Medical Marijuana

Ever since marijuana was first introduced to the United States in the 1600's, the small plant has been surrounded by conflict. Despite numerous medical accounts stating the medicinal properties in marijuana, concerns regarding the legalization of marijuana, even for medical purposes only, has left Congress struggling to reach a decision. Although there are many health benefits, the United States has been having a hard time adjusting to the fact that medical marijuana is a good thing. If our society and judicial system could just look to the scientifically proven benefits of marijuana and realize that the use of it for medical reasons only is a necessary thing, it would be sure to be legalized nationwide.

In 1937, Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act, putting a tax on the distribution and possession of marijuana. It was established to restrict the number of people possessing and using the drug, which was said to cause "murder, insanity and death". This belief in the "evils" of marijuana was in fact one without scientific evidence to support it. In the 1960's, the judicial system began penalizing people who used marijuana for not only recreational purposes, but also for medicinal reasons as well. During this era, the government came into this "war on drugs" state, and doctors began to run tests on medical benefits of marijuana. ("1937.")

In 1969 the Marijuana Tax Act was found to be an unconstitutional policy in the court case Leary v. United States. Timothy Leary, a professor and activist, was arrested for the possession of marijuana in violation of the Marijuana Tax Act. Leary challenged the Act on the ground that the Act required self incrimination, which violated the Fifth Amendment. Leary's case was overturned but it was agreed unanimously by the Supreme Court that the Marijuana Tax Act was unconstitutional. Due to this fact, Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) as Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. The CSA allowed the federal government of the United States to regulate the manufacturing, importation, possession, and distribution of certain drugs. (Schaffer).

According to the U.S. Penal Code, the punishment for possessing one marijuana cigarette today can be up to one year in jail, and growing a single marijuana plant can be up to five years in prison. (Zeese). "I believe possessing a small amount (1.5 oz) is only a petty misdemeanor. Generally a person caught with this amount is issued a citation... One needs to possess multiple pounds to be charged with a felony." (UNCLE) Since the 1960's more than 20% of the states have removed criminal laws regarding marijuana possession and distribution when given prescriptions from authorized doctors or physicians.

Marijuana has been grown for fiber and as a source of medicine for several thousand years. It was known to have been cultivated as early as the 28th century B.C., during Sheng-nung's reign as emperor in China. During the fifth century A.D., marijuana was first employed in the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe as an antiseptic and analgesic. France was soon introduced to the drug, and in the 1830's physicians began work on testing the medicinal values of marijuana. William Brook O' Shaughnessy, a British physician, is one of the first people recognized to have actually performed studies on the medical aspects of marijuana. O' Shaughnessy did studies on intravenous electrolyte therapy before he began his research on hemp, another name for marijuana. First, O' Shaughnessy tested the effects of hemp on animals before deeming it safe to be used on humans. After performing numerous tests, O' Shaughnessy had found the effects of this new drug to be medically groundbreaking. Marijuana had been found to relieve the pain in rheumatism, still muscle spasms and convulsions, as well as act as an effective analgesic and sedative. But the most fascinating finds made by W.B. O'Shaughnessy were that marijuana was effective in the treatment of rabies, epilepsy, and tetanus. Along with these amazing finds, O' Shaughnessy also discovered that an overdose of marijuana could cause a curious delirium to form. (Mikuriya)

Today, almost 300 years later, the world knows a lot more about the properties, and effects of marijuana. The most active element in Cannabis sativa L, marijuana, is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a substance that is federally recognized as an appetite stimulant and anti-nausea agent. In fact, THC was FDA approved for being used as an antiemetic for chemotherapy patients in 1985 and as an appetite stimulant for AIDS patients in 1992. (Snyder). So why is the main ingredient in marijuana legal to be used in medicine while actual marijuana isn't? The reason is the belief that the negative effects of marijuana on humans outweighs the positive effects is a popular one. Marijuana has been proven to improve the conditions of patients suffering from cancer, AIDS, muscle spasms associated with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, eating disorders, and glaucoma due to its powerful anti-nausea, appetite stimulating, and sedative effects. On the other hand, marijuana is known to have some short term and long term psychological and physical effects. Short term effects caused by the inhalation of marijuana include; restlessness, hallucinations, paranoia, impaired coordination and motor ability. Long term effects of continuous marijuana use include; the loss of brain cells, chronic bronchitis, energy loss, blood vessel blockage, and lung cancer. The physical effects of using marijuana may include diarrhea, cramps, and weight loss or gain. (Miller)

Despite the negative effects caused by the use, and abuse, of marijuana, with the right regulations and policies, the positive effects should outweigh the negative one when it pertains to medical use. In today's society there are tons of people and organizations for and against the legalization of medical marijuana in the United States still remains a hot topic. Just recently, the Minnesota Senate approved Senate File 345, a bill that protects seriously ill Minnesota residents from arrest and imprisonment due to the possession of marijuana. This action drew attention from the MPP, Marijuana Policy Project, a nonprofit organization that was formed in 1995 that became the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes in making marijuana medically available to seriously ill people who have the approval of their doctors a legal action. ("About MPP") Another organization that supports the legalization of medical marijuana is NORML, The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. This organization first raised the issue of medical marijuana being legalized in 1972, in an