...Decriminalization and Legalization of Cannabis Would Improve Canadian Society Criminology 101 - Section 02 Nikaya Mirhadi-Pathon Capilano University Cannabis, the plant from which marijuana is derived, is the most widely used, produced and trafficked drug worldwide (Ducatti Flister, 2012). The decriminalization of marijuana has been a widely debated topic on a global scale as many advocate for it’s therapeutic purposes. In the city of Seattle, there are reportedly more medicinal marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks outlets. With the recent rise of dispensaries, two Washington University students are preparing to capitalize on this phenomenon by releasing an app for iPhones called Canary, billed as “Uber for marijuana” where an illegal delivery service can bring high-grade cannabis to your home within the hour (Altman, 2014). Governments world wide have invested copious amounts of money in fighting drug production and consumption, even though, the war on drugs has increased cannabis seizures, we see in countries like Canada, that regulated distribution of marijuana, has made it more readily available for both recreational and medicinal users (Ducatti Flister, 2012). Although, police within the Canadian jurisdiction are capable of pursuing criminal charges for cannabis possession for those who are distributing and consuming illegally, there is still a lack of consensus on the legal status of cannabis in Canada. Though the drug is illegal in Canada, with exceptions for medicinal...
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...Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a form of the cannabis plant. In 1923, marijuana was added to the Confidential Restricted List as a prohibited drug in Canada. However, many Canadians believe that marijuana should be legalized because it can play a significant role in the medical industry. However, others hold the opposite attitude toward Marijuana legalization. This serious controversy has lasted for many decades. Canada’s neighbor, the U.S. government, has forbidden this drug since the early 1900s. However, this implementation didn’t produce a satisfactory result. (National Prevention Strategy, 2011) Marijuana should be legalized in Canada because its advantages outweigh the disadvantages. These advantages are likely to promote the Canadian economy, eliminate social issues and benefit the health of its residents. In terms of the economy, legalizing marijuana could conduct not only negative effects, but also positive effects. In the past decade, underground trade of marijuana has caused harm to Canada’s income. Werner Antweiler, the UBC professor, believes that the marijuana market is sizable. (2013) In B.C., the estimates show that Canadians consume at least 3 billion dollars in marijuana products annually. (Barmak, 2013) Other data from The International Journal of Drug Policy indicate that the retail value of marijuana consumption in B.C is between $443 million and $564 million. In addition, further estimates point out that marijuana legalization is likely to help the...
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...Medicalization of Marijuana The Stigma of a Miracle Drug March 25, 2014 Synopsis The following media review is based on a two part documentary which focuses on the healing qualities of medical marijuana in the treatment of Dravet’s syndrome along with a number of other illnesses. I researched the benefits of medical marijuana, specifically the medicalization of the plant and its derivatives. This includes the extraction and ingestion of cannabis oil in its pure form for the treatment of Dravet’s syndrome, a form of chronic epilepsy often found in children. This paper focuses on the history of the use of cannabis for its healing properties and provides a brief overview of the documentary which is the basis of the paper, detailing the importance of the medicalization of the cannabis plant for use in treating a number of ailments, including but not limited to the treatment of Dravet’s Syndrome and Autism in children. It was not until I watched the documentary which was recently aired on CNN entitled “Weed, Cannabis Madness” and its sequel “Weed 2” that I became interested in the healing qualities that this plant possesses and more specifically, its ability to treat children who are suffering from a condition called Dravet’s Syndrome. Dravet’s Syndrome is a form of chronic epilepsy which causes children to seize violently for upwards of 50 seizures per day. There is no cure for this disease, and for many children the drugs prescribed by their physicians such as anti-seizure...
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...Mary Jane, Cannabis or Ganja it is a herb that has many people advocating for its legalization once again. It is now unjustly classified as an illegal drug in most countries and as having no medicinal value in the United States constitution. The fact that medical cannabis is now available throughout Canada and twenty of the US states shows how biased and hypocritical the government is in regards to this plant. The fact is the legalization of cannabis would be beneficial to our society’s health, economic and judicial systems. Cannabis was the most widely used medicinal plant around the world with documentation of its use in China going back 5,000 years. There is evidence showing that cannabis has helped heal or alleviate symptoms in people diagnosed with epilepsy, asthma, cancer and arthritis. I have not heard of any cases of patients dying from medical cannabis use yet there are known cases of thousands dying from prescription drugs. The burden that is presently placed on our health care system would be alleviated by more effective medicine. This would mean fewer visits to the doctor, less waiting time for specialist appointments and more availability at hospitals. A healthier society would mean a better quality of life for everyone. The legalization of cannabis would not only save the government money spent on enforcing prohibition but would create millions in tax revenue. The state of Colorado has recently legalized the sale of cannabis and made...
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...Hemp Fabric Hemp-Fashion is not an oxymoron anymore!!! What is Hemp Fabric? Hemp is often considered an environmental “super fibre”. Hemp fabric is made from the fibres in the herbaceous plant of the species cannabis sativa. It’s a high-yield crop that produces significantly more fibre per acre than either cotton or flax. Advantages Eco Print Hemp creates one of the most eco friendly fabrics in the world. Hemp requires no pesticides, crowds out weeds without herbicides, controls erosion of the topsoil, and produces oxygen. It is a renewable resource that can be cultivated in as little as 100 days and is the world’s most versatile fiber. Strong Fabric Hemps’ tensile strength is eight times that of cotton fibre which accounts for its historical use in sails and rope for the British and American Navies. It is an exceptionally durable and strong eco friendly fabric. Hypo-allergenic Fabrics made from hemp are hypo-allergenic and non-irritating to the skin. Current tests indicate that hemp is able to kill staph and other bacteria that come in contact with its surface. Feel of Fabric Hemp has the look of classic linen and can have the feel (depending upon fabric blend) of your favourite flannel. Hemp materials will also soften with age and with each washing. Great for hot weather Like linen and cotton, hemp is a cool choice for summer. It breathes well. It is recommended for warm, humid climates as the fabric resists mildew and absorbs moisture. UV Resistant...
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...Public Awareness The increased presence of the cannabis industry in society will result in youth normalization and media sensationalization. Abundance and accessibility in society is parallel to increased risk of youth-exposure, both direct and indirect. In the US state of Colorado, researchers found that in the following year after legalisation, there was a 7% increase in accidental youth ingestion of cannabis. The limitation of the US legalisation having no affiliation to Canadian society makes this source unreliable, yet it is valuable as it is a good comparison displaying the current (and only) cannabis youth research. If Canadian youth are ‘nurtured’ in an environment regulating cannabis, the misconception between the existential detriments...
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...Throughout the years, there have always been arguments about whether using marijuana for medicinal purposes should be legalized in Canada. While marijuana is in fact an illegal drug, it has been legalized strictly for medical patients. The thesis of this paper is: Though marijuana is very addictive to abusers, it is also very beneficial to patients who have any one of many diseases. According to many court rulings and government decisions, marijuana has no reason to not be legalized. So how does the government control the drug, or how does it actually help medical patients? How do people take advantage of it? Are the costs to obtain the drug high? How long has marijuana been used as a healer and who used it? Why do people take it? These are all questions that many people don’t know the answer to and as a result aren’t informed enough about this very serious matter. The human race has been using marijuana as a healing power for centuries now in many different parts of the world, such as Japan, Tibet, Russia and the North Africa. All these different ethnic groups praised the plant because of its helpfulness in several different domains of medicine. Now society is debating whether marijuana should in fact be used to alleviate pain. Maybe if society were more educated about the subject, they would understand. So many different symptoms of different diseases can be controlled with this drug. It’s completely natural and when taken in appropriate dosages, can be...
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...n the An Introduction to the drug ratings in the Philippines Background study drug addiction and drug abuse, chronic or habitual use of any chemical substance to alter states of body or mind for other than medically warranted purposes. Traditional definitions of addiction, with their criteria of physical dependence and withdrawal (and often an underlying tenor of depravity and sin) have been modified with increased understanding; with the introduction of new drugs, such as cocaine, that are psychologically or neuropsychologically addicting; and with the realization that its stereotypical application to opiate-drug users was invalid because many of them remain occasional users with no physical dependence. Addiction is more often now defined by the continuing, compulsive nature of the drug use despite physical and/or psychological harm to the user and society and includes both licit and illicit drugs, and the term "substance abuse" is now frequently used because of the broad range of substances (including alcohol and inhalants) that can fit the addictive profile. Psychological dependence is the subjective feeling that the user needs the drug to maintain a feeling of well-being; physical dependence is characterized by tolerance (the need for increasingly larger doses in order to achieve the initial effect) and withdrawal symptoms when the user is abstinent. INTRODUCTION Illegal drug use is “almost automatically”([1]) associated with criminal behaviour. The statistical...
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...Marie L. PHIL 1 SY1325 PROF. OCHANGO POSITION PAPER “Should Philippines legalize Marijuana for curing diseases?” INTRODUCTION Definition of Terms Cannabis- commonly known as marijuana and by numerous other names, is a preparation of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug and as medicine. (Wiki) Legalize- is the process of removing a legal prohibition against something which is currently not legal. Disease- an illness that affect a person, animal, or a plant: condition that prevents the body or mind from normally. BACKGROUND & SIGNIFICANT OF STUDY "Modern research has confirmed the beneficial uses of cannabis in treating and alleviating the pain, nausea and other symptoms associated with a variety of debilitating medical conditions including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and HIV-AIDS as found by the National Institute of Medicine of the US in March 1999," Six legislators have expressed their support to the proposal to legalize the regulated use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora, Pasay City Rep. Emi Calixto-Rubiano, OFW partylist Rep. Roy Señeres, Marinduque Rep. Regina Reyes, Masbate Rep. Elisa Olga Kho, and Misamis Occidental Rep. Henry Oaminal all co-authored House Bill 4477. Under the bill, or the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act, the State is directed to provide measures to achieve a balance in the national drug control program so that patients with debilitating medical condition may receive...
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...article struck me. It told of, Woody Harrison, a well-known actor stating, "He would pick up the tab for Colorado's first hemp crop if state legislators approve the crop." He also stated that you could smoke a pound of it and not get high. (Rice)" In addition 4.6 million members of the American Farm Bureau Federation support Hemp 100 percent. Hemp could be the most abundant natural resource, it can replace 80% of our fossil fuels, and be used for many major medicinal purposes (Kriho). It is essential that we stop the use of all fossil fuels, and deforestation to save Mother Earth. This can be accomplished with the cannabis plant hemp seizing pollution and provide the world with more than enough of its energy needs. According to Jack Herer, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, we're not only the founders of our country, but also the first growers of cannabis in America. In addition, Benjamin Franklin started the first paper mill, which made it possible to make their own books. Growing this crop was not uncommon at this day and time. In the census of 1850, 8,327 crops were established and each measured at least 2000 acres each, this commodity was found in the South. Its uses varied from rope to...
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...Potential……………………………………………………………………..8 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….8 References………………………………………………………………………….9 Introduction This report is about Tweed Marijuana Inc. a Canadian Company licensed to supply medicinal marijuana under the marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations. They are a subsidy of Canopy Growth Corporation a company that produces marijuana in Canada. Bruce Linton, the co-founder and CEO of Tweed, has positioned the company in a competitive market and his main objective is to continue to raise the capital to fund this venture. Tweed’s sister company, Tweed farms grows large quantity of the medical marijuana. To date, Tweed farm’s greenhouse is the largest greenhouse in the world. In this report, I will be discussing the medical marijuana history and how it is regulated in Canada, how the company came about, product innovation, the company’s position in the market along with its challenges and successes and finally predicting the potential future of Tweed. Medical Marijuana is legal to possess and grow in Canada under the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations issued by Health Canada in June 2015. Company Background Management Team Bruce Linton, the CEO and Chairman of...
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...the plant/drug. In this paper, I hope to prove that smoking marijuana does not cause the same amount of problems that smoking cigarettes might cause. In this paper, there will be few topics touched on concerning marijuana. There are ample cases of people using drugs because of their curiosity, individual freedom and choice, cultural characteristics, or relaxation activities and the substitute for modern medicine. Modern hemp and cannabis are distinctive assortments of the same species, Cannabis sativa. Weed generally contains 3 to 15 percent of the psychoactive fixing delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on a dry-weight premise, while mechanical hemp contains 1 percent. Be that as it may, the two mixtures are unclear by appearance. In the United States, Cannabis sativa is delegated a Timetable I controlled substance, paying little respect to its opiate content, under the Controlled Substances Go about as changed. Since 1990, mixtures containing under 0.3 percent THC have been sanctioned in Incredible Austria, England, Switzerland, and Germany. Canada and Australia authorized hemp generation in 1998. In different nations, for example, Hungary, China, and Russia, hemp production was never prohibited (Clark, 2011) Curiosity In my experience, for some people who try marijuana, it is out of curiosity. They may have seen their friends, family members, or even just some random people on the street smoking and wanted to know what it felt like to smoke marijuana. Most try and stay far...
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...Marijuana is one of the world’s oldest plants to come to wide practice of production, sale, and consumption originally used for medical purposes. This generated rapidly growing industries based around the variety of uses for the easily grown plant species. Hemp has been used for a variety of everyday purposes in Americas past including paper, clothing, food, and fuel; the economic potential for this plant type surpasses many plants which are considered staple crops today. Marijuana is America’s number one cash crop surpassing corn and other items. Its decriminalization would open new tax revenues and slash old tax budgets as funds are re appropriated to satisfy a hungry criminal justice system. There have been many non-violent convictions in the justice system that costs the country potentially hundreds of billions of dollars every year and have since the start of the war on drugs during the Reagan era. These convictions could be avoided if the government let each American decide if the production and consumption of marijuana violated their moral and ethical values as individual liberties. As Americans, we are given, at birth, unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the freedom to pursue happiness through whatever means beyond any clear and eminent harm. The combined benefits that would be experienced from legalization are obvious, evident, and too important to remain illegal; the decriminalization of marijuana is more a matter of time due to the variety and abundance of positive...
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...Is the use of heroin, crystal meth or cannabis legal? No. Are these drugs still circulated and used in our society? Yes: “40 per cent of Canadians having used it (marijuana) at least once in their lifetime. [1]” The war against illegal drugs has been a long and vigorous battle. Rather than fighting the use of cannabis head on, our government should approach this in a different manner. Canada should legalize marijuana use because this allows the government to regulate the distribution and quality of the cannabis. Marijuana should be legalized because the overall distributed quality of the drug can be controlled more efficiently. Buying ‘weed’ from the street can lead to low-quailty marijuana consumption. Most drug dealers pay more attention to profits rather than quality. In some cases, Marijuana bought illegally is ‘laced’ with chemicals: “ the act of adding one or more substances to another” [3]. This allows dealers to...
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...no benefits, and will cause you to hurt the people around you. Before this time for over 200 years cannabis has been used to make everything from paper to cars. Legalizing marijuana will help our nation expand its economy and allow us to provide more from within rather than import from outside sources. Even though marijuana is seen as gateway drug that will lead to the use of harder drugs like heroin or LSD, I believe it should be legalized because medical marijuana has helped sick people where no other pharmaceutical drug could. Cannabis has been used for thousands of years. The oldest known uses have been recorded as far back as 2737 B.C. as medicine by Emperor Shen Neng of China (Advanced Holistich Health, 2013). The Chinese would later use hemp as to make clothes, shoes and rope and even paper. By the sixteenth century hemp was widely distributed in Europe where it was cultivated for fiber and the seeds were cooked with barley or other grains and eaten. In 1537 Discorides named the plant Cannabis sativa and wrote of its use for cordage as well as its medicinal properties [ (Ehrensing, 1998) ]. Back in 1619, the King of England ordered famers to grow cannabis to meet the obligations of a growing economy that used hemp as a product. This was the first law that incorporated cannabis and it was for the good of it. There were several other laws allowing the growth of cannabis over the next 200 years. Hemp was introduced to the United States in 1645 by the Puritans in New England...
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