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Nicole Aylesworth
Brittany Stephenson
ENG 1010

Federal Legalization of Medical Marijuana in America:

The Compassionate Care Act of 1996 in California states that any Californian has the
right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes where deemed appropriate and is
recommended by a physician. The following are examples of applicable medical conditions that
deem a patient marijuana eligible: for the treatment of cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain,
spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief.
New York State has enacted their own Compassionate Care Act, it states, in part: This bill
would comprehensively regulate the manufacture, sale, and use of medical marijuana. It would
strike the right balance between potentially relieving the pains and suffering of those in desperate
need of a treatment and protecting the public against risks to its health and safety. This balance
would be maintained by granting discretion to physicians to prescribe in accordance with
regulatory requirement and medical norms.
I am 29 year old young lady that has been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, ADD
(Attention-Deficit Disorder) and Anxiety, if I lived in a state other than Utah I would qualify for
medical marijuana. As a Utah resident however; I do not qualify for Medicaid Disability nor
medical marijuana. This highly debatable topic intrigues me because I would like the option
available, not only to me but to all of the patients across America that live in chronic pain or any
other debilitating disability.

The DEA standard

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Currently, marijuana is classified as a schedule I drug, the DEA defines schedule I drugs
as:
Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently
accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Schedule I drugs are the most
dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or
physical dependence. Some examples of Schedule I drugs are: heroin, lysergic
acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), 3,4methylenediozymethamphetamine (M.D.M.A.) (ecstasy). Methaqualone, and
peyote.
Schedule II drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with high
potential for abuse, less abuse potential than Schedule I drugs, with use
potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence. These drugs
are also considered dangerous. Some examples of Schedule II drugs are:
Combination products with less than 15 milligrams of hydrocodone per dosage
unit (Vicodin), Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Methadone, hydromorphone
(Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin), Dentanyl, Dexedrine,
Adderall, and Ritalin.
Wait, did that just say that substances like cocaine, methamphetamine, and all of the
painkiller medication is less dangerous than marijuana? Yes. That is the classification given by
the DEA.
As of December 2, 2015; the date Im submitting this paper, marijuana is legal in 23
states either medicinally or recreationally or both. These states include: Washington, Oregon,
California, Montana, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois,

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New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, Alaska and Hawaii. In an argument for the rescheduling
movement by Alexander W. Campbell, this article describes the obstacles and challenges
researchers have to overcome when attempting to prove validity of marijuanas medical use due
to the classification of the drug. Marijuana is currently listed a schedule I drug, the same
classification given to heroin. Marijuana, says Campbell; restating the DEA standard: No
current acceptable medical use and high potential for addiction. Currently the Rescheduling
movement is relevant and important because of the negative implications on the dispensaries,
private farms and individual patients from the federal government.
Whats the risk?
Dr. Gundersen argues the lack of efficacy of marijuana
The DEA deems the drug unacceptable for medical use and Dr. Doris C. Gundersen
agrees Today, marijuana both medical and recreational is legal in several states despite the
absence of scientific evidence regarding its safety and efficacy. Gundersen objects marijuana
use saying that smoking marijuana increases the risk of pulmonary disease as well as airway
constriction. Although marijuana is less addictive than substances such as cocaine and heroin,
long-term marijuana users can develop dependence and withdrawal requiring chemical
dependency treatment, says Gundersen. She predicts an increase in Primary Care Providers
(PCP) being pressured into recommending marijuana despite a lack DEA approval and
significant documentation about potency, drug-drug interactions and a recommended dosing
schedule.

Dr. King supports marijuanas medical use

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In an article published in the Psychiatric Times, Dr. Steven A. King wrote an article
which sheds light on a possibly flawed testing system. He asserts that:
The first is a review and meta-analysis of cannabinoids for multiple medical
conditions, including pain.79 trials for all conditions the review identifies, only 4
studies were found to have a low risk of bias based on the methodology
employed; 55 studies were found to have high risk; and the risk was unclear in 20
studies. Although most of the studies indicated they were double-blind, only 57%
were found to actually have employed methods to ensure this with study
participants and only 24% were found to have appropriately blinded the outcome
assessors.
The New York Times Editorial board wrote a piece supporting Dr. Kings argument,
indicating that Americans show a readiness for legalized medical marijuana. They say:
There is honest debate among scientists about the health effects of marijuana, but
we believe that the evidence is overwhelming that addiction and dependence are
relatively minor problems, especially compared with alcohol and tobacco.
Moderate use of marijuana does not appear to pose a risk for otherwise healthy
adults. Claims that marijuana is a gateway to more dangerous drugs are as fanciful
as the Reefer Madness images of murder, rape and suicide.
Has there been a shift in Americas ideology?
In the article written by the Editorial Board of The New York Times: this major media
outlet shows its support for medical marijuana and its uses. This is a monumental show of
support given the opposition posed by political parties and the uniformed population of its
possible benefit. They assert; The federal government should repeal the ban on marijuana

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There are no perfect answers to peoples legitimate concerns about marijuana use. But neither are
there such answers about tobacco or alcohol, and we believe that on every level health effects,
the impact on society and law-and-order issues the balance falls squarely on the side of
national legalization. That will put decisions on whether to allow recreational or medicinal
production and use where it belongs at the state level.
In conclusion:
While there is much debate on both sides of this hot topic, one thing seems to be clear:
Long-term testing is required to deem this plant, this drug, a medicine and what is its appropriate
distribution/consumption.
I have personally seen numerous accounts where medical marijuana legitimately helps
any number of illnesses from cancer pain to anxiety but they are restricted by their options due to
the federal or state laws. With legislation in progress, I am hopeful that medical marijuana will
find its place amongst Americas choice of alternative medicines.

Works Cited

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Campbell, Alexander. "The Medical Marijuana Catch-22: How the Federal Monopoly on
Marijuana Research Unfairly Handicaps the Rescheduling Movement." 2015. Web. 23
Nov. 2015.
Gundersen, Doris. "The Legalization of Marijuana: Implications for Regulation and Practice."
2015. Web. 23 Nov. 2015.
King, Steven. "Medical Marijuana for Pain: What the Evidence Shows." Medical Marijuana for
Pain: What the Evidence Shows. 19 Aug. 2015. Web. 23 Nov. 2015.
"The New York Times Calls for Marijuana Legalization." The New York Times. The New York
Times, 26 July 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2015.