...Benefits of Marijuana Elizabeth Taylor COM/172 July 9th, 2015 Vernon Thompson Benefits of Marijuana Marijuana, also known as cannabis was first scientifically described as “botanical”. A book called, “Hortus Malabaricus (1678-1693)” published in Amsterdam, explains how it was originally discovered and its uses during that time. Between then and 1936, governments encouraged the production of hemp, which caused the Pure Food and Drug Act to be enforced. Concerns started arising; therefore The Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) and Uniform State Narcotics Act was adopted (pbs.org). It was then believed to cause men of color to become violent and solicit sex from white women. In 1937, this belief caused for the Marijuana Tax Act renamed in 1970 as Controlled Substances Act to take place, forcing marijuana to be permanently banned ("How Did Marijuana Become Illegal In The First Place?", 2014). The view on marijuana has drastically changed, making California the first states in 1996 to approve the use of medical marijuana. Since then, 23 states including the District of Columbia have changed their laws by legalizing medical marijuana. Only Colorado, Washington D.C., Oregon, and Alaska approved recreational use of marijuana (forbes.com, 2015). Therefore, if marijuana becomes legalized nationally, it will increase the state revenue; reduce unemployment, meanwhile treating patients’ dealing with cancer, epilepsy, and PTSD symptoms. Colorado is a prime example of how the state...
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...Marijuana should be decriminalized in every state owing to its capability. Marijuana comes from a plant classified as cannabis. The synthetic compound that is in cannabis incorporates a diversity of benefits in the body. Tetrahydrocannabinol, universally perceived as THC, it is the chemical that produces physiological effects on a human being’s body. The human body encounters a natural chemical that behaves just like tetrahydrocannabinol and that chemical is called cannabinoids (Scholastic, 2011). In this discussion, I will argue the benefits of marijuana on an individual. Corresponding to Professor Andreas Zimmer’s studies, he has justified the efficiency of the body's instinctive cannabinoids and those are to support natural production of...
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...started using Marijuana for medicinal purposes centuries ago. During the time of recorded history, some communities like the Chinese have been recorded as they used marijuana for certain therapeutic reasons. Marijuana contains a substance called cannabis indica, that possesses sedative effects and it is thus used at night to treat insomnia. Another substance contained in marijuana is cannabis sativa elicits stimulating effects in patients. As a result, it is used during the day to stimulate in patients who have eating disorders and anorexia. Similarly, marijuana contains cannabinoids, which have considerable analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, antitumor properties, and anticancer properties. These properties enable its use in the treatment of lung and breast cancer. The anti-cancer property results from the availability of cannabidiol in the marijuana plant: the anti-cancer agent that does not induce euphoria. Medically, Marijuana has also been found to alleviate certain signs of spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis by showing muscle-relaxant and antispasmodic effects. Modern research has revealed that cannabis is a useful help in the treatment of a various clinical applications. These include pain relief, like in the case of neuropathic pain, glaucoma, nausea, spasticity and movement disorders. Recently, the frequent marijuana use was connected with better glucose control. Researchers have found out that the existing diabetes patients who use marijuana have notably...
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...Marijuana has spawned its share of monsters; none, more fearsome than those who uphold existing criminal codes against the utility of a single plant bearing twin blessings: industrial hemp and cannabis. The former, a seed and plant stalk, may revolutionize how clothing and textiles are manufactured and sold for profit while sustaining the world's ever-fragile ecosystems. The medicinal and social capabilities of the latter may ameliorate illness and quell tendencies for violence among those choosing to partake. If sanctions against cannabis are upheld, Earth and all its life-supporting systems are the ultimate victims, losing out on optimal ecological health to conservative arbiters who blindly disregard the plant's untapped potential...
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...Marijuana, which had once been considered as a lethal drug, is now seen as a mild drug and the number of people demanding it to be legalized has skyrocketed over the last couple of decades. And all this thanks to the media, which have played a pivotal role in bringing about a shift in people’s perception of marijuana. Long back, marijuana was considered as a typically lethal drug. Many movies, novels and celebrities were largely responsible for instilling in people such made up facts about marijuana. “Reefer Madness”, the 1936 cult hit, depicted marijuana as the primary cause for turning two teenagers into sex-crazed murderers. Novels such as “Badge of Evil”, “Casino Royale”, etc were used as strong propaganda against marijuana causing it to be considered as a violence inducing drug. Currently, marijuana does not have the lethal drug status anymore. If we happen to see someone smoking marijuana in a television program, we will definitely not get embarrassed. Although marijuana is illegal in many states of America, it is so popular and a recent study reveals that one in fifteen high school students smoke marijuana almost every day. The 21st Century considers marijuana as a medicine for many debilitating diseases and relief for chronic aches. No doubt, marijuana is a best remedy to increase appetite and thus resolve the weight loss problem in HIV patients. Similarly, marijuana is best to alleviate the intensity of pain in cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy. Marijuana...
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...The Benefits of Decriminalizing Marijuana There are so many benefits to be derived from the herb Marijuana, yet it sparks so much controversy, as policymakers probe the aspect of legalizing the possession and use of this plant. Marijuana also called Cannabis sativa when used correctly provides many benefits to one’s health. It can also be used to develop the psychological being of an individual. The legalization of Marijuana will lead to a reduction in drug related crimes. Therefore, I firmly believe that Marijuana should be decriminalized worldwide. Marijuana is sometimes referred to as a medicinal plant. The leaves and buds have been used in herbal remedies and cures for years. There have been 66 biologically active components, identified by scientists called cannabinoids, in marijuana. The most powerful of these is said to be the chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, even though other active elements are being studied. (American Cancer Society, 2012). Research has shown that marijuana can be used to treat the eye disease glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease associated with increased pressure fluids in the eyes resulting in damage to the optic nerve, which may lead to blindness or vision loss (National Eye Institute, 2012). The National Eye Institute supported many researches and studies in the early 1970s that proved that marijuana whether administered orally, intravenously or by smoking decreased intraocular pressure (IOP). (National Eye Institute, 2012). According...
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...Benefits of Marijuana Legalization Brandy Lacey Hum/114 October 13, 2014 Lanny Brown Benefits of Marijuana Legalization The benefits of legalizing marijuana is an issue that has been all over the news and social media as of late, and I for one have never really been on the bandwagon for being for this, so I decided to do my own research to find out what the hype is all about. In my research I have discovered a lot of information I was not aware of. There are many pro’s to using medical marijuana. Some children who have seizures have been helped by being prescribed hemp oils, chemotherapy patients are being given medical marijuana so they can eat food without getting sick all the time. These are just a couple benefits I have found to legalizing marijuana, and the list goes on and on. Many say that marijuana is a gateway drug, and I have also spent years thinking this, but there is no research to actually back up this statement, it is a biased statement, in fact less than 25 percent of marijuana user’s move on to heavier drugs such as cocaine or heroin. Another misconception is that marijuana is addictive but studies have shown that it is no more addictive than caffeine, even tobacco is more addictive than marijuana and more deadly. So why is tobacco usage legal and not marijuana? Another pro to this is taxing, if the government sells marijuana and places a tax on it similar to cigarettes, it would create more money and help our economy as well as cut out the...
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...Imagine having a stressful day at school or work. When you go home you have a ton of homework to do and your home is a mess! All you want to do is lay down, relax, and take your mind off of things for a couple of minutes. You hear that smoking marijuana reduces headaches and stress and you decide to take a hit, then you get this amazing feeling. You stop worrying about the bad things in your life, then for a few minutes you start to enjoy those moments of you forgetting about all your worries and stress You even laugh relieving all the weight you carry from the most stressful moments of your day. Marijuana should be legal in the United States. Prohibiting marijuana has enormous costs to regulate the use of it. Police devote thousands of hours...
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...The Benefits of Legalizing Medical Marijuana There has been much discussion recently regarding the use and legalization of medical marijuana. In the United states, the use of medical marijuana is regulated under federal law. As of April 2015, 23 states have legalized cannabis for medical and therapeutic uses. However, there are important legal differences between medical marijuana at the federal and state levels. At a federal level, marijuana is classified as a Scheduled 1 substance under the Controlled Substance Act. Prior to 2009 state laws did not supersede federal laws, meaning the criminalization of medical marijuana was still possible under federal prosecution (S. Davison, J. Davison, 2011, p. 773-774). In 2009 Attorney General Eric...
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...The Legalization Of Marijuana for the Benefit of America Marijuana under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970 is a schedule I narcotic and therefore has been made illegal in the United States[1]. Marijuana has been illegal in the United States since the early 1900’s and has been demonized for what it does to a person that uses it. Through the great propaganda of the 1900’s by the United States government they convinced an entire nation that marijuana is evil and will cause horrible side effects without having to prove just about any scientific or research data at all. Basically people chose to go against marijuana without knowing what it is, how it works, or how even America can benefit from breaking apart from the 1900’s way of thinking and legalize it. As it is normally known and referred to as marijuana but its scientific name is cannabis. It comes from the cannabis sativa plant, which is native to Asia and Africa but now is being grown just about world wide. Cannabis has many forms other than its plant one that is widely used. In its most common form, marijuana consists of flowers and leaves while as hashish it is found as a type of resin liquid. There were many prominent Americans that used to grow the plant and use the cannabis as a cash crop similarly to how tobacco plants were grew for profit. George Washington used to grow cannabis as his primary cash crop on his plantations, it was a good profit for him as it had its medicinal and recreational...
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...Should Marijuana be Legalized or Not I think that Marijuana should be legalized. It is a very bad drug, and it could lead to dangerous actions! Marijuana is used as a gateway drug. A gateway drug isn’t addictive, but can lead to use of other drugs. Also, Marijuana can cause health problems for people who do it too much. If you do marijuana a lot, it is possible that you could get addicted to it. Many people see marijuana as a gateway drug. It is mixed with alcohol and cigarette use. Also this gateway drug can cause bad health. It could change your mood during the day. That could cause being angry then happy. This drug could increase the use of heroin. Marijuana can cause major health problems. It could make you not sleep very well....
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...endless debate about the public health risks and benefits of cannabis. Legalization of cannabis for medicinal and recreational use has been a one of most disputed issues in the United States. This has become an important issue in public health because, although some risks and benefits are known, more research is needed to determine other harmful and therapeutic effects (Wilkinson, 2016). There is not enough evidence for wide-spread clinical or recreational use. Laws, initiatives and policies for making marijuana legal may lead to, “increased clinical and recreational usage, a wide range of methods for consumption, and conflicts between state and federal laws. However, these policies would focus on guarding the health and safety...
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...Bobby D. Jackson Ms. Woods English Comp. 12/04/2013 Legalizing Marijuana Will Benefit American Society It has been called a pain reliever, stress reliever, and a psychiatric reliever – helpful to the health of a human being – so why do some call it harmful? Cannabis is the third most popular recreational drug in America, surpassed only by alcohol and tobacco. Of the top three recreational drugs, Cannabis is the only one that is outlawed, but it plays a tremendous part in the social and financial gain of America. Many states have already supported the more liberal view of legalizing marijuana. California legalized medicinal marijuana in 1996 because of the way marijuana impacts the Autonomic Nervous System, which expands the breath and relaxes the body (http://sundial.csun.edu/2009/11/legalizing-marijuana-can-reduce-crime-increase-revenue-for-state/). Its potential for health and healing is enormous, and its use has been legally adopted by nearly 20 states. "The evidence is overwhelming that marijuana can relieve certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms caused by such illnesses as multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS and it can do so with remarkable safety. Indeed, marijuana is less toxic than many of the drugs that physicians prescribe every day" (Joycelyn Elders, MD, Former US Surgeon General). Many of the physicians who have adopted marijuana as a form of treatment have done so with substantial positive effects. There are over 600,000 physicians...
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...Medical Marijuana Should Be Legal, the Benefits Outweigh the Risks Kathleen Shanks Professor Shultz Composition II - 56 March 15, 2015 The cry being heard throughout small-town America, “Medical marijuana should be legal, the benefits outweigh the risks!” Medical marijuana is a very touchy subject. Some people think it should stay illegal because of it being labeled as a non-beneficial street drug. Many states have already decided that the people of their state should have the benefits associated with the use of medical marijuana, Colorado, to name one, has worked it out so that there are laws regulating the growing, sales and consumption of this product. Other states are looking into the possibility of following suite with Colorado. There is a great amount of revenue to be made from growing and legal sales for medicinal use. They are also looking into the medical benefits to people with any number of illnesses. Some people claim that it is a “gateway” drug. Some claim it will ruin the economics of their town or county or even state, by not having the revenue created by those who break the law by selling, buying or using; if it is made legal. There are not enough people looking into the economic factor of being paid to grow so many plants per person being treated. After being a person who lost a loved one to cancer, it is easy to see where the use of medical marijuana could have helped that individual through what must have been the worst period of a life time. My father...
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...“Weed makes me fly wid out visa”, are words from a popular song by the renowned dance hall artist Adijah Palmer. This is typical of the messages that are conveyed through the lyrics of many popular Jamaican songs today, but is this the most rewarding use of marijuana? Would the development of a medical marijuana industry prove more beneficial to Jamaica? Would the decriminalization of marijuana in order for such an industry to be enacted be economically viable? Other questions to ask ourselves are, what is Decriminalization and how would decriminalization of marijuana help with enacting a medical marijuana industry? According to the Merriam-Webster decriminalization means “to remove or reduce the criminal classification or status of; especially: to repeal a strict ban on while keeping under some form of regulation”. Marijuana currently is a banned drug in Jamaica and for Jamaica to develop a medical marijuana industry which would therefore means large scale production of the drug for scientific research and medicine production. The drug would have to be legalized on a certain level to facilitate such. Note in the above definition for decriminalization it made mention of the drug being kept under some form of regulation which for this research basically means certain punitive usage of the drug would still be rendered as illegal. The scope of this research paper will cover areas such as, the economic state of the country and its ability to facilitate and withstand such an industry...
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