...Medical Marijuana A look into the evolving world of medication. By: Daniel Countryman Medical marijuana is a common topic these days, and while it’s a controversial subject it is something to be looked at as an alternative medication. I want to cover what exactly marijuana is, how it’s produced, where it comes from, the natural compounds, how to use it, and what benefits versus the risks medical marijuana has on its patients. Marijuana is a plant – in fact it’s a weed. Marijuana is actually a slang term, and the proper name for the plant is cannabis. Cannabis is a genus of plants with flowers, and also has a few different species; cannabis sativa, cannabis indica, and cannabis ruderalis. Cannabis contains different cannabinoids to which over 85 of the known are active cannabinoids, and the two most common are Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and Cannabidiol (CBD). While other known cannabinoids such as Cannabigerol (CBG), Cannabinol (CBN), and Tretrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) are known their studies are not as prevalent as THC, and CBD. THC is a psychoactive ingredient which puts you in an altered state of conscious when consumed in moderate to high doses. While THC is psychoactive it does not make you hallucinate as other known drugs such as LSD, and ‘magic’ mushrooms are known for. However, THC is known for changing your appetite and your taste which makes it a good medication for people who have issues with consuming food such as cancer patients. THC is also used for...
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...cannabis of all kinds illegal; however, 18 states have declared it legal for medicinal use only. Studies have been showing the impact legalization has been making on those legalized states, specifically Colorado and California are benefiting from medicinal marijuana by producing jobs, lowering state deficits, and showing a decreased crime rate. These findings offer an idea that the impact of national legalization of medicinal use marijuana may show true benefit to society. Since Marijuana is illegal at a federal level, if one is caught with this drug, it is a crime punishable by prison time. Attorney General Eric Holder made an announcement in October 2009 that the Department of Justice (DOJ) would work with the Non-Enforcement Policy (NEP) by stating they would no longer be enforcing the Federal regulations pertaining to the marijuana ban as long as those users were complying with state medical marijuana laws. This came as a relief to more than 400,000 users and their suppliers allowing them to feel confident and safe in their marijuana use (Mikos, 2011.). In 2007, a study showed individuals in jail from marijuana-related charges cost the United States prisons $1 billion annually (Armentano, 2007). Even if medical use marijuana were to be legalized nationally, does not mean this annual cost would disappear completely. However, the cost could decrease to a more cost effective amount because there would be less people incarcerated. In the states of California and Colorado,...
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...I was happy that we’re able to read about a relevant topic. I personally don’t know much about the medical marijuana history/debate in Michigan so I found this assignment to be very informative and useful. I’m glad this assignment gave me the opportunity to read the most current information on the laws concerning medical marijuana. I have never personally smoked marijuana, so I have a hard time understanding why some people push so hard to have it legalized. This being said, I do believe that the case presented against McQueen and Taylor is valid. Given what I read in the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA), it would appear to me that CA, the defendant’s co-owned marijuana dispensary, was operating illegally. The MMMA states that there is to be no “patient-to-patient” sales (MICHIGAN MEDICAL MARIHUANA ACT (EXCERPT), 2008). Even though CA rented out lockers to registered qualifying patients to store and sell their excess marijuana, CA claims that they did not violate any of the rules outlined in the MMMA because they believed they did not own the rights to the stored marijuana. CA attests that the rights and ownership of the stored pot were still that of the patients whom rented the lockers, not CA. The State of Michigan challenged that notion by defining possession as dominion and control of the drug. The State of Michigan’s position is that CA had control over the access and sale of the drug there by placing possession of the drug with CA, not the patients. This is a violation...
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...When talked about, marijuana has a bad reputation for judgment. Such examples are ‘hippies’, ‘drug lords’, and ‘stoners’. What does not come to a person’s mind is the positive effects medical marijuana can have on the people who need it most. Marijuana is not only used to obtain a high for teenagers, but for any patient with medical issues that can be ingested to fit the patient’s need. Such issues that can be helped from cannabis include helping patient’s symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, various symptoms for cancer patients, and palliative care for the end of life process. Marijuana can be ingested in a variety of ways. The most common form is smoking it in the form of a cigarette and inhaling it through a glass pipe. Other ways to ingest marijuana can be in the form of capsules to be taken with other medications and even suppositories. A patient can also take medical cannabis by eating the drug in forms of butter, flour, and milk concoctions. When a patient begins to lose their memory, the first diagnosis that comes to mind is Alzheimer’s disease. As the disease progresses, patients may need coaxed to eat and can even forget how to feed themselves. Many medications can be prescribed to help try to improve the patient’s memory and lessen their forgetfulness, but medical cannabis has been proven to help the patients in difference ways. The drug dronabinol is a derivative of marijuana and was proven to enhance the patient’s appetite and lessen mood swings. It can...
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...Medical Marijuana in California The marijuana pant is one of the oldest plants known to mankind. It has become one of the most widely used plants. The plant has many uses other than medicinal use. It was used to make cloth and paper for centuries and was the most important source of rope until the development of synthetic fibers (Grinspoon and Bakalar). There are two different species of cannabis called sativa and indica. The feeling of each has a slight difference. Sativa has a more relaxing effect on the body than indica, but both are equally useful in medicating ill people. Marijuana is easily defined: it is one of the most benign substances know to humans (Rosenthal and Kubby). California is one of the first states in America fighting for the use of medical marijuana. In recent years, the medical use had grown vastly in the state of California. Medical marijuana is used for various reasons. Many people in California are beginning to buy or receive medical marijuana prescriptions to avoid serious consequences. “In 1996, California voters passed position 215, the Compassionate Use Act, legalizing marijuana for medical use. Proposition 215 permits ill Californians to use marijuana, provided they first obtain a doctor’s recommendation. Proposition 215 also give doctors legal defense against professional or legal sanctions for recommending use of marijuana” (Berkeley.edu 1). There is so much conflict between proposition 215 and the federal law. The federal...
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...Medical Marijuana If a substance can make someone who is ill feel better, why keep it from him or her? On the surface this sounds right. People who advocate making marijuana legal for medical purposes take this approach. What could it hurt? A closer look reveals that marijuana should not be legalized for medical use, because young people are given mixed signals about drugs, other drugs can be used that are easier to regulate, and there are more harmful side effects. Marijuana is one of the most abused drugs in America today. It is estimated that close to four million Americans regularly use marijuana. It is often one of the first illegal drugs that young people experiment with (Gassett2). Legalization for medical purposes would send a mixed signal to our youth. Young people are taught at a very early age about the harmful effects and the abusive potential of marijuana. If at the same time, they are told that marijuana is medically benevolent, the result could be confusion. Andrea Barthwell, former deputy Director of the office of National Drug Policy said this in 2004, “Children entering drug abuse treatment routinely report that they heard ‘pot is medicine’ and, therefore, believed to be good for them.” (19). At a time when recreational drug use is at an all time high, it would not be wise to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. The war on drugs begins with young people. If they are confused about whether or not a drug like marijuana is harmful, the battle...
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...Week 9 Research Paper Medical Marijuana COM/156 August 11, 2013 Medical Marijuana ~“Marijuana is the finest anti-nausea medication known to science, and our leaders have lied about this consistently. [Arresting people for] medical marijuana is the most hideous example of government interference in the private lives of individuals. It’s an outrage within an outrage within an outrage”~ ~Peter McWilliams~ Author and Advocate for Medical Marijuana Medical Marijuana has found its place once again as the medical plant that is recognized for its healing potential and properties. How the Government has suppressed its positive potential and healing powers for over 25 years. With the help frommany patients, loved ones, research departments and advocate groups, to get the Government’s attention to see and understand that the terminally ill, and the sick should not be treated as common criminals. They are only trying to find some peace and serenity, in their last days. The struggle and fight that has been going on for the last 25 years against the Government. The people were finally heard, with the legalization of Medical Marijuana. The Government wants to regulate everything for their best interest, the positive effect of decriminalizing marijuana for the terminally ill, and the positive economic benefits for our community. Cannabis Sativa, Marijuana, Weed, Herb, Mary Jane these are just a few names that this little 5 leaf plant goes by. How could this...
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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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...English 102 Professor Leland May 1, 2013 Barrett, D. (2009, Feb. 7) Change in U.S. Medical Marijuana policy likely The Times West Virginian Retrieved 4, 29, 2013 From, http//:timeswv.com/headline news/x681698441/change-in-us-medical-marijuana-policy-1 Of a hoping change in U.S. medical marijuana policy likely, (The Times West Virginian, 2009), the White House and Drug Enforcement Administration wont say for sure, but there could be some changes made. In 2009 it was said that, “ Experts believe the Obama Administration will change the strategy and possibly the law on medical marijuana.”(A.P. Blood, M. 2009). “The president believes that federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws, and as he continues to appoint senior leadership to fill out the ranks of the Federal Government, he expects them to review their policy with that in mind”. Said White House spokesman Nick Shapiro (Barrett, D. 2009). So far thirteen states have laws permitting the use of medical marijuana: California for instance, is unique for the presence of dispensaries, and businesses that sell marijuana. Even though; dispensaries are illegal under federal law. It may be the law, “ but contradicts the medical marijuana position of the new president”. (Barrett, D. 2009). Over time the Obama Administration will...
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...Medical Marijuana in California The marijuana pant is one of the oldest plants known to mankind. It has become one of the most widely used plants. The plant has many uses other than medicinal use. It was used to make cloth and paper for centuries and was the most important source of rope until the development of synthetic fibers (Grinspoon and Bakalar). There are two different species of cannabis called sativa and indica. The feeling of each has a slight difference. Sativa has a more relaxing effect on the body than indica, but both are equally useful in medicating ill people. Marijuana is easily defined: it is one of the most benign substances know to humans (Rosenthal and Kubby). California is one of the first states in America fighting for the use of medical marijuana. In recent years, the medical use had grown vastly in the state of California. Medical marijuana is used for various reasons. Many people in California are beginning to buy or receive medical marijuana prescriptions to avoid serious consequences. “In 1996, California voters passed position 215, the Compassionate Use Act, legalizing marijuana for medical use. Proposition 215 permits ill Californians to use marijuana, provided they first obtain a doctor’s recommendation. Proposition 215 also give doctors legal defense against professional or legal sanctions for recommending use of marijuana” (Berkeley.edu 1). There is so much conflict between proposition 215 and the federal law...
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...12/17/13 Legalization of Marijuana Have you ever wondered if there is a natural medicine that can heal, help, and possibly cure people with irritable and deadly diseases? Well, there is a medicine; it’s an herb that is naturally grown from the Earth. Scientists have made discoveries leading back to 7,000 B.C.E. of this miscellaneous victor and its usage (Norml). The herb is called marijuana also known as pot, cannabis, weed, and God’s medicine in today’s society (Norml). Marijuana is a cannabinoid which is a chemical compound that naturally affects the immune and nervous system of humans and animals. It has been used for centuries as a natural therapeutic substance. This mysterious plant combats nausea, cancer, leukemia, and many other variants that still cannot be cured with prescription drugs. No one knows where this plant comes from, but findings of this plant’s DNA reach up to Northern China, thousands of years ago. For many decades this plant has been looked down upon. Media analysts and government officials in the United States give it a negative approach which allows the public to think negatively about it. Many people assume that weed is deadly because of what authority wants the public to believe, but what many do not know is the positive scientific evidence and facts that proves how effective it really is. The social policies regarding marijuana have changed throughout the years in the U.S. Although, several states have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes, the...
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...Professor Raynor Persuasive Speech Title: Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana General Purpose: To Persuade. Specific Purpose: To persuade or reinforce the attitude of my audience towards the legalization of marijuana being best for our country. Thematic Statement: There are many reasons for why marijuana should be legal but due to lack of time I will only be discussing marijuana’s health risks and how it compares to alcohol, the government’s financial gain from legalization, and popular oppositions and myths about marijuana. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction: Hi my name is Good Student and I’m going to talk to you about some facts on Cannabis or marijuana. A. Attention: I would like to ask a favor of everyone, because I am discussing something slightly controversial I would like you to keep an open mind or try to about what I have to say and realize that I am only stating well-researched facts. B. Audience connect/credibility: With that said, I do not condone smoking. I am an objective person and feel that the pros greatly outweigh the cons when it comes to legalizing marijuana. I believe the best strategy for persuasion is presenting the facts and researched statistics on the topic at hand. C. Thematic Statement: There are many reasons for why marijuana should be legal but due to lack of time I will only be discussing...
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...Medical Marijuana in the workforce with a Medical marijuana card Student’s Name: Institutional Affiliation: University: Medical Marijuana in the workforce with a Medical marijuana card Medical marijuana use has caused a lot of confusion in many corporate organizations. The use of marijuana as a prescription painkiller has been legalized in many states in the USA and other countries. This leaves employers with an issue to solve because many work places have drug policies that forbid the use of drugs at work. On the other hand employees have a medical marijuana card that gives them patient’s rights to use marijuana. Human resource officers grapple with the question of whether to allow employees with medical marijuana cards the use of medical marijuana. The use of medical marijuana has been a controversial issue. The research is necessitated by the debate about the employee’s right to use medical marijuana at work place. Many companies are required by law to terminate or put employees who test positive for THC on treatment. This creates legal and ethical problems in making choices. This is because the government wants to promote a drug free work place while state laws permit the use of medical marijuana. The law prohibits the use of medical marijuana for workers in the transportation sector which require high security like pilots, school drivers, track drivers and armed transit security officers even where the use is legally allowed. In other jobs the law allows the use...
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...Medicinal Marijuana The green rush flooding across America today is the marijuana industry. An old product, yet still in its infancy stage is the plant that has been flooding the news with its high profits, both beneficial to patients and governments alike. These marijuana plants when used for their medicinal properties can be a major prospect, especially in the eyes of investors and entrepreneurs. The Market Marijuana has been around for ages, as long as man can remember. This plant has been a symbol of freedom, power, and also belligerence amongst all ages around the world. Until recent years has become mainstream in the media displaying high industry growth potential with the sheer amount of demand, and crazy margins. Competition The medicinal marijuana market is purely competition. There are so many strains (types) of this plant, that it has simply become user preference. Leafly, which is the world’s largest cannabis information resource, has registered over 1,800 unique strains alone. There are still large amounts of hidden strains yet to be found around the globe. There are several smaller markets within this industry that are monopolized in a sense. Due to the fact that this is a new market, there are constantly new products coming out, especially with the amount of current black market products that have surfaced over the years. Market Elasticity The elasticity of the medicinal marijuana market is pretty standard with basic economics, and the law of supply and demand...
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...Should marijuana be legalized for medicinal use? Cierra Cook Medical Ethics April 12, 2014 Marijuana has been hailed as a prescription for many ills and physicians once used it to stimulate appetite, relieve chronic pain, and treat asthma and migraines. But is marijuana really a medical miracle? If so, do its clinical benefits outweigh its drawbacks? Should we legalize marijuana? Is medical marijuana really worth the risks? These are the issues one needs to think about before making the decision to legalize marijuana. Marijuana is a drug that is derived from the dried and cut leaves of the hemp plant known as "cannabis sativa". Marijuana has a variety of street names such as "grass", "Mary Jane", "pot", "smoke", "reefer", "herb", and "weed". The active ingredient in marijuana is delta tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (3). Marijuana has been used throughout history and in many different cultures to change mood, perception, and consciousness (to get "high"). Its effects range from increasing creativity to provoking mystical experiences, to heightening the capacity to feel, sense and share. After alcohol, it is the most popular of what are called "recreational drugs." It has been used around the world for other purposes. In some primitive tribes of South America, Africa, and India, "cannabis" is used in religious ceremonies and for medical purposes. African mine workers have used it to ease the drudgery of their work and many Jamaicans use it at the end of the day to relieve...
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