Gill 5
Harsirat Gill
05 May 2017
Spring 2017
Eng 110-03
Professor Andrew Hyzy
Research Paper
“Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself; and where they are, they should be changed. Nowhere is this clearer than in the laws against possession of marijuana be private for personal use. Therefore, I support amending federal law to eliminate all federal criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana” (Carter, par.10). Before analyzing and making an opinion on Carter’s quote regarding legalization of Marijuana, it is important to know what Marijuana really is. The term ‘marijuana’ is of Mexican origin and it refers to any part of or any one of distinctive subspecies of cannabis plant. Marijuana has been used since the beginning of the recorded history for psychoactive, pharmaceutical and divine purposes. (Armentano, par.1). The question here becomes why in present day marijuana has been banned almost worldwide in many countries.
Carter’s quote made a lot of sense especially when he pointed out that penalties against drug possession should not be more damaging to a person than the drug itself, that may be true but also refutable. Many people do not support legalization of marijuana simply because it is “bad” without even actually knowing the drug’s benefits but at the same time it is important to understand that how marijuana has received tremendous amount of bad publicity and is only viewed as a recreational drug.
The primary reason for marijuana’s ban in majority of states in US is due to the increasing concerns that have come across regarding the misuse and abuse of this drug. Interestingly, it was found between 1980 and 1997 that the amount of marijuana available in the United States rose dramatically which made this drug to become the most illicit drug in the nation. According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than forty percent of Americans have tried marijuana at least once in their lifetime. The main active ingredient in Marijuana is called THC, which is known for mind-altering effects, leading to intoxication. After smoking marijuana, scientists have found THC to enter into lungs and through bloodstream travels to almost every organ in the body, including brain. Once it reaches brain, that’s where it induces feelings of pleasure and alters with concentration, perception and movement. (Tardiff, par.3, par.2, par.8) Marijuana makes a person high, giving pleasant feelings but as the drug’s effects slows down in the system, the user can go through an array of emotions that could interfere with mood and cause anxiety.
Any drug in excess could do more harm than benefiting an individual and this is why people who misuse marijuana end up with more damage than someone who might be a mild user of this drug. We are all aware that how drinking and driving could cause fatal accidents. Well, this is not just with alcohol intoxication, this could imply to any other substance abuse like marijuana. If a person is driving while being intoxicated with marijuana there is more likelihood of being involved in an accident. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, moderate dose of marijuana was sufficient to impair an individual’s driving performance. Moreover, high doses of marijuana also interferes with one’s normal functioning causing hallucinations, delusions and disordered thinking (Tardiff, par.14, par.15).
The side effects of marijuana’s overuse are not just restricted to the normal functioning of body but it also affects a person’s social life. Marijuana’s use is widespread among adolescents and young adults. Surprisingly, the use of marijuana has increased since 1990s among middle school users (Tardiff, par.5). Once a young person who is in school or attending college becomes addicted to marijuana or any other harmful drug, it starts affecting the social aspect of their life, lowering their grades, and affecting their performance. This comes due to the “euphoric” effects of the drug where a person would have poor attention and have concentration issues. It is shocking to know that the withdrawal symptoms are far worse than addiction, where heavy users of marijuana have trouble sleeping, have irritability, anxiety, and aggression issues (Tardiff, par.31).
Marijuana’s misuse and abuse has made the situation far more alarming where the politicians are concerned that legalization would only worsen the current scenario. As I mentioned before, any drug could result in harming human’s body only if it’s misused but I also want to emphasize how the use of marijuana could benefit an individual who needs the drug because of a medical issue. Marijuana has proven to be effective, when used properly and in right amount, it can help in the treatment of many neurological and other diseases. Marijuana has been proven to be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of many diseases such as AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis (MS), epilepsy, and chronic pain. Medical marijuana have helped people with Parkinson disease and have slowed their progression of the disease (Gale, par.1, par.3)
A lot of research conducted on marijuana has found, if taken in lower amounts it provides relief from symptoms associated with many diseases. Doctors are switching to prescribing marijuana to patients who are unable to find any relief from their current medications. Particularly, it has been proven to help relieve muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis patients. Moreover, smoking marijuana has also given glaucoma patients relieve from the intense eye pressure (Pfeifer, par.10, par.12). This means that someone who doesn’t have access to marijuana in their state due to the ban has to travel to another state in order to get the treatment. Also, they are not allowed to bring it back to their own state which can disrupt their daily life and add extra cost to their treatment.
Legalizing marijuana won’t only benefit the ones in need for medical purpose but will also help the economy of the country. According to National Conference of State Legislatures, as of 2017 there are twenty eight states and District of Columbia that have allow comprehensive marijuana laws allowing its use for medical purpose (Tribune, 1). Colorado was the first state to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes, allowing adults not to cultivate more than six marijuana plants. These states have established sensible regulations for the cultivation, distribution and sale of marijuana to adults 21 and older. In 2015, the legal marijuana industry in Colorado created more than 18,000 new full-time jobs and generated $2.4 billion in economic activity, according to a first-of-its-kind analysis of the economics of legal cannabis in the state (Ingraham, Par. 1). This legalization increased the demand of grower local warehouse space, accurate lighting and irrigation equipment. “If the state or the local governments manage, permit and enforce marijuana regulation in a thoughtful way, then this can have real benefits” (Ingraham, Par. 2). Legalizing marijuana, both medical and recreational will ensure that the people who will buy marijuana will pay taxes on it.
Legalizing marijuana in the country for medicinal and recreational use will also reduce the black market and the crime rates. The most important part when it comes to legalization would be to ensure that it is being regulated where people who need it for medicinal or recreational purposes can only procure a certain amount within a certain time period and not beyond that amount. As alcoholic beverages have certain restrictions making it inaccessible for people under 18 years of age. Similarly, the same regulatory protocols can be used it when it comes to legalizing marijuana. Just as cities, counties and states vary in the way they regulate alcohol, the same could be true for marijuana. Additionally, the money that the state government would make through taxes can be put into good use for rebuilding infrastructure and for intervention programs.
Legislators at the federal level should take the time to recognize the benefits of the natural compounds found in medical marijuana. Among us are thousands of individuals who are suffering every day, while they could be experiencing reasonable relief from a tremendous amount of pain and weakness which is coming from their illnesses. Research has proven time and time again how marijuana has multiple benefits economic and medicinal wise, therefore it should not be kept away from patients any longer. In today’s time, patients should not be living with pain and suffering simple because of a law which was put in place with disregard for medical purposes.
Works Cited
1) Jimmy Carter: “Drug Abuse Message to the Congress” August 2, 1977. Online by
Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. Par.10
2) Armentano, Paul. “Marijuana Has Been Used for Centuries and Is Relatively Safe.” The Legalization of Marijuana, edited by Noël Merino, Greenhaven Press, 2016. Originally published as “Marijuana: A Primer,” Norml.org, 29 Jan. 2013.
3) National Institute on Drug Abuse. “The Negative Consequences of Marijuana Use.” Marijuana, edited by Joseph Tardiff, Greenhaven Press, 2008. Contemporary Issues Companion. Originally published as “Marijuana Abuse,” 2005
4) “Medical Marijuana.” Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2017.
5) Pfeifer, Daniel J. “Medical Marijuana Should Be Legal.” Medical Marijuana, edited by Margaret Haerens and Lynn M. Zott, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Originally published as “Smoking Gun: The Moral and Legal Struggle for Medical Marijuana Social Perspectives,” Touro Law Review, vol. 7, no. 2, 11 Oct. 2011.
6) States that Have Legalized Medical Marijuana, 2017.” Tribune Content Agency Photos, 2017.
7) Ingraham, Christopher. “Marijuana industry created more than 18,000 new jobs in Colorado last year.” Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2016.