; “Dispensing with the Constitution; Obama's executive caprice" Explains “On April 14, 1937 the marijuana tax law or the bill that outlawed Marijuana was approved by the house of ways and means committee making growing or possessing marijuana a crime. Marijuana was removed from the US of pharmacopeia in 1942 does losing its remaining mantle of therapeutic legitimacy plant” (Talley Brett).
To better understand the current political and social issues of marijuana in America it’s good to know the history. In 1619 legislation was passed requiring every farmer in America to grow the hemp plant for textiles. In the early years of American farmers were required to grow hemp. The versatile plant could be used to make sales for ships, rope, cloth and pulp for paper. While our founding fathers weren't sitting around smoking it some did write about growing it and was even used in Pennsylvania as money.
Marijuana use for medical purposes has been a major controversy in the United States and other countries for several years. A few doctors favor medical marijuana use because it specifically helps certain types of medial issues such as cancer, Aids, etc. It is obviously hazardous to give a patient too much medication and in some cases, the medications that is prescribed does not help and can make the patient more sick. Across the United States doctors should be allowed to use it to help patients whose conditions may be alleviated by marijuana use. Doctors should legally be able to use marijuana to assist patients who have certain types of medical problems.
Cannabis is a natural plant that has been made illegal by the United States, and has been a controversial topic ever since the 1920’s. Marijuana is a substance that has been used hundreds of years ago as an herbal medicine and also can be used for textile products from hemp, which is from the Cannabis Sativa plant. Because of marijuana being categorized as a schedule one substance, it has no medical value and cannot be researched in the United States. Marijuana is said to be a gateway drug and is very unhealthy for adolescents with premature brains. The marijuana prohibition should finally come to a close because there are many benefits from cannabis and it is less harmful than both alcohol and tobacco.
People have been fighting for the legalization of marijuana for a long time. Many people use this drug and find absolutely nothing wrong with it. Others find it disgusting and are opposed to the legalization of it. The earliest use of marijuana was documented in 7000 B.C. The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and many others used it for medical purposes. Marijuana was first used in the United States during the 1800’s and was banned in 1937 without any reason given by the government except that “it was for our own good” (Block, “Why Marijuana Became Illegal”). Marijuana should be legal everywhere in the world because, although it is highly addictive, marijuana is not as harmful as tobacco and alcohol, having a regulated market for it would reduce the sale and use of it amongst people under the age of eighteen, and the government can save and make money off of it.