Back in the late 1960s and early 1970s when Gallup first began polling the public about marijuana, 12 percent or less of the population supported legalizing marijuana. That percentage gradually increased to 28 percent in 1978, followed by a short period of decline into the 1980s. Between the mid 1980s and about 2000, support increased only slightly until getting a major boost in the early 2000s.
Today, about 46 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana for general use, while fifty percent are opposed to it. Support for medicinal use only, however, has dropped slightly from 78 percent in 2005 to 70 percent today, even though support for general use is now at an all-time high.
"Liberal" people between the ages of 18 and 29 are the most supportive of legalizing marijuana while "conservative" Republicans are the least supportive. Men are more likely than women to support marijuana, and people living in Western states are more supportive of it than those living in Midwestern and Southern states.
Marijuana Medical Uses
Marijuana is one of the most commonly abused drugs prepared from the plant Cannabis sativa (common name, cannabis). Though marijuana is often considered as an illicit drug in which the users tend to get addicted, it is also known for offering several health benefits. Medical researches have been done extensively on the dosage and administration of this drug. Marijuana used for the treatment of different medical conditions under the prescription of a qualified physician is referred to as medical marijuana. Traditionally, the use of marijuana for therapeutic purposes is evident from the cultures of various countries. In China, it has been used since 4000 years ago.
Medical Uses of Marijuana
The medicinally important compounds present in medical marijuana are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and β-caryophyllene. CBD, a neuroprotective antioxidant, accounts to about 40 percent of the plant extract. It can be effectively used for the treatment of inflammation, anxiety, nausea, convulsion, schizophrenia and cancer. Β-Caryophyllene, on the other hand, limits the inflammatory responses of the body. Popular methods of administering medical marijuana are smoking dried herbal form, inhalation therapy, herbal therapy, drinking plant extracts and administering dietary supplements as pills.
Marijuana and Chemotherapy
One of the unavoidable side effects of chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer is killing of healthy cells. Hence, following the chemotherapy treatments, the patient may experience various adverse effects like nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and loss of control over the body. Medical marijuana is an effective natural antiemetic, which helps in overcoming nausea, thus allowing the patient to enjoy meals. Medical marijuana is administered by smoking rather than taking orally.
Marijuana and Lung Cancer
THC, an active ingredient of marijuana, reduces the growth of cancerous cells in the lungs. As per studies conducted on medical marijuana smokers, it is opined that smoking marijuana does not increase the chances of developing lung cancer. Thus, many researchers suggest medical marijuana to be a potential herbal therapy for the treatment of lung cancer.
Marijuana and Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the nervous system and spinal cord. Its symptoms include numbness, tingling, fatigue, loss of coordination, muscle spasms, difficulty in speaking, eye problems and depression. Till now, there are no effective treatments for multiple sclerosis. Conventional treatment options are temporary causing severe adverse effects. According to studies, medical marijuana is effective to manage the symptoms like muscle spasms and tremors. It helps in restoring eyesight, balance, speech and bladder movement.
Marijuana and Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a vision problem caused due to the damage of optic nerves. It can lead to permanent loss of eyesight (blindness). Conventional medications for glaucoma can lead to various side effects. A recent study on medical marijuana reveals the potential benefits in lowering the intraocular pressures without adverse effects. More clinical trials are required to prove the effectiveness of this drug in treating glaucom
Another Reason Marijuana should be Legal
For many years marijuana, also known as cannabis, has been known as a very helpful plant worldwide. It has been used and cultivated in many cultures traceable back to 6000B.C. where the seeds were eaten as food in ancient China, but unfortunately, since 1937 cannabis was made federally illegal by the Marijuana Tax Act. Cannabis has many uses and should be legalized to be utilized to its full extent because it would be best for many to keep as many people out of imprisonment, legalization would cut back in organized crime profit, the plant can be widely used in medicinal areas, and furthermore, the sale of marijuana to the general public would lead to extreme profits which could help get America out of its current recession.
Obviously, this is a plant that should be taken seriously and looked at from an economic and futuristic view. Though it is a nearly harmless plant, it is still illegal. Every forty-five seconds a cannabis smoker is arrested (Legalization of Marijuana). Of those convicted, it is quickly filling up our jails and prisons. Over the years, close to 6 million people have been arrested because of cannabis related charges, and that is just too much. The average annual cost per inmate is normally “thirty to fifty thousand dollars”, (Reinhart), say only a small percentage is convicted, that is still hundreds of thousands of dollars, even a few million dollars, which is wasted over such a silly offence. On the flip side those people can be earning a living and contributing to our society even with their insignificant little habit. Also with marijuana legal, the lives and futures of America’s youth do not have to be jeopardized by going to jail and getting in trouble at school, especially when at least 20% of teens are involved in the usage of the cannabis plant (Witmer).
This commonly used plant has a bad reputation, mainly for myths about its use could lead to lung cancer, other diseases, and its conflicts within America’s youth. Contrary to this, marijuana has also acquired the reputation of being quite the miracle medicine when used properly. Medically, marijuana can be used in many ways. Its female plant produces the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that has many advantageous effects when heated. It has been tested and proven to help relieve “chronic-pain syndromes, cancer pain, multiple sclerosis, AIDS wasting syndrome and the nausea that accompanies chemotherapy” (Adams). This is incredible to have a natural medicine proven able to help so many without having to spend millions of dollars to alter its effects. It is also perceived to be safer than most other drugs. For example pills can be overdosed on, alcohol can lead to violence and disease, and a lot of chemically produced illegal drugs like cocaine and meth that can lead to life ruining addictions, all of which can kill its user, unlike marijuana, which is a safe little plant from the text books of Ancient China. Little do most people know, but when used amongst teenagers, it is a stress relieving agent and is seen as an anti-depressant, which also falls into a medicinal use category. When asked, an anonymous student of a local high school admits, “Smoking [marijuana] actually helps me chill out and keep my migraines away,” Another says, “If I put it in a vaporizer or make…brownies, it’ll last me a bit and it definitely helps with my depression and most of my sister’s issues…she’ll stop her spastic episodes and it chills her anxiety and OCD a bit too,”. So, as one can see, the true facts about marijuana come from its users that have experienced its true benefits. Also, a Dr. Donald Abrams is a medical marijuana prescribing doctor and “he sees cancer patients in pain, not eating or sleeping well, experiencing nausea and vomiting from treatment, and being depressed about their situation. He says he is glad that he lives in California, where use of medical marijuana is allowed by state law…” (Adams). This is a professional opinion given by a doctor that has evidently witnessed its beneficial effects among those who need it most. Certainly, this is a plant that should be used in the medical fields to help as many patients as possible.
By legalizing marijuana, America can actively decrease sales and profits within the Mob and terrorist organizations. The 1920’s National Prohibition Act expresses the restriction of alcohol, which led to violence, bootlegging, and a lot of Mafia and gang related crimes. Quite similar things are happening today since the prohibition of marijuana back in the 1930’s. Due to the fact that cannabis is not readily available to the general public, people either have to cultivate it themselves or look for other means of its distribution. Countless amounts of alcohol were circulated by the mob during the 13 years of liquor being illegal, now that’s happening with a lot of drugs including marijuana. For example, in Utah during 2006, two men where busted for growing over fifty four hundred cannabis plants for the Mexican Mafia, and they were believed to have been distributing their yields to American citizens (Cabrero). Also, foreign strains of marijuana are being sent from outside of the country and then cultivated and sold locally. A lot of these strains are known to be Afghani sativa breeds, and could be produced and distributed by terrorist unions. By not legalizing marijuana, the American government is basically allowing this to happen. By not legalizing marijuana, America is supplying the terrorist with money. By not legalizing marijuana, we let the terrorist win.
Due to the fact that this THC producing plant cannot be easily obtained at a local store, some have started to support their own habits and others by cultivating and selling it to others. The average plant yields 40 grams. At $20 dollars per gram with 5 plants, the average person doing this could possibly gain around $4000 a month with a large supply of consumers and the proper growing rotations. Calculations show if marijuana was produced and legally sold in America, it could bring close $520 billion in profits to its distributers. Billions of dollars could most definitely be put to good uses in government with health care, scientific research, and more importantly the current recession. One could just say with over 90 million adult users and the 14.6 million (Kids and Marijuana) out there, with decent prices, selling marijuana daily to the average Joe, who has at least a 20-35% chance of smoking cannabis (Aki), there is a pretty nice amount of cash that could be made. Now, how on Earth could the American government get its hands on that kind of money while helping its people and striding out of debt? For the good of America, cannabis should be legalized especially for production and distribution.
Ultimately, as one can see the good aspects of the plant obliterate any sort of misconception gained from hear-say about it. The cannabis plant should most diffidently be legalized for the safety of our citizens, medicinal use, the downfall of terrorist, and America’s economic benefit. There is no legitimate reason for its prohibition that cannot be outweighed by one of the greater aspects of its use and as Americans we should embrace its advantages as soon as possible.
