The Legalization of Marijuana
Precious Perez
English 102 – Mrs. Moffit
July 23th, 2012
The Legalization of Medicinal Marijuana
Many scientific communities around the world have compiled persuasive evidence supporting marijuana’s cannabinoid potential as a source of treatment. Analgesia, glaucoma, chemotherapy and HIV-related gastrointestinal disorders are just a few among the vast amount of afflictions which from marijuana can help provide relief. Unfortunately the United States government continues to place a negative stigma on marijuana by regulating its availability for testing as a classified “Schedule I” controlled substance through a misguided political agenda. Until the governmental view point changes, medical marijuana will never be able to reach its full potential.
The federal government claims that marijuana has no therapeutic or medicinal value and as such has classified it as a "Schedule I" controlled substance. Customarily, these classifications call for the systematic evaluation and examination of a substance, but congress has sidestepped the Controlled Substance Act and assigned it to this category without following the correct procedure. Other substances also graded within the “Schedule I” category are LSD and heroin. Cocaine and opium are classified below marijuana in what is known as “Schedule II” because they are believed to have some known medical benefit. If scientists were given the same opportunity to study marijuana, as they did LSD in the 1950’s, it would soon be obvious that it (marijuana) has been misclassified due to political prejudice (Lee & Shalin 3-4). Because of the “Schedule I” label on cannabis, a license must be acquired from the Drug Enforcement Agency to conduct any research pertaining to the study of marijuana. Additionally, once a license has been procured, the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) is responsible for supplying the marijuana used in testing.
Numerous attempts to study the effects of marijuana have been blackballed by the NIDA and
English 102 – Mrs. Moffit
July 23th, 2012
The Legalization of Medicinal Marijuana
Many scientific communities around the world have compiled persuasive evidence supporting marijuana’s cannabinoid potential as a source of treatment. Analgesia, glaucoma, chemotherapy and HIV-related gastrointestinal disorders are just a few among the vast amount of afflictions which from marijuana can help provide relief. Unfortunately the United States government continues to place a negative stigma on marijuana by regulating its availability for testing as a classified “Schedule I” controlled substance through a misguided political agenda. Until the governmental view point changes, medical marijuana will never be able to reach its full potential.
The federal government claims that marijuana has no therapeutic or medicinal value and as such has classified it as a "Schedule I" controlled substance. Customarily, these classifications call for the systematic evaluation and examination of a substance, but congress has sidestepped the Controlled Substance Act and assigned it to this category without following the correct procedure. Other substances also graded within the “Schedule I” category are LSD and heroin. Cocaine and opium are classified below marijuana in what is known as “Schedule II” because they are believed to have some known medical benefit. If scientists were given the same opportunity to study marijuana, as they did LSD in the 1950’s, it would soon be obvious that it (marijuana) has been misclassified due to political prejudice (Lee & Shalin 3-4). Because of the “Schedule I” label on cannabis, a license must be acquired from the Drug Enforcement Agency to conduct any research pertaining to the study of marijuana. Additionally, once a license has been procured, the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) is responsible for supplying the marijuana used in testing.
Numerous attempts to study the effects of marijuana have been blackballed by the NIDA and
Cited: Cohen, Peter J. “Medical Marijuana 2010: It’s Time to Fix the Regulatory Vacuum.” Journal Of Law, Medicine & Ethics 38.8 (2010): 654-666. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 July 2012. Degenhardt, Louisa, and Wayne D. Hall. "The adverse effects of cannabinoids: implications for use of medical marijuana." CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal 17 June 2008: 1685+. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 July 2012. Califano, Joseph A. "Marijuana Is a Gateway Drug." Drug Abuse. Ed. Roman Espejo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. Current Controversies. Rpt. from "The Grass Roots of Teen Drug Abuse." Wall Street Journal 26 Mar. 1999. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 1 Aug. 2012. Lee A. Martin, Shlain Bruce. " Acid Dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD: The CIA, The Sixties, and Beyond" (1985): Web. 23 July 2012. Joycelyn, Elders. "Myths About Medical Marijuana." Providence Journal. (2004): n. page. Web. 1 Aug. 2012.