...“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...
Words: 1628 - Pages: 7
...Marcela Covarrubias Mr. Odegaard English 1A 4 October 2011 Legalizing Marijuana “Memory is the enemy of wonder, which abides nowhere else but in the present… ordinarily we think of drug experiences as additive- it’s often said that drugs “distort” normal perceptions” (Pollan 168). When the word Marijuana is said, many negative thoughts pop into one’s head. Do you ever stop and think of the positive ways marijuana can be used; as opposed to the danger in using the plant? Today, marijuana and other drugs are the main reason for drug wars amongst gangs here in America. Maybe if marijuana was legal it there wouldn’t be such fights over it. Legalizing marijuana would allow people to be able to purchase it legally, therefore it being a taxable item; which would eventually bring the state more money. Marijuana has also found its way into our hospitals. Many doctors today prescribe “Medicinal marijuana” and can be used to relieve people of pain. Allowing marijuana to be legal would benefit both the distributor and the consumer. All while letting the American society enjoy some cannabis and is able to relax their state of mind after stressful encounters throughout there day. Marijuana is used all throughout the United States. Although the using of this plant for recreational purposes is still not legal; people still find a way to get there fix. The consumers seek distributors and spend money to receive this plant. Distributors of marijuana don’t report their money anywhere they use...
Words: 1131 - Pages: 5
...from the cannabis plant. This drug can be classified as a hallucinogen, stimulant, or a depressant. Marijuana is a very beneficial drug used for recreational, and medicinal purposes. Cannabis should be legalized and decriminalized for a various amount of reasons, which include: economic, medicinal, and religious reasons. Cannabis is a drug of many names, the most common a person might hear are weed, pot, ganja, and mary jane. Marijuana’s first recorded use as a medicinal drug was in China in 2737 B.C. Until the early 1940s, marijuana was was easily obtained at the local general store or pharmacy. The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 severely restricted Marijuana as a recreational and a medicinal drug. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 made it illegal to possess, use, buy, sell, or cultivate marijuana. Only a year later, President Nixon enacted the “War on Drugs” policy. However in 1996, California was the first U.S. state to legally allow medical marijuana to pain-suffering patients. Today, 13 U.S. states currently have laws in place which allow regulated medical marijuana use. Marijuana is very similar to alcohol when talking about how the United States government treats it. Alcohol was legal in the early 1900s until 1919 when the prohibition of alcohol took place. When this took place, there was a huge rise in organized crime in larger cities. The prohibition was overturned based on the fact that the repeal would generate a copious amount of much needed tax revenue...
Words: 1503 - Pages: 7
...but the reality is not such, yet. We have not been allowed to do the proper research on cannabis to know the exact effects on pregnancy. Therefore we have a moral obligation to learn all we can before we experiment. It will be explained in further detail on our legal issues section. We, as responsible adults have to ensure that legal cannabis becomes a choice and not an obligation or saturation. Just like humans choose to drink or not to drink. Would you pass a 40oz bottle of malt liquor to a child? Same goes for cannabis and cannabis by-products. Keep in mind; these issues are pertaining to recreational legalization. Some children can benefit from medical cannabis for example, metastasis cancer patients. Not smoking cannabis but consuming (edibles and balms). B. Legal Issues The beginning of the legalization of medical marijuana was a very rocky one. It was riddled with many unclear legal issues at a state and federal level. When you take an illegal substance and make it legal, supply and demand becomes a daunting task. Some of the dispensaries choose to collaborate with un-authorized growers and were indirectly funding criminal activity. This sparked the attention of the DEA and TFA who came down with a very heavy...
Words: 1380 - Pages: 6
...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 would generate jobs opportunities for many people. Decriminalizing marijuana for personal use would lower overcrowded jails and save court systems time...
Words: 2243 - Pages: 9
...*The Evolution of Cannabis:* a Recreational drug transition*ing to a medical remedy approved by* Americans. Cannabis has been a recreational drug and medical remedy since the herb was known to exist but, today cannabis has been researched, approved by legislators to be used only for applications. People have opposed the consumption of marijuana for medical and recreational use. The herd known as cannabis indigo is the # l drug and the hottest issue coming to the surface of social issue for Americans. History of the Problem (Include, perhaps, past attempts at solutions. Work in sources. The plant marijuana has been known since 6000 B.C. and in 1840 in America medical preparation cannabis was legal and available to Americans. The United State government and the department of food and Drug Administration ordered in 1906 to label products that contained cannabis. The Harrison Act in 1914 listed Cannabis, to be approved but the law did not pass legislation. The pharmaceutical industry's was opposition the approval due to lack of beneficial properties. In 1915-1924 cannabis was prohibited for non medical use in the United States. Dr. Hamilton Wright, a State Department official whom from 1908 to 1914 coordinated the domestic and international aspects of the federal antinarcotics campaign, wanted cannabis to be included in drug abuse legislation because of his belief in a hydraulic model of drug appetites. He reasoned, along with numerous other experts, that if one dangerous drug...
Words: 2554 - Pages: 11
...the world. Marijuana has proven to be beneficial not only to a person’s health, but also beneficial to the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of an individual’s healthy and overall state of living. With more information being processed daily, scientists are in hopes of one day accomplishing the legalization of marijuana for those individuals that truly are in need of the comfort while battling a disease. First, let’s approach this topic with some basic information and background on what exactly is marijuana and how it can be used in a medicinal aspect. Marijuana is commonly known as cannabis, pot, ganja, weed, hemp, and often grass. According to many researchers, legend has it that a Chinese Emperor by the name of Shen Nung was the one responsible for discovering the medicinal properties of marijuana nearly 5000 years ago (Guterman, The Dope of Medical Marijuana p.1). Many physicians have agreed that marijuana can benefit people that are dealing with insomnia, migraines, and muscle spasms. It has been studied and noted that cannabis could be the secret towards individuals that deal with excruciating pain. Unfortunately, it has also...
Words: 3052 - Pages: 13
...standard in place that must be followed. These are nonnegotiable, ethical standards, obligations and duties that every individual swears to when entering the nursing profession. These standards are all found within the American Nurses Association’s code of Nursing Ethics and Conduct. Whether dealing with patients and families during end of life decision making or dealing with nursing negligence within the court of law, the first provision in the code of ethics is the most imperative to remember. Nurses are always obligated to their patient’s best interest, therefore making them an unrelenting patient advocate. Many provisions are pointed out within the Nursing Code of Ethics. In the situation of dealing with Marianne’s family and medical treatments, there are many important things to consider. “The nurse respects the worth, dignity, and rights of all human beings irrespective of the nature of the health problem. The worth of the person is not affected by disease, disability, functional status, or proximity to death. This...
Words: 1233 - Pages: 5
...interesting details concerning it. I have always felt that marijuana should be legalized, or at the very least, people with serious medical conditions should have access to it. And marijuana doesn’t even have to be legalized in my opinion, but it should definitely be decriminalized. I don’t think anyone who wants to smoke a plant that they grow themselves should have to suffer consequences, considering they are responsible in their recreational smoking. I do feel that if it were legalized, that there should be an acceptable age limit to buy and/or consume marijuana, comparable to that of alcohol. There are beneficial as well as harmful effects concerning marijuana, but that goes for a lot of things people do in everyday life. And I feel that a lot of time has been spent shining the spotlight on the harmful effects of marijuana, while little research has been done or even allowed, on the benefits of marijuana. While preparing for the debate, I encountered many sources on each end of the spectrum; including some in the middle. Many of the sources I looked at seemed rather credible, but others were most definitely biased. One example of a blatantly biased comment was, "Most pot smokers drink alcohol heavily, and may become so confused that they take cocaine or heroin.” (medicalmarijuana.procon.org). Another interesting bit of information I found was, “Medical marijuana is now a serious $1.7 billion dollar market, according to a new report released this month by an independent financial...
Words: 949 - Pages: 4
...promote new products and new services the ways that this can be done would be through electronic medical records, or any form of a web-based communique. Some types of communications can also make the patient feel safer and also help the organization save time and money. Electronic medical records give the patient some benefits that are to the advantage of them as well as the provider. It allows the patient to keep their medical records up to date and accurate so that way there are no problems with such things as allergies, surgeries, or medications that are being taken. This is a way for the patient to keep accurate records of their medical history as well as keeping the provider updated at all times (Brooks, R., Grotz, C.). This an effective means of communication between the patient and provider by allowing the provider to give access to some of their records that will allow the patient to adjust certain things in their lifestyle or medications without going in to see the provider for something that would not require an office visit. This type of communication can allow the provider to keep a better watch on the consumer’s progress that will allow the provider to release some test and results to the consumer and the provider can also let the consumer know exactly what the their instructions are without being misinterpreted (Brooks, R., Grotz, C.). Electronic Medical Records is a form of communication that is developed to make health care records easier to update...
Words: 846 - Pages: 4
...must ensure a health care ethic that respects the role of patients in decision making about treatment choices and other aspects of their care. Hospitals must be sensitive to cultural, racial, linguistic, religious, age, gender, and other differences as well as the needs of persons with disabilities (A patient’s bill of rights, 1992). To participate effectively in decision making, patients must be encouraged to take responsibility for requesting additional information or clarification about their health status or treatment when they do not fully understand information and instructions (A patient’s bill of rights, 1992). Three ethical considerations are autonomy, duty of care and risk-benefit. Ethical questions surround the concept of medical...
Words: 788 - Pages: 4
...Prescription Drugs In this society, most Americans use some type of prescription drug. According to this week chapter reading: “More than 80 % of U.S. adults use some form of medication, with 50 % taking a drug prescribed by a doctor. The average American fills 11 prescriptions per year spending approximately $ 771 annually (Gentzen, p. 245, 2007).” This is a true statement because I am one of those Americans who depend on prescription drugs. I have a seizure disorder that doctors have not found what cause me to have seizure. Without medication, I can have a seizure. So now I have become what society has called “addicted” to prescription drugs, when I go too long without medication, I can have a seizure at any given time. So I am glad that my team has chosen this topic to discuss. We talk about The History of Prescription Drugs, Drugs Addicts, and The steps that we believe that could be used to make a change to the present system. Prescription drugs are medicine regulated by legislation to require a prescription before it can be obtained. The term prescription drug is used separate from over-the-counter drugs that can be purchased without a prescription. In the United States, the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act determines what requires a prescription. When obtaining a prescription, a person will also receive a pamphlet explaining the drug and helpful information about the effect of the drug and how it affects the body. It also describes side effects...
Words: 1431 - Pages: 6
...definitions of euthanasia: "A gentle and easy death...[T]he means of bringing about a gentle and easy death... However, in today’s society term euthanasia includes both voluntary and involuntary termination of life. Euthanasia has many meanings. Except for involuntary euthanasia, all these terms are closely related because the victim requests the action. The only difference is who is actually committing the act, Voluntary euthanasia is a help to mentally competent person to die through the assistance of others and can be divided in two categories. Passive Euthanasia means causing the death of a person by withdrawing some form of support and letting nature take its course. For example: removing life support, stopping medical procedures, stopping food and water and allowing the person to dehydrate or starve to death, and not delivering CPR. Active Euthanasia involves causing the death of a person through a direct action, in response to a request from that person. For many people, euthanasia is a preferable option compare to loss of independence and unbearable suffering. Background Euthanasia has always been a highly controversial topic. In...
Words: 2821 - Pages: 12
...Bloom’s Taxonomy and Nursing Care Sherrie Fetterman Health and Chronic Disease Management/NUR427 October 3, 2011 Gina Stephens Bloom’s Taxonomy and Nursing Care An estimated 99 million Americans currently suffer from a form of chronic disease and will enter the health care field unknowing what to expect (Annuals of Internal Medicine, 2011). Disease knows no boundaries nor is there any age limitations. What is consistent, is the disease inflicted patients need to learn about their disease and how to live normal lives regardless of their literary level. In 1956, Benjamin Bloom and a group of educational psychologists developed Bloom’s Taxonomy, a classification of levels of intellectual behavior important in learning. The taxonomy has three domains: the cognitive, affective and psychomotor. Each domain begins with the most basic learning level, and increases to the more intellectual level of learning. As Larsen and Lubkin states, “The teaching-learning process is characterized by multifaceted, dynamic, and interactive exchanges that are fundamental to client-family education and nursing practice” (p. 320). Bloom’s Taxonomy of Education equips nurses with the tools necessary to help patients and family members become successful in coping with their chronic illnesses. The findings of the cognitive domains represent use of knowledge and mental skills of the patient, and is further divided into 6 levels from the lowest level to the highest level...
Words: 760 - Pages: 4
...The number of animals killed each year in the United States alone varies between 17 and 70 million. The Animal Welfare Act (ACA) states that laboratories must report the number of animals used in experiments; yet mice, birds, and rats are not included in this figure. These animals are used in 80 to 90 percent of all animal testing. Because of this, it is impossible to calculate the exact number of animals used in such experiments (PETA, 5). Animal testing might not directly affect ordinary people each day or be an issue on everybody’s mind, yet the actions people do daily can affect animal experimentation. This has been a worldwide issue and an ongoing battle for decades. Vivisection, the practice of lab experimenting on live animals, has been around since the beginning of scientific medicine. It is an alternative to the dissection of human corpses, which resulted from religious leaders’ protests (Choose Cruelty Free). There are numerous reasons why people and organizations want animal testing changed. People of all nations and religions argue differently on this topic. Yet the main factor in deciding the moral correctness of animal experimentation is one’s personal belief. No matter which side a person takes on this topic, they feel there are several things that must be done to benefit their stance and its publicity. A group in opposition of animal testing is the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Their main claim is put as, “Animals are not ours to...
Words: 1084 - Pages: 5