...Legalizing Medical Marijuana Should Medical Marijuana be legal? Marijuana is medicine. It has been used for thousands of years to treat a wide variety of ailments. However the United States government says the marijuana use is addictive and it is harmful. So the government makes it illegal even though alcohol and drugs of nicotine which used in cigarettes are legal. Why is it ok that medical marijuana may be legal in some states but not in others? The legalization of medical marijuana in United States would drastically reduce pain sufferers in our society. Legalizing medical marijuana benefits society by helping decrease government spending, and reduce health care costs. Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known. Just think to ourselves, is it ethical to deny a person who is having chemotherapy or radiation for cancer, a way to relieve nauseaness and pain caused from treatments? Is it ethical to deny a dying person in pain, get the relief from pain and get comfort? Is it ethical to deny someone who has chronic pain or debilitating pain a medicine that can relieve pain? Who has the right to do this? Even though the government does, it is unethical. Marijuana is a natural alternative medicine to help all these issues. The medicines the doctors have to prescribe, for pain like narcotics, have acetaminophen in them which can cause liver damage or even failures are more susceptible to be abused and addicting. There...
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...today is to legalize medical marijuana or to keep it illegal because of the high risks it poses. US Congress placed marijuana in schedule I of the Controlled Substance Act in 1972 because it was considered to have no use for medical purposes. Since then, 16 of the 50 states have legalized marijuana for medical use. Many studies state that marijuana can treat symptoms of cancer, pain, and many more serious illnesses. Opponents of medical marijuana argue that it lacks FDA approval. Researchers believe medical marijuana treats different serious illnesses. In 2002, Franjo Grotenhermen stated that “medical cannabis has treated effectively symptoms of nausea, vomiting, insomnia, anorexia, weight loss, and a lack of appetite.” “Medical marijuana has been known to stimulate eating habits to help cure anorexia, the lack of appetite and weight loss to help those people gain their weight back that could do them serious harm from the rapid weight loss (Grotenhermen, 2002).” Medical marijuana has also been known to treat more serious illnesses such as Sickle-Cell Disease, Fibromyalgia, Alzheimer's disease, and Tourette syndrome. Many of the case reports have shown that cannabis has helped to reduce tics caused by Tourette syndrome. A Research Institute in California called Scripps, did a study showing that THC an active ingredient in marijuana, prevents deposits from forming in the brain this is typically associated with Alzheimer's disease. Medical marijuana has been known to stimulate...
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...Legalizing Medical Marijuana Charles Fryer English/147 6/25/2015 Dr. Jill Bonds Legalizing Medical Marijuana What if someone told you that many of our everyday ailments, and some diseases could be treated with a medication that is all natural? Medical marijuana is on the cutting edge of prescription medication. However, there is one major issue. Is it legal or is it illegal? The fact is that no matter where you are in America it is always federally illegal, even if it is legal in any particular state. Medical marijuana must be legalized primarily because of its medicinal contribution, also to cut down on the amount of nonviolent offenders that are causing overcrowding in American jails and prisons, and for the monetary impact it will have on our economy. Medical marijuana has been proven to be effective in the treatment of physical, and mental health problems. “Some of the compounds commonly abused today are accepted pharmaceutical agents.”(Doweiko, 2012). Medical marijuana has also been found to be helpful in the treatment of cancer patients for pain management. According to "Drug Policy” (2015) Medical marijuana used by individuals with PTSD showed a 75% reduction in symptoms. So if we know that pharmaceutical medications such as opiates, and benzodiazepines are commonly abused, and highly addictive then why are they continuously being produced? I believe there is one answer for this, and that is money. Medical marijuana proves to be safer than...
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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 topic of marijuana as a medical drug for treatment has sparked much controversy. Generally people tend to be fiercely on one side, for or against medicinal marijuana, while many remain undecided, believing much more research is needed. Recent studies on medicinal marijuana show benefits in its use for cancer, seizures, and post-traumatic stress disorder but conflicting reports cause doubt in its benefits. Some studies have found that both compounds found in marijuana tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is a psychoactive chemical and cannabidiol (CBD) which is a non-psychoactive chemical found in the marijuana plant, to have cancer fight properties. Cancer research has shown that marijuana can drastically reduce nausea associated with chemotherapy...
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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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...Legalizing Marijuana There are many reasons to use marijuana and there are just as many reasons to not use marijuana. The usage of marijuana can be both helpful and harmful. Now the general populace will go pro legalizing marijuana. However little does society know that as soon as marijuana is legalized it will be taxable and eventually will become like alcohol and similar products. Similar to alcohol it will eventually become legal and with many amenities in the sense it will come with conditions. So in terms of legalizing marijuana it will be beneficial to society due to the fact it will become taxable, it will come with conditions, and that the war on illegal drugs will be one drug less. There consist many conditions that come with formerly illegal inhibitors. For example alcohol was an illegal substance and the way it was abused when it was outlawed drastically changed from the way it is abused now. To elaborate now that alcohol is legal, there are conditions such as the drinking age and the tax that comes with purchasing it. As such many individuals in society drink themselves to poverty. The same predicament can occur with marijuana which will obviously lessen its usage. Another factor is that with it becoming a government regulated substance majority of society will be shackled to the government by more than a medical marijuana card, which addicts tend to use to abuse the marijuana supplied. “Already earning California about $14 billion a year, it has been estimated...
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...Running head: LEGALIZING MARIJUANA 1 Legalizing marijuana and why Americans oppose and support idea Melvin S. Walls SS3150 8/19/15 ITT Technical Institute LEGALIZING MARIJUNA 2 Legalizing marijuana and why Americans oppose and support idea In my beginning research into this delicate and controversial topic I found out that Americans and our government are undecided about legalizing marijuana. Some people oppose the idea, while the rest approve the idea of legalization. I think we as a people need to stop, look, and listen and do what is best for our country, our states, and the people that reside within. There are many pros and many cons to making marijuana legal. Here are some breakdowns on both sides of this topic. One of the most important popular topics is the use of medical marijuana to treat patients for various medical conditions. There are over 7 uses for medical marijuana and that number can dramatically increase if marijuana is to become legalize, so that more medical research and studies can continue. Some uses...
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...Legalizing Marijuana Thomas Hendricks SOC120: Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility Instructor: Wendell Johnson 11/18/13 Introduction The legalization of Marijuana has long been a debate and will no doubt continue. While it has its supporters it also has opposition against legalizing it. This paper will look at the argument for legalization and the argument against legalizing it. It will also look at Marijuana use for medical purposes and how that too affects the arguments on both sides. There has been a long debate to legalize marijuana for many years. It now appears that many Americans are favoring legalizing Marijuana and this may have gotten a boost from accepted medical use in some states. Many states allow the use of medical marijuana for cancer patients, multiple sclerosis patients and as Dr. Sanjay Gupta who worked on a documentary called “Weed” for CNN stated the case for medical use of marijuana when he answered a viewer question on his change in opinion of medical use marijuana “Take neuropathy, a severe nerve pain that's often treated with narcotic pain relievers. Yet marijuana has proven to be effective, with few side effects. Every 19 minutes, someone in the United States dies from a prescription drug overdose, usually narcotics. I couldn't find one documented fatality from a marijuana overdose. Marijuana can also ease nausea from chemotherapy treatments, tremors, and epilepsy. Still, I'm very concerned about young people using pot recreationally;...
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...functioning brain. In her state marijuana is not legalized and has several requirements medically to get access to marijuana that the government has set in place for the medical use but it’s up to the doctors if they ae willing to implement. Thus, her government fights over the very single thing that can reduce her seizures and ease her pains. Medical research shows that the cannabis plant known to billions as marijuana holds the keys to reducing epileptic episodes giving her oxygen deprived brain a higher chance of healthiness. This is just one of the many benefits this plant holds. Regrettably, this plant is not legal in all states. By legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational use will economically and medically impact the United States by increasing profitability within the manufacturing industry, creating jobs, increasing tax revenue, and providing medicines for its citizen. Undoubtedly, there are several advantages of legalizing marijuana. One being the farming and manufacturing industry that will increase profitability by legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational use. Manufacturing marijuana is an $11 billion per year business (Ferner, 2014). There is two technique in which marijuana is cultivated. Marijuana is grown outdoors and indoors. Outdoor profits yield less than indoor profits because it produces a less potent type of marijuana. Whereas, indoor growth, the more profitable can be modified to a more intense and powerful kind of marijuana. Also, indoor production...
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...In 1996, medical marijuana became legal in California, which inspired Richard Lee to open businesses associated with the usage of marijuana. Lee was a medical marijuana provider and activist with a dream to legalize marijuana; as a result, he created Proposition 19 in 2010 by using his own funding to the sum of $1.45 million. The creation of Proposition 19 was to legalize marijuana in California through regulation and taxation. In essence, passing of the bill would legally allow individuals that are 21 or older the ability to harvest and use marijuana. However, Proposition 19 would only grant legal rights related with marijuana under the state of California and not under federal law. As a result, federal law must still firmly enforce drug laws against harvesters and distributors of marijuana in California. Although Proposition 19 was unable to pass in 2010, Lee ensures that effort to pass this bill will never stop. Proposition 19 protesters argue that legalizing marijuana creates abuse among adolescents. In the article “Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana”, Dr. Robert L. DuPont stated, “Marijuana is the most commonly abused illegal drug in the U.S. and around the world.” The United States Drug enforcement Agency has classified marijuana as a drug that has an extreme potential for abuse. They categorized marijuana as a schedule I drug which is under the same category as cocaine, heroin and morphine. Parents fear that the legalization of marijuana enables easier access...
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...Legalizing Marijuana: The ethical issue and problem Dorcas Rivera SOC 120 Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility Instructor: Robert Gala September 23, 2013 Legalizing Marijuana: The ethical issue and problem Marijuana is the most commonly abused drug. Therefore, legalizing marijuana, not only now, but for many years, has been the topic on rather or not it should be legalized. Even though marijuana has been legalized for medical use in 18 U.S. states, this has caused big controversy in our country and the ethical issue and problems it presents. In this article I will explain; what is marijuana, the risk of marijuana use, the effects of marijuana (in the brain and body), and the pros and cons of legalizing it. I will also explain how one of the classical theories, utilitarianism, would resolve the problem. On the other hand, I will contrast the response with the perspective brought to the issue by, ethical egoism. Lastly, will ended off choosing which of the two are closer to my view. Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant. You may hear marijuana called by street names such as pot, herb, weed, grass, boom, Mary Jane, gangster, or chronic. All forms of marijuana are mind-altering. In other words, they change how the brain works. They all contain THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the main active chemical in marijuana. They also contain more than 400 other chemicals. Marijuana's...
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...Vincent Piccoli Professor Melville EN 112 25 November 2014 The Legalization of Marijuana The legalization of Marijuana has gradually become one of the most talked about topics in the world today. It has been a fight between the government, the states, and the citizens of any country/countries around the world. From 12 percent in 1969, to 25 percent in 1995, to 36 percent by 2005 and hitting 48 percent in 2012, the demographic shift on this issue has been stunning. (Heuvel, Kartina Vanden) There are 23 states in the United States with some form of marijuana legalization. Whether it be the legalization of marijuana medically or recreationally, or some both. Legalizing marijuana has some very big advantages along with the pros and cons already. For most states, legalizing marijuana will benefit the economy greatly, marijuana is more harmless than many other drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, cocaine. There always is that chance it does not benefit the economy but the percentage of marijuana users throughout the world is increasing every year. (Heuval, Kartina Vanden) With all of this comes responsibility and with the right determination and structure, Marijuana should be legalized but with regulations. One positive effect the legalization of marijuana will have on society is the medical aspect of marijuana. So many people need and use medical marijuana to help treat themselves and take care of themselves. For some it is their only cure and for some it is more like...
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...Your Name Professor’s Name Course 22 September 2013 Medical Marijuana – What’s the Problem? While the debate rages across the country about legalizing medical marijuana, or Cannabis (Cannabis comes from the plant Cannabis sativa, and is commonly referred to by the Mexican name “marijuana”), apparently the majority of U.S. residents have already made up their mind about it. According to a 2004 AARP poll, over 72 percent agreed with the statement, “Adults should be allowed to use medical marijuana for medical purposes if a physician recommends it.” Perhaps even more astounding are the results of a 2013 Gallup poll which showed that fifty eight percent of Americans favor legalizing marijuana, after both Washington State and Colorado legalized it in November of 2012. Those in favor of the drug claim that it is both an effective and safe treatment for many medical conditions, including; epilepsy, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, cancer, and more. They point to the long history of the use of marijuana medicinal purposes and back up their claims with studies, reports, and medical data. So, what’s the problem? Why hasn’t medical marijuana been legalized in every state in the Union? Created in 1970, the Controlled Substances Act, an amendment to the Public Health Service Act, was enacted, making the “prevention of, drug abuse and drug dependence; to provide for treatment and rehabilitation of drug abusers and drug dependent persons; and to strengthen existing law...
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...Legalizing and Decriminalizing Marijuana When people hear the world marijuana they often associate it with other negative things such as, addiction, gangs, law violations, hallucinations, disorientation, and criminal activity. However marijuana has been used and shown to have positive effects in multiple medical conditions. Marijuana has been found to relieve symptoms of diseases of serious magnitude such as asthma, glaucoma, and muscle spasms are just a few. Marijuana has also been found to relieve a loss of appetite and nausea due to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) wasting syndrome and chemotherapy treatment (AIDS 1). Marijuana has become a major source of relief for many terminally ill patients, as well as people with mental disorders such as depression, and bipolar disorder. Why then if marijuana has multiple positive effects and uses is it illegal? One common answer is that it is a mind altering drug and can be a life treating and can affect health in long term use. This is a weak answer because while marijuana is illegal other substances such as alcohol which is well known to be a mind altering substance and tobacco which is a substance proven to cause health issues including death, are both very legal. Legalizing marijuana and decriminalizing marijuana could have multiple positive outcomes. Legalizing marijuana for medical use would not only give ill patients different treatment options for their illnesses, but the handling and issuing of medical marijuana...
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