Marijuana Decriminalization
Content
Thibodeaux 1 Blake Thibodeaux David Riche, M.A. ENGL 2000-083 2-22-12 Decriminalization of Medical Marijuana To this day, the United States government has been continuously making the same vast mistake of spending billions of dollars a year on the “War on Drugs” that is currently not eliminating the drug usage and trade of its citizens. In turn, the cannabis user has been persecuted the most out of all of the combatted drugs. Along with these prosecutions, a debate has arisen on the topics of how harmful marijuana truly is and whether it harnesses realistic medicinal benefits that can positively impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. This leads to the argument that cannabis should not be considered a harmful drug to those who have been prescribed it by a registered physician. This is due to the face that the patient would be required to undergo an unbiased analysis of their current medical condition and be evaluated on whether they would experience an overall benefit from its use. It is imperative that the government recognizes marijuana as a drug not harmful to those who have been prescribed it by a registered physician for medicinal use; due to the significant difference in side effects when compared to already legal prescriptions for same ailments, the ability for government to control the audience it feeds and limit the possibility of users becoming victim to the gateway effect, and because of the medical background and knowledge Doctors possess and are willing to put on the line with their license through each and every prescription they write.
Thibodeaux 2 The general population of medical patients has been known to experience a variety of issues that many doctors diagnose through an array of prescription pills. Although unintentional, these physicians are subjecting their patients to unforeseen side effects and possible addiction. According to studies at the University of Louisville, recent research had indicated, “that the prevalence of non-medical prescription drug use is now greater than the prevalence of other illicit drug use.“ (Ford, “Academic Strain and Non-medical use of Prescription Stimulants among College Students). This evidence supports the fact that these prescription drugs are being provided to these patients for a variety of ailments that in many cases can all be relieved through the use of marijuana. In addition, many of these prescription drugs also cause harmful long-term side effects that a patient would not be forced to endure with marijuana use (WebMD). Therefore, cannabis can be deemed safer in its effects than comparable prescriptions such as painkillers, where patients experienced serious side effects such as mood changes, impaired perception and weakened immune system (WebMD). Through the decriminalization of medical marijuana, the government would be able to tax this product and possess an oversight control on its cultivation and distribution. Under government control and regulation, the probability of a regular cannabis user becoming involved in more illicit drug trade and become victim to the ‘gateway’ statistic is significantly reduced. According to authors from the University of Oslo and University of York, “The gateway, or stepping stone, hypothesis is important as it has had considerable influence on drug policy and legislation in many countries,” (Jensen, Melberg, Jones, “Sequential Patterns of Drug Use Initiation”). With cannabis in
Thibodeaux 3 the hands of the government, the aspect of patients being offered more addictive illicit drugs is completely eliminated and allows for one to be insured that their purchase has been inspected to be 100% cannabis that has been bought off a licensed grower (Healthy and Drug Free Colorado). As a result, a huge counteractive movement would be made against the illegal drug trade that is ravaging our state borders and seas. Essentially, as long as there is a demand and profit to be made, dispensaries and growers will continue to influence an acceptable attitude towards public medicinal use. Lastly, many Doctors have come together to agree on the many benefits that marijuana can provide its patients. This is especially prevalent when the patient is suffering from illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, cancer, and AIDS and are experiencing symptoms such as pain, nausea, and vomiting. Even Joycelyn Elders MD, Former US Surgeon General stated, “Indeed, marijuana is less toxic than many of the drugs that physicians prescribe every day,” (Providence Journal). Although many people have argued about Doctors abusing their privilege by giving out marijuana prescriptions to undeserving patients, the fact remains that this can happen with any controlled substance, regardless of whether it is illicit or not. Above all, if a Doctor is willing to put their medical license on the line and say that with all their medical recognition and background knowledge that a client will benefit from the use of Cannabis, how could anyone without an equal certification truly question it? Overall, marijuana has withstood long lasting contradiction, but the facts speak for themselves in that cannabis should be available for medically prescribed patients.
Thibodeaux 4 Whether prescription drugs will be publicly approved as proper treatment for many symptoms will only continue to be debated and argued in favor of with the continuously growing scientific evidence supporting it and continued pharmaceutical tragedies that occur because of negative side effects or overdose. With the decriminalization of the drug in hands of the government, a complex argument has been presented to the modern leaders in control of the federal and state laws on whether they will be choose to become visionaries for the future and not be oblivious to a significant amount of medical data, while also setting the tone for a more renowned forward thinking society. As many doctors have collectively stated, Cannabis is less harmful than many other drugs and has therapeutic effects. These doctors have studied medicine as a profession and are willing to put their prescription license on the line and recommend Cannabis for patients. Concluding, Cannabis has been scientifically proven to be far less harmful of a drug than previously thought and indeed should be available to the patients that have been medically examined and prescribed it through an evaluative analysis.
Thibodeaux 5
Works Cited
"Top 10 Pros and Cons - Medical Marijuana - ProCon.org." Medical Marijuana ProCon.org. Web. 22 Feb. 2012. <http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=0001 41>. JasonA. Ford . Academic Strain and Non-Medical Use of Prescription Stimulants among College Students. Deviant Behavior, Volume 30, Number 1 (January 2009), pp. 26-53, http://ejournals.ebsco.com.libezp.lib.lsu.edu/direct.asp?ArticleID=4F608250 65693D571629 Anne Bretteville-Jensen, Hans Melberg, Andrew Jones . Sequential Patterns of Drug Use Initiation - Can We Believe In the Gateway Theory?. The B.E. Journal in Economic Analysis & Policy, Volume 8, Number 2 (January 2008), pp. 18461846, <http://ejournals.ebsco.com.libezp.lib.lsu.edu/direct.asp?ArticleID=4745B3 978E9D3E4E16DF> "Pain Medication for Pain Relief: OTC and Prescription Pain Relievers." WebMD. WebMD. Web. 22 Feb. 2012. <http://www.webmd.com/painmanagement/guide/pain-relievers?page=2>. "Medical Marijuana Distribution Center." . Healthy & Drug Free Colorado, n.d. Web. 22 Feb 2012. <http://healthydrugfreecolorado.org/default.aspx?MenuItemID=170&Menu SubID=41&MenuGroup=Home&&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1>.
Thibodeaux 2 The general population of medical patients has been known to experience a variety of issues that many doctors diagnose through an array of prescription pills. Although unintentional, these physicians are subjecting their patients to unforeseen side effects and possible addiction. According to studies at the University of Louisville, recent research had indicated, “that the prevalence of non-medical prescription drug use is now greater than the prevalence of other illicit drug use.“ (Ford, “Academic Strain and Non-medical use of Prescription Stimulants among College Students). This evidence supports the fact that these prescription drugs are being provided to these patients for a variety of ailments that in many cases can all be relieved through the use of marijuana. In addition, many of these prescription drugs also cause harmful long-term side effects that a patient would not be forced to endure with marijuana use (WebMD). Therefore, cannabis can be deemed safer in its effects than comparable prescriptions such as painkillers, where patients experienced serious side effects such as mood changes, impaired perception and weakened immune system (WebMD). Through the decriminalization of medical marijuana, the government would be able to tax this product and possess an oversight control on its cultivation and distribution. Under government control and regulation, the probability of a regular cannabis user becoming involved in more illicit drug trade and become victim to the ‘gateway’ statistic is significantly reduced. According to authors from the University of Oslo and University of York, “The gateway, or stepping stone, hypothesis is important as it has had considerable influence on drug policy and legislation in many countries,” (Jensen, Melberg, Jones, “Sequential Patterns of Drug Use Initiation”). With cannabis in
Thibodeaux 3 the hands of the government, the aspect of patients being offered more addictive illicit drugs is completely eliminated and allows for one to be insured that their purchase has been inspected to be 100% cannabis that has been bought off a licensed grower (Healthy and Drug Free Colorado). As a result, a huge counteractive movement would be made against the illegal drug trade that is ravaging our state borders and seas. Essentially, as long as there is a demand and profit to be made, dispensaries and growers will continue to influence an acceptable attitude towards public medicinal use. Lastly, many Doctors have come together to agree on the many benefits that marijuana can provide its patients. This is especially prevalent when the patient is suffering from illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, cancer, and AIDS and are experiencing symptoms such as pain, nausea, and vomiting. Even Joycelyn Elders MD, Former US Surgeon General stated, “Indeed, marijuana is less toxic than many of the drugs that physicians prescribe every day,” (Providence Journal). Although many people have argued about Doctors abusing their privilege by giving out marijuana prescriptions to undeserving patients, the fact remains that this can happen with any controlled substance, regardless of whether it is illicit or not. Above all, if a Doctor is willing to put their medical license on the line and say that with all their medical recognition and background knowledge that a client will benefit from the use of Cannabis, how could anyone without an equal certification truly question it? Overall, marijuana has withstood long lasting contradiction, but the facts speak for themselves in that cannabis should be available for medically prescribed patients.
Thibodeaux 4 Whether prescription drugs will be publicly approved as proper treatment for many symptoms will only continue to be debated and argued in favor of with the continuously growing scientific evidence supporting it and continued pharmaceutical tragedies that occur because of negative side effects or overdose. With the decriminalization of the drug in hands of the government, a complex argument has been presented to the modern leaders in control of the federal and state laws on whether they will be choose to become visionaries for the future and not be oblivious to a significant amount of medical data, while also setting the tone for a more renowned forward thinking society. As many doctors have collectively stated, Cannabis is less harmful than many other drugs and has therapeutic effects. These doctors have studied medicine as a profession and are willing to put their prescription license on the line and recommend Cannabis for patients. Concluding, Cannabis has been scientifically proven to be far less harmful of a drug than previously thought and indeed should be available to the patients that have been medically examined and prescribed it through an evaluative analysis.
Thibodeaux 5
Works Cited
"Top 10 Pros and Cons - Medical Marijuana - ProCon.org." Medical Marijuana ProCon.org. Web. 22 Feb. 2012. <http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=0001 41>. JasonA. Ford . Academic Strain and Non-Medical Use of Prescription Stimulants among College Students. Deviant Behavior, Volume 30, Number 1 (January 2009), pp. 26-53, http://ejournals.ebsco.com.libezp.lib.lsu.edu/direct.asp?ArticleID=4F608250 65693D571629 Anne Bretteville-Jensen, Hans Melberg, Andrew Jones . Sequential Patterns of Drug Use Initiation - Can We Believe In the Gateway Theory?. The B.E. Journal in Economic Analysis & Policy, Volume 8, Number 2 (January 2008), pp. 18461846, <http://ejournals.ebsco.com.libezp.lib.lsu.edu/direct.asp?ArticleID=4745B3 978E9D3E4E16DF> "Pain Medication for Pain Relief: OTC and Prescription Pain Relievers." WebMD. WebMD. Web. 22 Feb. 2012. <http://www.webmd.com/painmanagement/guide/pain-relievers?page=2>. "Medical Marijuana Distribution Center." . Healthy & Drug Free Colorado, n.d. Web. 22 Feb 2012. <http://healthydrugfreecolorado.org/default.aspx?MenuItemID=170&Menu SubID=41&MenuGroup=Home&&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1>.
