A Joint a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
Kerem Ozgul
Mr. Connelly
English 12
26 March 2011
A Joint a Day Keeps the Doctor Away For ameliorations such as nausea, vomiting, chemotherapy, AIDS, and glaucoma, medical marijuana is prescribed. Although it is now classified as an illegal substance, medical marijuana should be legal in all states because many people across the nation are fighting these illnesses everyday without the support of this medical technology. Patients all over the country struggle to find this treatment, but can’t because the use is limited to only a select few states. Why? The expansion of this medical treatment throughout the U.S. is beneficial to both the patient and the country. Cannabis has been used for medical purposes for thousands of years. However, it wasn’t used in present day America until 1611, when the English arrived in Jamestown, that marijuana was introduced as a crop grown for its fiber.These pilgrims made items such as rope and clothing from this fiber. Then, in the late 17th century, one of our nation’s founding fathers, George Washington, grew cannabis on his farm, which shows that cannabis was legal for many years in the U.S. Cannabis was legalized chiefly because of its medical aspect. Pharmaceutical use of medical marijuana was first established in the 1800’s, yet shortly after, more consistent drugs replaced marijuana. In 1910, the Mexican Revolution waved immigrants into the U.S., bringing back marijuana use to America. Marijuana was used medically or just for relaxing. The Marijuana Tax Act established in 1937 “…made possession or transfer of cannabis illegal throughout the United States under federal law, excluding medical and industrial uses, in which an expensive excise tax was required” (Marijuana Timeline par. ). This act was created to control American society, limit the use of marijuana, and only allow it to industrial companies and medical patients. Chemotherapy patients were the first ever to be prescribed the medical use of marijuana.
Mr. Connelly
English 12
26 March 2011
A Joint a Day Keeps the Doctor Away For ameliorations such as nausea, vomiting, chemotherapy, AIDS, and glaucoma, medical marijuana is prescribed. Although it is now classified as an illegal substance, medical marijuana should be legal in all states because many people across the nation are fighting these illnesses everyday without the support of this medical technology. Patients all over the country struggle to find this treatment, but can’t because the use is limited to only a select few states. Why? The expansion of this medical treatment throughout the U.S. is beneficial to both the patient and the country. Cannabis has been used for medical purposes for thousands of years. However, it wasn’t used in present day America until 1611, when the English arrived in Jamestown, that marijuana was introduced as a crop grown for its fiber.These pilgrims made items such as rope and clothing from this fiber. Then, in the late 17th century, one of our nation’s founding fathers, George Washington, grew cannabis on his farm, which shows that cannabis was legal for many years in the U.S. Cannabis was legalized chiefly because of its medical aspect. Pharmaceutical use of medical marijuana was first established in the 1800’s, yet shortly after, more consistent drugs replaced marijuana. In 1910, the Mexican Revolution waved immigrants into the U.S., bringing back marijuana use to America. Marijuana was used medically or just for relaxing. The Marijuana Tax Act established in 1937 “…made possession or transfer of cannabis illegal throughout the United States under federal law, excluding medical and industrial uses, in which an expensive excise tax was required” (Marijuana Timeline par. ). This act was created to control American society, limit the use of marijuana, and only allow it to industrial companies and medical patients. Chemotherapy patients were the first ever to be prescribed the medical use of marijuana.