Why We Should Legalize Cannabis

Marijuana when used in the medical sense is beneficial to not only the patient’s health but to their
financial status as well. In this report you’ll see many reasons why we believe this. Medical
marijuana is used in many treatments. We are not obviously the only people who believe this
either. In the last 20 years, 36 states have passed some form of legislation recognizing the
medical value of marijuana. In 1996, voters in both Arizona and California passed laws allowing
the medical use of marijuana. In 1998 Alaska, Washington and Oregon passed medical use
marijuana laws, and in 1999 Maine passed a similar law (Grinspoon, 5). The chronic effects of
marijuana are of greater concern for medical use and fall into two categories: the effects of
chronic smoking, and the effects of THC. Marijuana smoking is associated with abnormalities of
cells lining the human respiratory tract. Marijuana smoke, like tobacco smoke, is associated with
increased risk of cancer, lung damage, and poor pregnancy outcomes. It is the most widely used
illicit drug, marijuana is predictably the first illicit drug most people Although studies all suggest
that marijuana smoke is an important risk factor for the development of respiratory cancer, proof
of this is yet to be seen (Iverson, 21). Marijuana is not a completely benign substance. However,
except for the harms associated with smoking, the adverse effects of marijuana use are within the
range of effects tolerated for other medications. The harmful effects to individuals from the
perspective of possible medical use of marijuana are not necessarily the same as the harmful
physical effects of drug abuse (Iverson, 24). For most people, the primary adverse effect of acute
marijuana use is diminished psychomotor performance. It is, therefore, inadvisable to operate any
vehicle or potentially dangerous equipment while under the influence of marijuana, THC, or any
cannabinoid drug with comparable effects (Zimmerman, 45). A minority of marijuana users
experience dysphoria, or unpleasant feelings. THC is the primary psychoactive ingredient in
marijuana. Cannabinoids are the group of compounds related to THC, whether found in the
marijuana plant, in animals, or synthesized in chemistry laboratories. Cannabinoids likely have a
natural role in pain modulation, control of movement, and memory. The natural role of
cannabinoids in immune systems is likely multifaceted and remains unclear. The brain can and
will develop a tolerance to cannabinoids after a prolonged use of marijuana (Joy). Animal
research has shown the possibility that dependence will occur, but this possibility is much lower
than the chance of developing a dependence on benzodiazepines, opiates, cocaine, or nicotine.
Withdrawal symptoms have also been seen in animal testing. The symptoms are much milder
than the symptoms of withdrawal from some prescribed medications such as Valium and Codeine
(Mathre, 25). Chemotherapy can often prolong someone’s life for many years. In some cases, a
complete cure can be obtained. Unfortunately, chemotherapy has many side effects associated
with it that are not pleasant in the least bit. Patients sometimes find these effects so distressing
they abandon chemotherapy entirely. People with AIDS (Acquired Immune Disease) also
experience these problems (Zimmerman, 59). Studies with marijuana have shown that marijuana
reduces the nausea and vomiting often associated with chemotherapy treatments. Because the
marijuana does this, it provides two other benefits. The patient is able to retain food and maintain
body strength and he or she can tolerate the chemotherapy treatments for a longer amount of time
in order to live longer (Mathre, 68). In September 1988, the chief administrative law judge of the
Drug Enforcement Administration ruled that marijuana has medical value in the treatment of side
effects caused by cancer chemotherapy. His decision was over-ruled by the administrator of the
DEA and marijuana remained illegal for medical purposes until recently (Grinspoon, 16).
Glaucoma is another illness that marijuana has been shown to help. Glaucoma can strike people
of all ages but is most often found among those over 65. The most common form of glaucoma is
chronic or open-angle glaucoma. The symptoms of glaucoma include pressure within the eye,
intraocular pressure or IOP, which can cause damage to the optic nerve if it is not controlled
effectively. A 30% drop in eye pressure has been found in glaucoma patients when using
marijuana. Natural marijuana, however, consistently lowers IOP. Many cases of glaucoma
eventually end up having to have surgery. Glaucoma surgery cost about 8.8 million dollars per
year. By marijuana being used it would greatly decrease that amount (Zimmerman, 14). Muscular
spasticity is a common condition, affecting more than one million people in the United States.
People with multiple sclerosis, stroke, cerebral palsy, paraplegia, quadriplegia, and spinal cord
injuries are often part of that demographic. Marijuana has demonstrated particular success in the
treatment of muscular spasticity disorders. Current medical therapy is inadequate for those
individuals suffering from these problems. Phenobarbital and diazepam, commonly called
Valium, are commonly prescribed drugs but many patients develop a tolerance to these
medications, can become addicted to the drug, or complain of heavy sedation (Joy). Many
prominent physicians studied cannabis and it’s effects on various conditions. Dr. J. Russell
Reynolds said it was by far the most useful of drugs in treating painful maladies. He also noted,
There are many cases of so called epilepsy in adults but which, in my opinion that are the result
of organic disease of a gross character in the nervous centers. In which India hemp is the most
useful agent with which I am acquainted. Dr. Reynolds may have been referring to multiple
sclerosis (Grinspoon, 35).

"The only way in which a human being can make some approach to knowing the whole of any
subject is by hearing what can be said about it by persons of every variety of opinion and
studying all modes in which in can be looked at by every character of mind. No wise man ever
acquired his wisdom in any mode but this.' - John Stuart Mill" (Mill. 7). The topic of legalizing
marijuana is a very conservational issue in American politics today. There are many good
arguments both for and against legalization. But most important is that all of these arguments are
based on facts.

The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, the act that effectively made marijuana illegal in the US, was
based on the fact that "marijuana caused violent crime and sexual excess." (Grinspoon. 139)
These theories have been thoroughly discredited and proven to be unsubstantiated. If marijuana
was legalcrime would decrease, dealers would be driven out of the market by lower prices, and
the government would benefit from the sales tax on drugs. Moreover, "Legalization would give
the government more control over the purity and potency of drugs." (Grinspoon. 3)
Drugs are a taboo subject in America, mostly because people are uneducated or misled by
government education. Because of this most people feel that someone who uses drugs is a danger
to society. When in fact, drug abuse for the most part is a victimless crime only affecting the user
and the user's body and therefore should be the user's choice. It should be self-evident to see how
Anti-Drug laws eliminate personal responsibility and free choice, leading to government
infringement on individual rights. The War on Drugs has lead to the inexcusable erosion of our
civil liberties by the use of "informers and entrapment, mandatory urine testing, unwarranted
search and seizures, and violations of the Posse Comitatus Act (which outlaws the use of military
forces to police for civilian law enforcement) are becoming more common. It is clear that our
society cannot be bothdrug -free and free." (Grinspoon. 142) The war on drugs is not only
eroding our civil liberties but is also wasting our tax money at a rate of almost "18 billion dollars
a year"(Lynch.153). Moreover, more than "300,000 people a year are arrested on marijuana
charges, contributing to the clogging of our courts and overcrowding prisons." (Grinspoon. 142)
All this is also costing tax payers' money on top of the 18 billion a year. The war on drugs is a
war within our homes, a war between our friends and family.

From the early 1970's until present we have heard that marijuana "destroyed brain cells, caused
psychoses, lowered testosterone levels ad sperm counts, led to breast development in males...
caused chromosome breakage and birth defects." (Ginspoon. 139) However not one of these
claims could ever be proven and more and more people have grown to resent the governments
deceiving propaganda. So far, "not a single case of lung cancer, emphysema, or other significant
pulmonary pathology attributable to cannabis use has been reported." (Grinspoon. 139)

Furthermore, Marijuana has many medical benefits and has been proven to help those suffering
from "Chemotherapy nausea, glaucoma, chronic pain, epilepsy, migraine, and AIDS wasting
syndrome." (Grinspoon 138)

Also "some people find it so useful in gaining new perspectives or seeing problems from a
different vantage point that they smoke in preparation for intellectual work." (Grinspoon. 138)
Clearly these people have learned to make us of altered states of consciousness. Often our
greatest songs, poems, novels, and works of art were conceived under the influence of marijuana.
Additionally marijuana can "enhance the appreciation of food, music, sexual activity, natural
beauty, and other sensual experiences... Under the right setting it can promote emotional
intimacy." (Grinspoon. 141) These were the main issues in the fight to legalize marijuana the
tyranny and lies has gone on too long.

Advocates generally argue that crime would decrease under legalization, that dealers would be
driven out of the market by lower prices, that legalization works in other countries, and that
government would benefit from thesales tax on drugs. These arguments exemplify a great lack of
understanding about the nature of drug abuse. The Netherlands has often been heralded as a
country where decriminalization has worked. When in fact, "drug related holdups and shootings
have increased 60 percent and 40 percent, respectively, since decimalization." (Voth. 144) As for
taxation, because of powerfuldrug lobbying "the Netherlands has never been able to mount a
taxation campaign against its legal drugs. (Voth. 144) Similarly in the United States Tobacco
lobbyists have successfully defeated most taxation initiatives against tobacco.

Furthermore, legalizing marijuana would send the wrong message, it would give the appearance
that marijuana wasn't dangerous or that the government was approving it by making it legal.
People would be more incline to use it and even more people would experiment with marijuana
as a result of legalization. Voth states that "legalization would result in as many as 250,000 to
over two million new addicts." (144) the Gateway effect has been well established in research,
and with a quarter to two million new smokers some if not most of them will some day get board
or unable to get high marijuana and will some day turn to harder drugs. "The use of alcohol,
tobacco, and marijuana are major risk factors for subsequent addition and more extensivedrug
use." (Voth. 146)

Even if marijuana users don't go on to use harder drugs cannabis is still so deleterious to your
health that it warrants prohibition. Marijuana smoke "contains double to triple the concentrations
of tar, carbon monoxide, and carcinogens found in cigarette smoke" (Voth 146) and has been
linked to several forms of cancer. What is more, contaminants of marijuana smoke include "forms
of bacteria and fungi users with impaired immunities are at particular risk for disease and
infection." (Voth. 146) As a result of marijuana our medical system has been over burden and
with legalization only more people will get sick. Our health care system will not be able to handle
the drastic increase in the number of addicts and associated health problems. Another more
serious health risk is damage to the short to memory and the ability to perform complex task such
as flying is impaired even 24 hours after intoxication. "Chronic addicts admit that their
motivation to succeed lessens." (Voth 146) this may account for kids dropping out of school or
their inability to hold a job. There are enough vices in our Society. Is it really necessary to go out
of our way to add another one? Or should each person be aloud the free to make that decision for
them selves?