Destinee’ Parker
Ms.Tomlinson
Intro to Comp.
11 November 2013

Legalizing Marijuana
Marijuana was not known to be illegal at a point in time; back in 7,000 B.C it was legal. Marijuana also known as the hemp plant had a number of uses such as; woven fabric from hemp, food, cloth, rope, and much more. A man by the name Harry J. Anslinger came along, who seeked career opportunity with the Bureau of Narcotics. He didn’t feel as if cocaine would be enough to get his company up and starting as fast as he wanted, so he took on marijuana and started working on making it illegal at the federal level. Anslinger stated “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.” Anslinger soon became the first drug czar a person who deals with direct drug-control propaganda in the United States. Anslinger began making up these stories about how marijuana was the cause of gang of boys raping two teenagers girls and how a sixteen-year-old killing his whole family. By 1937 the Bureau set two important steps, first a plan to get from Congress to pass a new law that it would be under federal control on marijuana and its distributions. Second, any forms of media would mention the cleaning up hundreds of acres of marijuana. As years passed the use of marijuana was not just known to be “evil weed”, but it is also used for pain relief, control nausea and vomiting and appetite stimulation. Also, marijuana can provide some beneficial solutions, the federal government does not agree with marijuana being classified a medical drug. If marijuana was to become legal in all state, I feel that there should be a limit placed on the amount or marijuana distributed if prescribed by a doctor. It is unclear at this time that legalizing marijuana will become fruition, due to the fact that federal government does not find in the favor of classifying marijuana as a prescribed drug, even though studies have shown that marijuana can be very beneficial in the medical field. I began my research on the legalization of marijuana, by searching for articles that provided me with the most useful information about the laws of marijuana. I typed in marijuana legalized, several articles had popped up, but one that stood out to me was the state medical marijuana laws. After reading through this article to assure that it was indeed creditable when I discovered the article had done several different articles about the laws of marijuana , even though there were a couple of moments where I felt like the author was becoming biased, the article in general was more editorial. The article provided evidence and creditable sources that supported the author’s points on the legalization of marijuana which convicted me that this article would be good addition to add to my paper. The first part of this article started with a quote “Scientific data indicate that potential therapeutic value of cannabinoid drugs, primary THC, for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation; smoked marijuana, however, is a crude THC delivery system that also delivers harmful substances. The psychological effects are potentially undesirable for certain patients and situations and beneficial for others in addition; psychological effects can complicate the interpretation of other aspects of the drugs effect” (Hanson 1). I had wondered what about THC is so harmful if it is being smoked. I decided to continue reading to the section about state vs. federal perspective on the legalization of marijuana. On a federal level marijuana remains classified as a schedule I substance. Not knowing what a schedule I substance is I looked it up and according to the medical dictionary it is a category of drugs not considered legitimate for medical use. In addition a memo was sent to the federal prosecutor stating that by law officials really cannot arrest people who distribute medical marijuana. Hanson mentions that the U.S Department of Justice looks forward to Colorado and Washington coming up with some dependable, fulfilling work and will extend the dispute their facing with the legalization rights at this moment. Although, some states with medical marijuana laws typically have some kinds of laws, which might provide protection for anyone who is in control of a certain amount of marijuana for personal use. I agree with the statement about not arresting people who to distributes medical marijuana. Of course I feel as if that job should only be made from a doctor or anyone who is certified to prescribe medical marijuana. If the person is not certified then they should in fact be arrested. After, reading this article I went back and researched exactly what is THC and why its significance is so harmful. THC is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, an active chemical in the marijuana plant. Once marijuana is smoked the THC passes from the lungs to the bloodstream, and then carried to the brain and other organs in the body, the “high” feeling of smoked marijuana. This is something I had never known I am do take into account that how one will feel “high” as they say it. This article helped me understand the significance on why the federal government doesn’t agree with it becoming a medical drug, but if it was to become legal only a certified resource can prescribe the drug.
Continuing my research on the legalization of medical marijuana, I had came across this article called “Common Sense for Drug Policy.” I began reading through the article just to see what all it mentioned about the legalization of marijuana. The author Kevin B. Zeese is the president of the Common Sense for Drug Policy, an organization to supply the public with information about drug policies. He also led counsel against the DEA to the scheduling of marijuana under the federal law. Mr. Zeese is also the author of several books such as Drug Testing Legal Manual, Drug Testing Legal Manual and Practice Aids and the co-author of Drug Law: Strategies and Tactics. I was determined that this source was in fact credible due to all the accomplishments and work ethic he has put forth to drug policy and medical marijuana. The article was written after the election in 1996 when California and Arizona voted to prevent medical marijuana cases. Since then the politics and science of medical marijuana have tried to improve more on scientific reviews of medical marijuana by the Institute of Medicine, sadly the opponents of medical marijuana consistently reject the fact that marijuana could be considered as federal drug. I decided to continue reading to find out more about the election and how Institute of Medicine supported medical marijuana. The IOM came up with a report on medical marijuana summarizing the medical value of marijuana, it stated, “The accumulated data suggest a variety of indications, particularly for pain relief, antiemesis, and appetite stimulation. For patients, such as those with AIDS or undergoing chemotherapy, who suffer simultaneously from severe pain, nausea, and appetite loss, cannabinoid drugs might thus offer broad spectrum relief not found in any other single medication. The data are weaker for muscle spasticity, but moderately promising. The least promising categories are movement disorders, epilepsy, and glaucoma” (Zeese 1). I knew medical marijuana was used for a numerous things, but as far as for patients who have AIDS and undergo chemotherapy I never knew that marijuana was used to help eliminated the pain they go through. As far as it being used for nausea and appetite lost I agreed that medical marijuana can benefit those who suffer in those situations. Zeese mention that the IOM was concerned that smoking marijuana to receive medical benefits creates harmful risks that wouldn’t be available from other forms of delivery. The IOM also mentioned making smoked marijuana medically available, but placing limits on it until new drugs become available. This is very understandable since marijuana has no convincing data to support the concern. The data collected so far is stable enough for the idea that it would not become a problem if the medical use of marijuana was controlled like other medications. The last point from this article that I wanted to mention is that marijuana is not a complete harmful substance; however it is a powerful drug with multiple effects. On the other hand besides the harms dealing with smoking the negative effects of marijuana use in the area of effects allowed for other medications. I can see where Mr. Zeese is coming from, that marijuana itself is a powerful drug however the harms of smoking marijuana are compared to a range of other harmful effects of other medications. That I got from this article is that yes marijuana is a powerful drug, but not all of the effects can be harmful. Also, it can just become a temporary drug until something else comes along. Still questioning exactly what the medical marijuana debate was I began researching. An article by retired General Barry McCaffrey the nation’s drug czar had appeared. Reading through this article Mr. McCaffrey being the one who directs drug-control propaganda in the United States, I figured that this source was in fact credible. The debate about medical use of marijuana was brought up December 30, 1996; federal government stated that with their power the plan to stop doctors from recommending or prescribing marijuana to patients and plan on proving that marijuana has no medical worth. I disagree that the federal government should have to over extend their power to actually tell the doctor what not to subscribe to a patient, even though it’s beneficial to the patient the health. I continued reading because I had become interested on the debate. In addition to threatening the doctors the Clinton Administration were upset with the reputation that smoking marijuana has medical benefits. Mr. McCaffrey claimed in a column syndicated by the Scipps-Howard News Service that “no clinical evidence demonstrates that smoked marijuana is good medicine” (McCaffrey 1). I disagree with this because in 1975 the federal government had a discussion of medical marijuana by saying cannabis is one of the most ancient healing drugs. Some of the historical uses of cannabis are anorexia, asthma, nausea, pain, anxiety etc. so for Mr. McCaffrey to say this doesn’t really make any sense. I now know that just because it’s labeled as a schedule I drug does not mean that it is harmful and cannot be considered as a medicine. The problem with is McCaffrey does not have enough evidence to prove his claim. There aren’t factual evidence that supports his claim and for that I disagree.
I decided to do some research on the studies of medical value of smoked marijuana. So I typed the studies of smoked marijuana and this on the modern research on medical marijuana and the published studies was at the top of the list. All the content provided the article exhibited marijuana’s medical advantages. The approval by the FDA justified to that whatever the author states it is indeed credible. This article agreed with the point made when I said that McCaffrey statement did not seem to be proven factually. According to the FDA, McCaffrey had uncertain facts to support his claim in his column. Physicians are quite aware of the medical benefits of marijuana, on studies found out that the drug generally is not more harmful than alcohol or tobacco.In October of 1988, 56 patients were treated with marijuana 78 percent had positive responses and no serious negative side effects were seen. A randomized trial has taking off of THC and smoked marijuana which found a 72 percent decrease in nausea and vomiting, making smoked marijuana safe than oral THC. After reading through the studies, I kind of change my views on if the federal government will consider making known as a medical drug. There have been studies that constantly show that marijuana is active. I see that marijuana has displays some positive effects.For example, patients who have been HIV positive for 10 year or more found out that marijuana it to be beneficial.
In conclusion, the likelihood that medical marijuana becoming legalized in all states, I’m still indecisive. Through in my research, because of Anslinger marijuana became illegal in the first place. Anslinger portrayed to be racists and drew violence into the nation’s attention to cause problems. Also, by marijuana being listed as a schedule I drug, the federal government does not see that this natural herb can be used as a medical drug. The FDA physician has done numerous studies to prove that marijuana can be classified as a medical benefit. Also, Zeese mentions that the IOM says that yes there are some harmful risks of smoking marijuana, but the most part it can be beneficial. If marijuana was to become legal people who are certified to distribute cannot get arrested and limits should be place on those who are prescribed to it. I still do not understand why the federal government will not approve it. There have been several studies and tests showing that marijuana can beneficial as well as powerful. I also wonder how it can be changed from being to schedule I drug into schedule 3 drug, were it is accepted in the medical use with a mild possible addiction. I should probably look for the answer to my question in a drug law article or book. I might also find the answers to my questions my doing more research on how the process the of be classified as a schedule I drug to a schedule III drug.
"Frequently Asked Question and Facts about Marijuana." Www.whitehouse.gov. U.S Department of Interior, 9 Dec. 2010. Web. 15 Oct. 2013.
Hanson, Karmen. "State Medical Marijuana Laws." Www.ncsl.org. National Conference of State Legislatures, 16 Jan. 2013. Web. 15 Oct. 2013.
Zeese, Kevin B. "Research Findings on Medicinal Properties of Marijuana." Www.csdp.org. Common Sense for Drug Policy, 3 Oct. 2013. Web. 15 Oct. 2013.
Guither, Pete. "Why Is Marijuana Illegal?" Www.drugwarrant.com. Charles Whitebread, 20 Apr. 2008. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.