Com_220_Final_Project

“Marijuana contains over four hundred different identifiable constituents such as steroids and Vitamin A.” Constituents are defined as things that make up something. Also a study done at UCLA in May 2006 says “that they found that there is no association between lung cancer and marijuana, and that marijuana may have some protected effect on people.” So even though many people do not want to legalize marijuana for medical use, they should legalize it because it has more positive effects than harmful ones. There are some ailments and illnesses that medical marijuana has helped. Two that will be discussed are migraines and multiple sclerosis. Migraines are a very common ailment in society. Many people obtain them, and suffer the pain associated with them. Doctors prescribe many types of medications for them like Imitrex and a blood pressure medicine called Lisinopril. Sometimes they can work, and sometimes they don’t. The side effects for these can be worse than not taking them. Some of the side effects for lisinopril are headache, nausea, fatigue, fainting, and chest pain. Some of the side effects for imitrex are weakness, numbness, tingling, chest pain, and irregular heartbeat. So not only do we try these medications, but when they do not work, the doctor tries medicine after medicine. If we can just use one drug that can alleviate the pain, it would be a blessing. When taking medical marijuana for a migraine, the vascular changes that it causes in the covering of the brain usually makes migraines disappear. It also relieves the nausea associated with migraines, and the pain that comes along with it. In multiple sclerosis, doctors use disease modifying drugs that will slow down the progression in some people. Two drugs that can be used are Avonex, and Capaxone. Some of the side effects of avonex are headache, fever, chills, and muscle aches. Some side effects for copaxone are nausea, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Both of these medicines have to be injected, one of them daily and the other one weekly. When using medical marijuana for multiple sclerosis, patients have reported relief from spasms and pain right after their first puff of a marijuana cigarette. So the point is that there are both pros and cons to all medications and for medical marijuana, but why take something when the side effects can be worse than helpful' ABC News and the Washington Post (January 2010), did a poll showing that the American people thought that doctors should be allowed to prescribe marijuana to patients. Here is the illustrated graph that shows the outcome of that poll. There has also been research done on the psychological and physiological effects that marijuana can have on people. The negative side for psychological and physiological effects for someone who has never used marijuana can be somewhat disturbing to him or her. It can cause severe anxiety, affect their motor skills, pain and nausea can worsen, and it can cause unpleasant feelings. The positive effects that marijuana can have on someone who has never used it can be relief from the pain and nausea, no anxiety, and are less likely to become addicted to it than opiates that doctors prescribe. We have a wide variety of therapeutic applications that marijuana can help. It can relieve nausea, which in turn will help someone to keep his or her appetite. It can relieve chronic pain so that someone is comfortable, and able to do things. Marijuana can also help reduce muscle spasms so that people can live their lives to the fullest. The history for the use of medical marijuana dates back to the B.C. era. In 1400 B.C., marijuana was used for pain in childbirth and disease. In 1000 B.C. in India marijuana was used as an anesthetic, and in 200 B.C. in Greece it was used for earaches and inflammation. More recently it does not show uses, but states fighting to have marijuana legalized for patients with illnesses. The American Medical Association (2001) urged the House of Delegates to consider its use for cancer patients. In an article published by Ethan Russo, MD in the Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics (2002), he states that “people who have been using marijuana from the government from the 1970’s and 1980’s, demonstrate clinical effectiveness in these patients in treating glaucoma, chronic musculoskeletal pain, spasm and nausea, and the spasticity of multiple sclerosis.” Some of the history has not all been beneficial, some has been against marijuana. In 1856-1937 marijuana is classified as a toxic. In 1989 the DEA orders that marijuana is still a schedule one narcotic and has no medical use. Before marijuana had been legalized in many states, the police were still arresting people and doctors who used or prescribed medical marijuana. There are convictions that have been over turned once marijuana was legalized. In a local newspaper, written in Virginia called The Northern Virginia Daily, did a story on the war on drugs. It talks about how many groups are making this a racial issue. Founder of a group called International Faith-Based Coalition, Bishop Allen was quoted as saying “Why would the state NAACP advocate for blacks to stay high'” He says that crime will rise and people will have more drug babies. The president for the NAACP branch in California is quoted as saying “That there is a pronounced racial disparity in the enforcement of drug laws.” Although Bishop Allen is worried about babies born addicted to pot, others worry about parents unable to obtain a job to support the children, or cannot obtain an education because of getting caught with marijuana. These issues are very troublesome. Of course no one wants a child to be addicted to marijuana being born. That is why certain criteria needs to be met. The trouble the parents can sustain because of getting caught with marijuana, even with a minor possession, can have long lasting effects on them and their families. Leonard Pitts Jr. (2010), states that “We have spent billions of dollars, ruined millions of lives, and racked up the highest incarceration rate in the world to fight drug use. All we have managed, and at a ruinous cost, is to re-learn the lesson of 1933 when alcohol Prohibition collapsed: You cannot jail or punish people out of wanting what they want.” A growing number of judges, DEA agents, and cops have called the War on Drugs a failure. Medical marijuana is not an issue with some states, but still is an issue among many states. Fourteen states have enacted laws that legalize medical marijuana, and 11 states are trying to legalize marijuana for the benefits it has. Here is the illustration that shows those 14 states that have already taken the step toward legalizing medical marijuana, and the 11 states and District of Columbia that are in the process of legalizing medical marijuana. States Year Passed States in Process Date of Last Action Alaska 1998 Alabama April7, 2010 California 1996 Arizona June 1, 2010 Colorado 2000 Delaware June 23, 2009 Hawaii 2000 District of Columbia June 3, 2010 Maine 1999 Illinois May 28, 2010 Michigan 2008 Massachusetts March 16, 2009 Montana 2004 Missouri May 14, 2010 Nevada 2000 New York June 15, 2010 New Jersey 2010 North Carolina June 18, 2009 New Mexico 2007 Ohio April 7, 2010 Oregon 1998 Pennsylvania May 4, 2010 Rhode Island 2006 South Dakota March 15, 2010 Vermont 2004 Washington 1998 In the last 10 years, 14 states have realized the beneficial use medical marijuana. Especially with people who have terminally ill diseases and ailments. The other 11 states and the District of Columbia need to get on the same page as them and realize how helpful medical marijuana can be, and to make sure that the laws get passed. The government still does not want to legalize marijuana for medical use. The government says that it is harmful, has no benefits, and will lead to the use of harsher drugs. The Institute of Medicine (1999) did a study that assessed the health benefits of marijuana and states “that smoking marijuana should not be used for the treatment of any diseases or conditions. That there are more effective medications currently available.” The DEA (no date listed) believes that marijuana is dangerous, has no medical value, and that it is a red herring to use to legalize other drugs. Some physicians disagree with the government, and think that marijuana should be legalized. One of those physicians is David Hadorn, MD. PhD and he states that "I have seen many patients with chronic pain, muscle spasms, nausea, anorexia, and other unpleasant symptoms obtain significant -- often remarkable -- relief from cannabis medicines, well beyond what had been provided by traditional (usually opiate-based) pain relievers." Another physician named Andrew Weil, MD says that "As a physician, I am frustrated that I cannot prescribe marijuana for patients who might benefit from it. At the very least I would like to be able to refer them to a safe, reliable, quality-controlled source." These are just two of the doctors who believe in legalizing marijuana for medical use. So between the government and our doctors whom we see often, who is right' If a doctor wants to prescribe something that can help a person, and the government states that it is “illegal,” what is one to do' Do we go against the government, or do we listen to our doctors' One has to wonder why the government does not want to legalize marijuana. It could be because they make no money from it right now, and do make money from prescriptions that are written to patients. There is always some type of agenda when it comes to the debate over it. The government could make a profit from legalizing marijuana if they chose too. The government is starting to wear down on this issue. The fight on drugs still continues, but with so many states wanting to legalize marijuana the fight might soon be over. With realizing many benefits marijuana has, and with the crimes that involve it slowly dwindling down, this should be a realization for our country. That no matter what our government may feel about this debate, it would be better to legalize marijuana than to continue spending billions of our tax dollars on an effortless situation. The fight is not worth ruining people’s lives and making them suffer because of how they think about the situation. We are a democracy, and many are voting for their right to choose. So what we need to do is visualize or think about someone we know in constant pain from an illness or terminally ill disease. Now imagine what they go through in their lives daily from their illness. They have constant pain, nausea, headaches, body aches, and are sleep deprived. These are just a few of the ailments that they can go through. Then think about all the different types of medications they are or have been taking, which doctors keep prescribing to them even if they do not work. Also think about how many drugs they have been prescribed over and over again until the doctor thinks he or she is on the right one that will help. Then ask this. Do I want them to suffer like this, when there is something like medical marijuana that can help to ease their pain and discomfort' If the answer is yes, then nothing is lost or gained in reading this. If the answer is no, then write the state governor or vote to legalize marijuana in the state lived in.