Musings

More States Should Allow the Use of Marijuana for Medical Purposes(11/12/07-THNT)

Marijuana, the so-called gateway drug, has, for the past century or so, been grouped together with the likes of cocaine, heroine, and other heavy narcotics; however, this stimulant has garnered an undeserved bad reputation. As a result it has been so thoroughly outlawed in nearly all the states, and thus it is very difficult to prove that the attacks against cannabis hold any weight.

However, an objective and a discerning mind can see the medical benefits of hashish if it were a legal commodity; this is especially true in the case of patients suffering from glaucoma. Along with the medical benefits, it could also be a moneymaker for the government. Taking into account the illegal activity that takes place because of the illegalization of marijuana, if it were legal, the government could regulate its sale, and thereby curb the flourishing marijuana black market and instead gain revenue from the drug sales.

Lobbyists and propaganda have been greatly responsible for keeping marijuana illegal in this country; the harmful effects of marijuana have been over advertised: full page and primetime advertisements in popular media; yet, the deaths from marijuana are considerably less than those from other harmful substances such as tobacco and alcohol. As many people slowly begin to realize that the negative propaganda associated with ganja is a misguide, and that marijuana's benefits greatly outweigh its negatives, people will begin to push for fewer restrictions on the misjudged plant. With the restrictions on marijuana, as they are now, the black market has become quite dangerous with numerous accounts of violence resulting from the possession and distribution of drugs; urban areas have become cesspools of crime, and the abuse of harmful substances is running rampant. Experts have suggested a solution to this problem, and this proposal has definitely proved to be pragmatic and effective- legalize marijuana.

With the legalization of marijuana, many violent crimes and illegal transactions can be avoided altogether. If this proposal is
put into effect, no longer will this so-called illicit substance be
bought, sold, and fought over in the black market. After the legalization of marijuana, the government can control and oversee the sale of the substance and make revenue on the taxes levied on the transactions. Seeing the evident problems that have arisen with the illegal distribution of the said substance, the government should take action and legalize this potentially profitable plant. What angers advocates of marijuana is the terrible reputation that precedes the substance. Very early on in one's education, we are taught to steer clear of so-called 'drugs'; however, it has been proven that one can not die from an overdose of marijuana; in fact, according to World Almanacs, Life Insurance Actuarial Rates in the last 20 years of U.S. Surgeon Generals' reports there has not been a death associated to marijuana. On the other hand, legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco have been responsible for 150,000 and 450,000 deaths respectively. It has been claimed that there has never been a documented cannabis-induced fatality. Slowly but surely Marijuana is making its legal presence felt in a positive way. California has been most commonly associated with medical marijuana, but the use of cannabis for medical purposes has now been legalized in nine other states as well- Colorado, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Maryland. The laws in these states vary, but essentially they state that the use of marijuana is applicable for problems such as arthritis, cachexia, cancer, chronic nervous system disorders, chronic pain, Crohn's disease, epilepsy and other seizure
disorders, glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other muscle spasticity disorders, and help patients cope with severe migraines, severe nausea, and the side effects of chemotherapy.

Due to its benefits, there is a slow-growing acceptance of the substance; marijuana is now used daily by many people throughout the world. What is bothersome is that, according to the United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration, approximately twenty million to fifty million Americans routinely smoke marijuana illegally, without the benefit of direct medical supervision. Perhaps we need to give marijuana its due recognition and legalize it. Cannabis, for several decades, has unnecessarily been given a bad name by those who either know little about it or then stand to gain by making it illegal. If our nation is built on values that tell its people to never judge a book by its cover, how can these same citizens reject marijuana based on hearsay without looking a little deeper to see its benefits.

posted by thethoughtless @ 11:40 AM