To TOKE or Not to TOKE
BY: Malcolm Albert
Marijuana is a plant known for its plant known for its euphoric state given when smoked or ingested. According to Jen Christensen, a recent study showed that medical marijuana can have an impact on 10 new diseases. And still many individuals have their own opinion on the effect of marijuana and its users, Despite the many tests and studies conducted by scientists and experts there is still a negative connotation with the plant. Doctors such as Dr.Sanjay Gupta believes “it's time for a medical marijuana revolution.” And as a country we need to repeal the laws banning the use of marijuana both recreational and medical.
Marijuana has a long history in America. The earliest encounter with marijuana in America is in the 1600 when domestic production of the hemp plant was promoted by the virginia assembly due to its many uses, Such as clothing rope and sails for ships. Hemp was also used as legal tender in some states such as Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. American production flourished during the civil war which led to the hemp plant being replaced by other materials and imports, But one field hemp was not replaced in was medical.
In the 1900’s Marijuana was a very popular ingredient in medicines and often times openly sold in pharmacies. In 1906 the food and drug act was passed forcing over the counter remedies to be labeled with the ingredient of Cannabis. Then in 1910 after the mexican revolution, immigrants from Mexico began to flood the country and with them came the idea of recreational use of marijuana. And with the major migration came prejudice. This is when marijuana began to get its bad wrap. The American people began to make propaganda
for marijuana. A popular slander towards the drug was “Marijuana Menace.” In the 1930’s fear of marijuana had spread throughout the country. During the Great Depression, not only fear, but resentment toward the Mexican race which made the American people further shame the drug. This made the public & government concern grow into a pseudo and biased investigation, which linked marijuana to minority or “Racially inferior” under class community. By 1931 twenty-nine states outlawed marijuana making it illegal. In 1932, concern on the rising use of marijuana and the studies linking the drug to crime created pressure for the government to take action. The national government the pressured the states to take action for themselves and adopt the uniform state narcotic act. In 1937 another propaganda campaign began against “evil weed”. Congress then passed the Marijuana Tax Act. The statute effectively criminalized the drug restricting the possession. The only people who the excise tax applied to were those who used the drug for certain medical and industrial purposes.In 1944 La guardia reports find marijuana to be less dangerous. New York Academy of Medicine Issue an extensive research report declaring (contrary to earlier researched and popular belief) marijuana does not induce violence or crime and does not lead to addiction or other drug use. In the 40’s during WWII, the import of hemp and other materials were crucial for producing marine rope parachutes and other military necessities that became scarce. In response to this shortage of resource, the U.S Department of Agriculture launched its “Hemp for Victory” program. This program was to encourage farmers to plant hemp by giving out seeds and granting draft deferments to those who would stay home and grow the plant. By 1943, farmers had harvested over 370,000 acres of hemp . From 1951-1956 Enactment of Federal Laws (Bogg Act 1952 & Narcotics Control Act 1956) set mandatory sentences for Drug related offences, including marijuana. A first offence marijuana possession carried a minimum sentence of 2-10 yrs with a fine of up to 20,000 dollars. In The 1960’s, A change in political and cultural climate reflected in more lenient attitude towards marijuana. Use of the drug became popular in white upper middle class. Reports commissioned by presidents Kennedy & Johnson showed the the use of marijuana does not lead to violence or use of heavier drugs. Policy toward marijuana began to involve considerations of treatment as well as criminal penalties. In 1970, Congress repealed almost all of the mandatory penalties for drug related offences. The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act categorized marijuana separately from other narcotics and eliminated mandatory federal sentences for possession of small amounts. In 1996 voters of California then proposed proposition 215 allowing patients suffering from cancer AIDS and other painful diseases to use marijuana for medical purposes.
While many support the legalization of marijuana many still oppose the legalization of marijuana. 3 reasons on why people oppose the legalization of marijuana are:
This claim is that once a individual starts using marijuana after a while the high given from the drug isn’t enough, that the user needs to more of a high. So they move onto a harder drug as if the user is chasing the high they first felt when he/she first tried the drug.
3) Marijuana affects your mental health. Marijuana affects the memory leading to short term memory loss.
It’s no secret that marijuana can affect a person’s memory. And it doesn't help that today’s stereotypical pot smoker is absent minded and forgetful.” Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, is known to impair nearly all aspects of memory. There is one exception, though. THC does not affect the recall of existing memories.”
These are just a couple points that are backed by science that show that marijuana isn’t as completely harmless as every who smokes faithfully depicts it to be. But while there are drawbacks not all the arguments stated are completely valid. Such as “The legalization of marijuana will increase child consumption.” This is not true at all! Studies show that Legalization of medical marijuana does not have any affect in underage marijuana consumption.
These studies were conducted in Rhode Island and Massachusetts because “..they have so much in common culturally and geographically,” says Dr. Esther Choo, assistant professor of emergency medicine at Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School and emergency medicine physician at Rhode Island Hospital. In in the studies while the use of marijuana was common rates did not change even after the medical marijuana was legalized. Another invalid argument is “Smoking marijuana causes lung cancer” While yes the smoking of ANYTHING can cause lung complications the smoking of marijuana is not linked to lung cancer. Doctors at webmd.com were asked to comment on this and the response givin was “Even very heavy, long-term marijuana users who had smoked more than 22,000 joints over a lifetime seemed to have no greater risk than infrequent marijuana users or non-users.” Also researcher Donald Tashkin, MD, of UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine had this to say “We know that there are as many or more carcinogens and co-carcinogens in marijuana smoke as in cigarettes..But we did not find any evidence for an increase in cancer risk for even heavy marijuana smoking.” Carcinogens are substances that cause cancer.
From a personal standpoint I believe that marijuana should be legalized. To say that marijuana is “Dangerous Drug” or “Narcotic” is preposterous. Yes, there are legit researched reports that show that marijuana isn't as harmless as portrayed which is true. There are some legitimate drawbacks to marijuana that are backed by science, And the kind of pseudo science that has plagued the marijuana smoking community since the early 1900’s For instance the early studies conducted under Presidents Kennedy & Johnson that debunked the idea that the plant is directly linked to violence. I believe that by keeping marijuana illegal is just further perpetuating the stereotypes and systematic oppression of minorities. I say this because the pseudo science that started the “Marijuana Madness” propaganda era was introduced because of the fear of another race coming to America and using the drug in there own way. Also to this day there are still prosecution gaps between races. It was even published on the washington post’s website with nine charts showing how african americans are prosecuted more than white. And dealt even harsher penalties than whites. But I believe that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. And the decision of To Toke or Not To Toke lies with the individual once they are of legal age to purchase. And it will even create jobs for many unemployed americans and possibly give our economy a financial boost. In Conclusion marijuana should be legalized for recreational and medical use.
Bibliography
(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dope/etc/cron.html)
(http://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2014/01/21/5-reasons-marijuana-should-remain-illegal-n1782086/page/full)
(http://www.leafscience.com/2014/10/21/marijuana-memory/)
(http://time.com/3079707/marijuana-legalization-teens-health/)
(http://www.theweedblog.com/arguments-against-medical-marijuana-and-why-they-are-wrong/)
(http://www.webmd.com/lung-cancer/news/20060523/pot-smoking-not-linked-to-lung-cancer)
(https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/06/04/the-blackwhite-marijuana-arrest-gap-in-nine-charts/)
BY: Malcolm Albert
Marijuana is a plant known for its plant known for its euphoric state given when smoked or ingested. According to Jen Christensen, a recent study showed that medical marijuana can have an impact on 10 new diseases. And still many individuals have their own opinion on the effect of marijuana and its users, Despite the many tests and studies conducted by scientists and experts there is still a negative connotation with the plant. Doctors such as Dr.Sanjay Gupta believes “it's time for a medical marijuana revolution.” And as a country we need to repeal the laws banning the use of marijuana both recreational and medical.
Marijuana has a long history in America. The earliest encounter with marijuana in America is in the 1600 when domestic production of the hemp plant was promoted by the virginia assembly due to its many uses, Such as clothing rope and sails for ships. Hemp was also used as legal tender in some states such as Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. American production flourished during the civil war which led to the hemp plant being replaced by other materials and imports, But one field hemp was not replaced in was medical.
In the 1900’s Marijuana was a very popular ingredient in medicines and often times openly sold in pharmacies. In 1906 the food and drug act was passed forcing over the counter remedies to be labeled with the ingredient of Cannabis. Then in 1910 after the mexican revolution, immigrants from Mexico began to flood the country and with them came the idea of recreational use of marijuana. And with the major migration came prejudice. This is when marijuana began to get its bad wrap. The American people began to make propaganda
for marijuana. A popular slander towards the drug was “Marijuana Menace.” In the 1930’s fear of marijuana had spread throughout the country. During the Great Depression, not only fear, but resentment toward the Mexican race which made the American people further shame the drug. This made the public & government concern grow into a pseudo and biased investigation, which linked marijuana to minority or “Racially inferior” under class community. By 1931 twenty-nine states outlawed marijuana making it illegal. In 1932, concern on the rising use of marijuana and the studies linking the drug to crime created pressure for the government to take action. The national government the pressured the states to take action for themselves and adopt the uniform state narcotic act. In 1937 another propaganda campaign began against “evil weed”. Congress then passed the Marijuana Tax Act. The statute effectively criminalized the drug restricting the possession. The only people who the excise tax applied to were those who used the drug for certain medical and industrial purposes.In 1944 La guardia reports find marijuana to be less dangerous. New York Academy of Medicine Issue an extensive research report declaring (contrary to earlier researched and popular belief) marijuana does not induce violence or crime and does not lead to addiction or other drug use. In the 40’s during WWII, the import of hemp and other materials were crucial for producing marine rope parachutes and other military necessities that became scarce. In response to this shortage of resource, the U.S Department of Agriculture launched its “Hemp for Victory” program. This program was to encourage farmers to plant hemp by giving out seeds and granting draft deferments to those who would stay home and grow the plant. By 1943, farmers had harvested over 370,000 acres of hemp . From 1951-1956 Enactment of Federal Laws (Bogg Act 1952 & Narcotics Control Act 1956) set mandatory sentences for Drug related offences, including marijuana. A first offence marijuana possession carried a minimum sentence of 2-10 yrs with a fine of up to 20,000 dollars. In The 1960’s, A change in political and cultural climate reflected in more lenient attitude towards marijuana. Use of the drug became popular in white upper middle class. Reports commissioned by presidents Kennedy & Johnson showed the the use of marijuana does not lead to violence or use of heavier drugs. Policy toward marijuana began to involve considerations of treatment as well as criminal penalties. In 1970, Congress repealed almost all of the mandatory penalties for drug related offences. The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act categorized marijuana separately from other narcotics and eliminated mandatory federal sentences for possession of small amounts. In 1996 voters of California then proposed proposition 215 allowing patients suffering from cancer AIDS and other painful diseases to use marijuana for medical purposes.
While many support the legalization of marijuana many still oppose the legalization of marijuana. 3 reasons on why people oppose the legalization of marijuana are:
- It is highly addictive for some people.
This claim is that once a individual starts using marijuana after a while the high given from the drug isn’t enough, that the user needs to more of a high. So they move onto a harder drug as if the user is chasing the high they first felt when he/she first tried the drug.
3) Marijuana affects your mental health. Marijuana affects the memory leading to short term memory loss.
It’s no secret that marijuana can affect a person’s memory. And it doesn't help that today’s stereotypical pot smoker is absent minded and forgetful.” Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, is known to impair nearly all aspects of memory. There is one exception, though. THC does not affect the recall of existing memories.”
These are just a couple points that are backed by science that show that marijuana isn’t as completely harmless as every who smokes faithfully depicts it to be. But while there are drawbacks not all the arguments stated are completely valid. Such as “The legalization of marijuana will increase child consumption.” This is not true at all! Studies show that Legalization of medical marijuana does not have any affect in underage marijuana consumption.
These studies were conducted in Rhode Island and Massachusetts because “..they have so much in common culturally and geographically,” says Dr. Esther Choo, assistant professor of emergency medicine at Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School and emergency medicine physician at Rhode Island Hospital. In in the studies while the use of marijuana was common rates did not change even after the medical marijuana was legalized. Another invalid argument is “Smoking marijuana causes lung cancer” While yes the smoking of ANYTHING can cause lung complications the smoking of marijuana is not linked to lung cancer. Doctors at webmd.com were asked to comment on this and the response givin was “Even very heavy, long-term marijuana users who had smoked more than 22,000 joints over a lifetime seemed to have no greater risk than infrequent marijuana users or non-users.” Also researcher Donald Tashkin, MD, of UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine had this to say “We know that there are as many or more carcinogens and co-carcinogens in marijuana smoke as in cigarettes..But we did not find any evidence for an increase in cancer risk for even heavy marijuana smoking.” Carcinogens are substances that cause cancer.
From a personal standpoint I believe that marijuana should be legalized. To say that marijuana is “Dangerous Drug” or “Narcotic” is preposterous. Yes, there are legit researched reports that show that marijuana isn't as harmless as portrayed which is true. There are some legitimate drawbacks to marijuana that are backed by science, And the kind of pseudo science that has plagued the marijuana smoking community since the early 1900’s For instance the early studies conducted under Presidents Kennedy & Johnson that debunked the idea that the plant is directly linked to violence. I believe that by keeping marijuana illegal is just further perpetuating the stereotypes and systematic oppression of minorities. I say this because the pseudo science that started the “Marijuana Madness” propaganda era was introduced because of the fear of another race coming to America and using the drug in there own way. Also to this day there are still prosecution gaps between races. It was even published on the washington post’s website with nine charts showing how african americans are prosecuted more than white. And dealt even harsher penalties than whites. But I believe that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. And the decision of To Toke or Not To Toke lies with the individual once they are of legal age to purchase. And it will even create jobs for many unemployed americans and possibly give our economy a financial boost. In Conclusion marijuana should be legalized for recreational and medical use.
Bibliography
(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dope/etc/cron.html)
(http://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2014/01/21/5-reasons-marijuana-should-remain-illegal-n1782086/page/full)
(http://www.leafscience.com/2014/10/21/marijuana-memory/)
(http://time.com/3079707/marijuana-legalization-teens-health/)
(http://www.theweedblog.com/arguments-against-medical-marijuana-and-why-they-are-wrong/)
(http://www.webmd.com/lung-cancer/news/20060523/pot-smoking-not-linked-to-lung-cancer)
(https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/06/04/the-blackwhite-marijuana-arrest-gap-in-nine-charts/)