Legalization Of Marijuana 3 Essay, Research Paper

Address on the Legalization of Marijuana

Mary Jane. Herb. Buds. Chronic. Reefer. Ganja. Charas. Sens. Boom. Buddha. Dope. Weed. Pot. All of these names describe one thing: marihuana. Over the old ages, this works has acquired many names and utilizations. At this clip in the United States, marijuana is an illegal drug with legion users and is widely available for a monetary value. Many users speak of the benefits of smoking marihuanas and want to acquire it legalized for that intent. My name is Dr. & # 8212 ; & # 8212 ; & # 8212 ; & # 8212 ; and I am the President of NORML & # 8211 ; The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Our exclusive intent is to first legalise marihuana for medicative intents, so that research can state us precisely what sort of a drug this is and how the drug works in the human organic structure. This research will enable the medicative marihuana to be available for the populace for general intents.

Having heard that H2O is at least 10 thousand old ages old, one can state that marihuana is every bit old as H2O because 10s of 1000s of old ages ago, ancient people foremost used this green works for nutrient. Then, it was discovered that the works, sometimes called hemp, produces fibres used to do rope, fabric, roofing stuffs, and floor coverings ( Monroe 11 ) . Merely in more recent times have people learned of this works & # 8217 ; s benefits when it is smoked. Pot has been smoked since the 1960s because of the effects it causes.

When smoked, marijuana alters encephalon maps doing the individual to see the ultimate euphoric feeling. This is the chief ground that patients with chronic unwellnesss, who are enduring a great trade of hurting, smoke marihuana. The hurting alleviation comes within proceedingss of smoking pot, whereas prescription analgesics can take up to 45 proceedingss to take consequence ( Monroe 4 ) .

Marijuana, like any other drug, is non harmless. Probably the most unsafe consequence of doing marihuana is possible lung harm. This is because marihuana coffin nails contain really high degrees of pitch & # 8211 ; approximately twice every bit much as baccy coffin nails. It is true that users of this merchandise will by and large non smoke as much marihuana as baccy tobacco users smoke baccy, but the dangers of pitch inspiration still remain.

This should non be a concern, nevertheless, for patients with terminal malignant neoplastic disease or AIDS. Peoples with glaucoma might besides be willing to put on the line some possible injury to their wellness for the interest of continuing their sight. It besides appears to alleviate the symptoms of multiple induration. Through its celebrated initiation of & # 8220 ; the munchies & # 8221 ; , it stimulates the appetencies of those who have lost the desire to eat, such as people enduring the late phases of AIDS.

Compared with the chemotherapeutic agents responsible for the sickness and emesis that leads people to marijuana, marijuana itself is rather safe. Harmonizing to testimony given to the Drug Enforcement Agency ( DEA ) , one would hold to devour 20,000 to 40,000 times every bit much marihuana as is contained in one marihuana coffin nail & # 8211 ; that is to state, about 1500 lbs of marihuana in about 15 proceedingss & # 8211 ; in order to consume a fatal sum. The chemotherapy agents themselves are far more deadly ( Economist 4 ) . This proves that it is humanly impossible to decease from a marihuana overdose. Fifteen 100 people can non make this, so how can one?

It is said that marihuana is a drug of unproved safety and effectivity, and such unproved drugs should non be allowed. But the effectivity of medicative marihuana has been attested to by 1000s of patients who have used it illicitly. Should it count whether the alleviation of sickness and hurting is the consequence of some & # 8220 ; scientifically proven & # 8221 ; direct chemical action of marihuana or is the consequence of a marijuana-induced euphory?

Pain and alleviation are notoriously hard to quantify in controlled experiments. What counts is whether the agony of a earnestly sick patient is relieved, instead than whether or non informations & # 8220 ; turn out & # 8221 ; efficaciousness. Dronabinol, a drug that contains tetrahydrocannibinol ( THC ) , one of the active ingredients is marijuana, has been available by prescription for 10 old ages ( Economist 5 ) . It is non widely used, nevertheless, because it is so hard T

o step an effectual curative dose. Self-administered marihuana, on the other manus, has allowed patients a grade of control over the dose and has proved rather effectual ( Economist 6 ) .

It should besides be noted that jurisprudence allows doctors to order narcotic drugs such as morphia for the alleviation of hurting. With morphia, nevertheless, the difference between the dosage that relieves hurting and the dosage that hastens decease is really little. With marihuana, there merely is no hazard of decease.

Legalizing marihuanas would non merely profit the Americans that need pain alleviation, but besides those American husbandmans that need a good hard currency harvest to gain them big amounts of money. Now that I have your attending, ladies and gentlemen of Congress, allow me explicate. The NORML Foundation concluded on October 14, 1998 that marihuana is the 4th largest hard currency harvest in America despite the jurisprudence enforcement implementing prohibition ( NORML 1 ) . Marijuana ranks under maize, soya beans, and hay in the top four hard currency harvest list, on the side. ( Since it is illegal, it is non usually included in the list ) .

This study & # 8220 ; estimations that husbandmans harvested 8.7 million marihuana workss in 1997 deserving $ 15.1 billion to agriculturists and $ 25.2 billion on the retail market & # 8221 ; ( NORML 1 ) . The sweeping value of marihuana was used to compare it to other hard currency harvests in the studies. Allen St. Pierre, executive manager of The NORML Foundation, stated that, & # 8220 ; Had the writer & # 8217 ; s [ of the study ] calculated marijuana & # 8217 ; s entire value to agriculturists by street market monetary values, marihuanas would unquestionably rank as America & # 8217 ; s figure one hard currency crop. & # 8221 ; ( NORML 2 )

The study bases its findings on & # 8220 ; Drug Enforcement Administration ( DEA ) marijuana obliteration statistics, a study of province constabularies obliteration self-appraisals, and published marijuana monetary value studies & # 8221 ; ( NORML 2 ) . Had the writers accepted the authoritiess one lb per works criterion, 1997 & # 8217 ; s marijuana harvest would hold been deserving $ 26.3 billion to agriculturists and $ 43.8 billion on the street ( NORML 2 ) .

Allen St. Pierre said, & # 8220 ; Marijuana cultivation is here to remain. The inquiry is: Bash we continue with current, unsuccessful attempts to approve agriculturists and users, or do we seek to tackle this unregulated, multi-billion dollar-a-year industry? & # 8221 ; ( NORML 2 ) .

That is where you, ladies and gentlemen of Congress, come in. Legalization of marihuana would intend more money for the state as a whole. For medicative intents, patients will hold an herbal option to prescription analgesics. For the husbandman, they will hold another hard currency harvest to turn. For the authorities, marihuana would be another export/import that would convey in big amounts of money.

Equally far as ordinance of this drug, Torahs puting an age bound to buy the drug, for illustration, you have to be 18 to buy baccy merchandises and 21 to be purchase intoxicant merchandises. Grants will hold to be awarded by the authorities for research on this drug and people will hold to be hired to make the research. This besides creates occupation chances for the unemployed citizens of the United States.

My accounts have shown you the benefits of marihuana and ways to modulate it. It is now your determination to do on whether or non to legalise it. Legalization would merely profit everyone. Thank you.

Plants Cited

& # 8220 ; Marijuana Ranks Fourth Largest Cash Crop in America Despite Prohibition. & # 8221 ; NORML

News. 1998. Online. Yahoo. Internet. 15 October

1998. Available hypertext transfer protocol: //www.natlnorml.org/news/index.shtml

Monroe, Judy. & # 8220 ; Marijuana-a head changing drug. & # 8221 ; Current Health 2. March 1998.

Online. Infotrac. Internet-Undergraduate Library. 16 October 1998.

hypertext transfer protocol: //web7.searchbank.com/infotrac/session/998/978/24939215w3/40! xrn_35

& # 8220 ; Pot on Presciption. & # 8221 ; The Economist. June 13, 1998. Online. Infotrac. Internet.

16 October 1998. Available hypertext transfer protocol: //web7.searchbank.com/infotrac/session/998/978/24939215w3/24! nrn_16

& # 8220 ; Twelve Reasons to Legalize Drugs. & # 8221 ; The Pragmatist. August 1998. Online. Yahoo.

Internet. 16 October 1998. Available hypertext transfer protocol: //turnpike.net/ hnr/12reason.htm

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