Note to Professor:

A lot of my citations say “Prohibition, 2002” and appear to come from the same source over and over again. This is incorrect; this source uses over 50 other sources, the majority of which I was not able to visit. So, I simply put down that they came from the NORML website. The endnotes are on that website if you would like to look.

Meghan Wyandt

Marijuana:
Decriminalization for Medical Use

Outline

1. Introduction a. "Penalties against drug use should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against the possession of marijuana in private for personal use."
-President Jimmy Carter: Message to Congress, August 2, 1977 i. Marijuana has been illegal in the United States since 1937. 2. Paragraph one: Present the Problem b. What is the problem? ii. Legal prescription drugs do not always offer relief to patients dealing with serious illnesses. Natural Cannabis has been proven in many clinical studies to offer relief from nausea, tremors, and chronic pain in sufferers. However, the Federal government completely prohibits the use of marijuana in the United States, for sale or for personal use, including medicinal relief. c. What caused it? iii. The criminalization of marijuana came about after its recognition as an intoxicant in the 1920s and 1930s. During this time, exaggerated accounts of violent crimes allegedly committed by immigrants intoxicated by marijuana became popularized by tabloid newspapers and the newly formed Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Congress approved the "Marihuana Tax Act of 1937" based almost entirely on this propaganda and misinformation. d. Who is affected? iv. Patients suffering from cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, paraplegia, epilepsy, and quadriplegia e. What are its effects? v. The illegalization of natural cannabis forces those suffering from severe diseases to use medications that have only a fraction of the pain-relieving cannabinoids that cannabis has naturally, i.e. Marinol (dronabinol) , which is the only US FDA-approved synthetic cannabinoid and is often marketed as a legal pharmaceutical alternative to cannabis f. Where did it begin, or where is it most problematic? vi. Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug of choice in the United States despite 60 years of criminal prohibition. g. What do your readers need to know about it? i. MRW09/10 ii. Responsible marijuana smokers present no threat or danger to America, and there is no reason to treat them as criminals. To do so is to wage war without cause against a significant segment of our nation's adult population. Speaking before Congress on the 40th anniversary of marijuana prohibition -- August 2, 1977 -- President Jimmy Carter stated: "Penalties against drug use should not be more damaging to an individual than use of the drug itself. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against possession of marijuana in private for personal use." Twenty years later, the former president's words ring as urgent as ever. After 60 years of a failed and destructive policy, it is time to once and for all end marijuana prohibition. 3. Paragraph two: h. Identify the problem vii. Those suffering from severe diseases are being denied a natural pain killer/anti-nauseant i. Causes and effects viii. Effects 1. People are buying and using marijuana to help with pain, despite the fact that the substance is illegal and that they could be sent to jail. Marinol, the most prescribed synthetic cannabinoid, is expensive ($200-$800 a month) 2. People are being arrested and serving jail time, sometimes for longer than a killer or rapist, because they have small amounts of marijuana for personal use. 4. Paragraph three j. Present possible solutions ix. If the purchase of cannabis is not going to be allowed, each state should be permitted a specific growing area for the plant, as well as a specific distribution center. Doctors should be allowed to prescribe this medicinal grade marijuana, and their patients should be issued some kind of license or documentation that identifies them as patients and as being allowed to carry and purchase marijuana. 5. Conclusion

There has always been controversy over religion and politics, and recently whether or not we as a country are on the right track. To add to these disagreements, the Federal government has been fighting the use of marijuana since 1937, when the “Marijuana Tax of 1937” was passed. Even so, people continue to buy and use marijuana despite the fact that just by possessing it, they could be arrested and charged or jailed. Many of those who use marijuana, or natural cannabis, suffer from severe, chronically painful, life-threatening, or incurable diseases. These include cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, paraplegia, epilepsy, and more. But despite the fact that many clinical studies have proven that natural cannabis helps patients deal with nausea, pain, tremors, and appetite loss due to their afflictions, the Federal government still denies those patients access to marijuana, and continues with the arrests. Instead of being able to prescribe natural cannabis, doctors are forced to use other prescription drugs that are much more expensive and, in many cases, less effective.
There are tens of thousands of people who suffer daily from many different illnesses, including cancer and AIDS. Their doctors prescribe them medication for their pain, muscle spasms, lack of appetite, etc., but legal prescription drugs do not always offer enough relief. Natural Cannabis has been proven in many clinical studies to offer relief from nausea, tremors, and chronic pain in sufferers. However, the Federal government completely prohibits the use of marijuana in the United States, for sale or for personal use, including medicinal relief. Marijuana has a much different history than what is commonly known. Marijuana has been grown for 400 years or more, first near Jamestown, Virginia by the Colonialists (Prohibition, 2002). Marijuana was known then as hemp, and was grown for the use of its fiber, which made up many of the Colonialists bibles, clothes, ropes, and sails. After the first crop of hemp was grown in 1611, King James I ordered wide-scale growth of the plant (Prohibition, 2002). However, the criminalization of marijuana didn’t come about until the 1920s and 1930s, after its recognition as an intoxicant. During this time, when the drug was associated mostly with Mexican-American workers and African-America jazz musicians, exaggerated accounts of violent crimes allegedly committed by immigrants intoxicated by marijuana became popularized by tabloid newspapers and the newly formed Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Congress approved the "Marihuana Tax Act of 1937" based almost entirely on this propaganda and misinformation (Prohibition, 2002). Hemp was renamed “marihuana,” and everyone forgot that the plant had long been a cash crop of the country. Rep. Robert L. Doughton of North Carolina introduced the Act in Congress on April 14, 1937, with the help of Commissioner Harry Anslinger. Congress received the bill and held only two debate hearings. Commissioner Anslinger testified that “this drug is entirely the monster-Hyde, the harmful effect of which cannot be measured” (Prohibition, 2002). However, the American Medical Association (AMA) was not supporting the bill for prohibition. Dr. William Woodward told Congress that there was no evidence pointing towards marijuana as a dangerous drug (Prohibition, 2002), and furthermore challenged the inaccuracy of the bill, which had been based solely on newspaper and tabloid accounts rather than on evidence and data from credible sources. After that, the Ways and Means Committee approved the “Marihuana Tax Act,” and on August 20th, the House of Representatives approved it as well, after debating the bill for only 90 seconds (Prohibition, 2002). Speaker Sam Rayburn of New York was asked if the AMA supported the bill, and a member of the Ways and Means Committee responded, falsely, that Dr. Wharton gave his full support for the bill. Due to inaccurate information, marijuana prohibition was approved without recorded vote (Prohibition, 2002). Prohibition was enacted on October 1, 1937. Because of this, many people are affected, including patients suffering from cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, paraplegia, quadriplegia, and epilepsy. The illegalization of natural cannabis forces those suffering from severe diseases to use medications that have only a fraction of the pain-relieving cannabinoids that cannabis has naturally, i.e. Marinol (dronabinol) , which is the only US FDA-approved synthetic cannabinoid and is often marketed as a legal pharmaceutical alternative to cannabis (Paul Armentano, 2005). Chemical compounds in cannabis (a.k.a, cannabinoids), are what gives marijuana its therapeutic benefits; 66 natural cannabinoids have been identified by scientists. Marinol contains only a synthetic form of tetrahydrocannibinol (THC), which is the main compound of marijuana. Because Marinol contains only the synthetic THC, the other therapeutic compounds found in marijuana are not present, and so Marinol is less effective (Paul Armentano, 2005). In addition, about one-third of those patients prescribed Marinol report higher psychoactive affects than those experienced with natural cannabis. The best-established medical use of marijuana is as an anti-nauseant for those undergoing chemotherapy. In the 1980s six different state-sponsored clinical studies, involving nearly 1,000 patients, came to the conclusion that marijuana served as an effective anti-emetic and anti-nauseant (Prohibition, 2002). Marijuana proved more effective than both conventional prescription anti-nauseants and oral THC (Marinol). Many oncologists still recommend marijuana to their patients despite its prohibition (Prohibition, 2002).
The ramifications of marijuana prohibition are severe. Those who are suffering are being denied a natural pain killer/anti-nauseant, and are buying and using marijuana , despite the fact that they could be sent to jail. Marinol, the most prescribed synthetic cannabinoid, is expensive ($200-$800 a month) (Prohibition, 2002), and many cannot afford it. The cost of marijuana, even on the black market, is substantially less. In 1998, editors at the Lancet British medical journal wrote:
"The smoking of cannabis, even long-term, is not harmful to health. ... It would be reasonable to judge cannabis as less of a threat ... than alcohol or tobacco." (The Lancet, November 14, 1998)

According to the US Department of Justice, “convicted marijuana offenders are denied federal financial student aid, welfare and food stamps, and may be removed from public housing. Other non-drug violations do not carry such penalties. In many states, convicted marijuana offenders are automatically stripped of their driving privileges, even if the offense is not driving related” (Justice, 1992). However, those convicted of rape, murder, or robbery can still receive federal funds and benefits (Prohibition, 2002). People could even serve jail time, sometimes for longer than a killer or rapist, because they have small amounts of marijuana for personal use. One example is a man named William Foster of Oklahoma, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, was sentenced to 93 years in jail in January 1997. This resulted from his growing 10 medium-sized marijuana plants and 56 clones (trimmings from other plants) in an underground shelter (Prohibition, 2002) Since the 1970s, several government-appointed agencies have examined the effects of marijuana, and have made recommendations regarding its use. Amazingly, these experts have all come to the same conclusion: marijuana prohibition causes more social damage than marijuana use, and the possession of marijuana for personal use should no longer be a criminal offense (Prohibition, 2002).
It is well past the time for the tyranny to end. If the general purchase of cannabis is not going to be allowed, for personal or medicinal use, I propose that each state be permitted a specific growing area for the plant, as well as a specific distribution center for medicinal use only. Doctors should be allowed to prescribe this medicinal grade marijuana to those who need it most, and their patients should be issued some kind of license or documentation that identifies them as patients and as being allowed to carry and purchase marijuana. This would allow those suffering chronic pain to have access to a natural, more effective pain reliever, instead of one that adds chemicals to the body that damage organs and tissues, such as acetaminophen or barbiturates.
Despite 60 years of criminal prohibition, marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug of choice in the United States, surpassed only by alcohol and tobacco (Prohibition, 2002). Responsible marijuana smokers are not dangerous to their fellow citizens, and to treat them as criminals is to turn their lives upside down. To do so is to wage a war without cause against a substantial percentage of the nation's population. President Jimmy Carter, speaking before Congress on the 40th anniversary of marijuana prohibition, made a valid point. "Penalties against drug use should not be more damaging to an individual than use of the drug itself. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against possession of marijuana in private for personal use." (Prohibition, 2002)

After thirty-one years, the former president's words should be listened to even more than when he uttered them. After 71 years of a destructive, devastating, and not to mention falsely authorized policy, it is time to end marijuana prohibition, for the sake of our citizens.
"The Commission recommends only the following changes in federal law: Possession of marihuana for personal use would no longer be an offense. ... Casual distribution of small amounts of marihuana for no remuneration, or insignificant remuneration not involving profit would no longer be an offense." - United States National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse. 1972.

Bibliography

Justice, U. D. (1992). Drugs, Crime, and the Justice System. US Department of Justice Statistics. Retrieved July 16, 2008 from NORML: www.norml.org

NORML. (2002, March 17). NORML: National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Retrieved July 15, 2008, from NORML: www.norml.org

Paul Armentano, N. F. (2005, August 11). Marinol vs. Natural Cannabis.
Retrieved July 16, 20078, from NORML: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6635

Prohibition, N. 6. (2002, March 17). NORML: 60 years of Prohibition. Retrieved 6 16, 2008, from NORML: http://norml.org/

The Lancet. (November 14, 1998). Deglamorising Cannabis. The Lancet . Retrieved July 15, 2008 from NORML: www.norml.org