Legalization of Marijuana - Thesis Example

?Legalization of Marijuana Taking a supporting or even an opposing stance on a specific issue, which has equal pros as well as cons, will be a difficult task. That is, those types of issues will be controversial in nature and so taking either stance will evoke opposition from the other side. So, there will be certain ‘adrift-ness’ regarding those issues, until one takes a particular stance and approve the reasoning behind that stance. This complex situation is particularly visible regarding the issue of Marijuana or legalization of Marijuana. One side is against Marijuana legalization and wants it to be banned or abolished because of the negative impacts, it could have on the human lives. On the other hand, the supporting side views at the positive effects of Marijuana, particularly its medicinal purposes and how its legalization could save many lives and alleviate the sufferings of many people. However, if one takes the supporting stance and favors legalization of Marijuana, the reasoning seems adrift regarding certain aspects. At the same time, a stronger reasoning can be formed in favor of legalization. So, this paper focusing on the issue of legalization of Marijuana will discuss how marijuana can aid many suffering people, although there seems to be some adrift, which can also be covered with more stronger reasoning. People suffering from certain health ailments and pro-groups consider Marijuana has an effective treatment option. Although marijuana is harmful to the physical and mental health if it is misused, none is as tragic as the rejection of medicinal marijuana to many patients, who could have some of their physical and mental pain alleviated. Marijuana, commonly known as weed, pot, hash or cannabis is known for its intoxicating effect, often causing the individual to experience states of mental pleasure through a heightened effect of pleasure on the pain and sensory receptors. This is the reason why marijuana has been banned. However, it is important that we also realize the medical uses that the plant has, mainly acting as a pain reliever to those who suffer from ailments such as cancer, where other pain relievers are not quite as effective. In addition, Marijuana is being proved to be an effective cure or even a controlling cure for many health ailments. Thus, the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes is sure to make lives better for those who suffer from diseases as well as chronic pains. While analyzing the legal perspective, we understand that the government made the decision based on the anti-drug campaign and the overall social implications. Special attention was not given to the percentage of patients who are greatly benefited by the use of marijuana as a medical drug. Marijuana is the term given to the dried form of the hemp plant Cannabis Sativa. That is, it is a dry, shredded green and brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves derived from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa (Shohov 1). The main chemical in the plant which gives the users a kind of mental ‘high’ (a kind of ‘false’ mental pleasure) and eventually many problems is the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC for short. This is where the adrift in the reasoning comes into the picture. Here, the adrift takes place from chemical or even behavioral angle. That is, as Marijuana gives that mental high, it is being abused by the users in many ways. Marijuana users could suffer from various diseases, affecting different parts of the body. Firstly, Marijuana has a dangerous effect on the lungs’ functioning. As the inhaled Marijuana first enters the lungs, the carcinogens found in it, will get deposited in the lungs, leading to diseases like Cancer. “Marijuana users usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers do, which further increases the lungs’ exposure to carcinogenic smoke” (“NIDA InfoFacts: Marijuana”). Following the lungs, the heart’s functioning will also affected by Marijuana. Inhaling of Marijuana increases the hearts’ rate as well as the blood pressure, and when these two happens, it increases manifold the chances of heart attack. So, even though, the users use it, to get a kind of mental pleasure, it will totally wreck the mind, causing serious ailments. Importantly the users’ personal, professional and social life could also get wrecked by this habit because its use can lead to distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty in thinking and problems with learning and memory. Although, the reasoning to support legalization seems adrift because of the above negative impacts on people’s health, the fact is, these problems arise only to persons who overuse it. More importantly, the same Marijuana can treat many health ailments, curing it fully or even reducing the pain associated with it. Marijuana’s main application in medicine is as a pain reliever, as it contains Cannabinoids, which can act on the nerves’ pain receptors and lessens the pain. “Many studies have found cannabinoids are integral to the body's pain mechanisms…patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis, and other ailments attest that marijuana helps ease their pain” (“Medicinal Uses of Marijuana: Pain”). Mainly for this pain relieving role, any adrift issues can be overseen and Marijuana can be legalized and allowed freely for medical treatment. Muscle Spasticity is another pain causing ailment affecting primarily people with Multiple Sclerosis and spinal cord injury. In that case also, the injected cannabinoids can act on the nerve endings in the muscle, and in a way relaxes them, optimally controlling the pain causing muscle spasms. Elderly people could suffer from movement disorders like Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, Tourette's syndrome, etc. These disorders are mainly caused by malfunctions in the basal ganglia in the brain. However, with CB1 (cannabinoids) receptors found sizably in basal ganglia, Cannabinoids rich Marijuana can play an optimal role, treating or even controlling the associated problems of these diseases. In addition, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is found to be an effective antidepressant, when used in low doses. Thus, by relaxing the mind of the depressive people, Marijuana can lower their depression levels. Marijuana is also effective in treating nausea caused as a result of some health afflictions. That is, nausea is one of the common symptoms of cancers and AIDS sufferers. Marijuana can help them by being a powerful appetite stimulant, thereby helping them a strong body without any wasting of muscles. “In the U.S. and elsewhere, Marinol, a drug that is a synthetic form of marijuana and contains its active ingredient, THC, is available by prescription to treat loss of appetite associated with weight loss in AIDS patients.” (Kirchheimer). The major negative view against Marijuana is that, it could cause cancer, particularly lung cancer. This adrift can be aptly reasoned because the fact is, Marijuana can in turn treat cancers. Researchers at the University of Rostock in Germany state how some “components of marijuana interact with cells to block tumor growth.” (“Marijuana as Medicine”). On the same lines, the researchers at Harvard University researchers and Madrid's Complutense University have reported that THC has the ability to destroy malignant tumors in lab rats, which controlled lung cancer. Thus, it is clear, optimal applications of Marijuana in medical field can reason out any adrift, thereby strengthening its claim for legalization. Because of the above discussed reasons, adrift is being controlled and more support has arose for legalization. The debate in favor of legalization of Marijuana was initiated by San Francisco Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, who instigated a legislation to legalize marijuana in California in 2008 itself (Sabatini). This in turn, made then Californian governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who once had a anti-Marijuana stance, support the legalization process and appeal to the lawmakers to discuss the possibility, so apart from the medicinal applications, it can contribute to the treasury. That is, if Marijuana is legalized, the police and judiciary costs spent on nabbing and punishing Marijuana sellers and users can be cut down, and importantly with legalization Marijuana can be taxed, leading to more revenue to the government. According to Miron, legalization of marijuana would thus save the Government a total expenditure of $7.7 billion annually expended on police and legal budget, and also generate $2.4 billion worth of tax revenues annually. California for its part has come up with laws for the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes. In addition, California has also passed the Proposition 215 or Compassionate Use Act, which provides legal protection for people using Marijuana on doctor’s recommendation, from any criminal prosecution. Still federal agents on the basis of other laws arrested patients, who only used "medical marijuana", which as mentioned above is legally tenable. To prevent this kind of adrift and to further strengthen the reasoning, legislation of Marijuana has to be done. As, Marijuana can treat or even minimize wide range of diseases and complications, it needs to be legalized, and encouraged to be used in a more optimal manner for medicinal purposes. Works Cited “Medicinal Uses of Marijuana: Pain”. Drug Policy Alliance Network, n. d. Web. 28 April 2011. Kirchheimer, Sid. “Heavy Marijuana Use Doesn't Damage Brain.” Family Council on Drug Awareness, 3 July 2003. Web. 28 April 2010. Miron, Jeffrey A. “The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition”. Marijuana Policy Project. June 2005. Web. 28 April 2010. “NIDA InfoFacts: Marijuana”. The National Institute on Drug Abuse, Nov 2010. Web. 28 April 2010. “Marijuana as Medicine”. Marijuana Legalization Organization, n. d. Web. 28 April 2011. Sabatini, Scott. “Medical Marijuana bill in New Jersey gains momentum with push to avoid California’s mistakes”. Examiner.com, 9 June 2009. Web. 28 April 2010. Shohov, Tatiana. Medical use of marijuana: policy, regulatory, and legal issues. Nova Publishers, 2003. Read More