Health Benefits of Marijuana
Toni Porter
8-22-11
Quincy Norwood
English 1520
Research Project
Health Benefits of Marijuana
Can any health benefits be received from marijuana? Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America (behind only alcohol and tobacco), and has been used by nearly 100 million Americans. According to government surveys, some 25 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year, and more than 14 million do so regularly despite harsh laws against its use. Marijuana is less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco. Around 50,000 people die from alcohol poisoning and 400,000 deaths attributed to tobacco smoking. By comparison, marijuana is non-toxic and cannot cause death by overdose. Under the Federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970, cannabis is classified as a schedule one substance. Schedule one substances are defined as currently having no accepted medical use in the USA and having a high potential for abuse. Cannabis is the name of the genus to which the plant belongs. Three species names for Cannabis are indica, sativa, and ruderlaris. The preparation made from the stems, buds, and leaves of Cannabis is known as marijuana. Cannabis' psychoactive effects are caused by potent psychotoxins, which are present throughout its various forms (i.e. marijuana). The most well known of these psychotoxins, which is also it's primary psychoactive component, is delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol (THC). There are many forms of THC; at least eighty derivatives have been synthesized and studied pharmacologically. The effects of THC range from euphoria and relaxation to anxiousness. From the various studies that have been done on marijuana, there has emerged evidence for marijuana having positive medical effects on people. Throughout history, cannabis has been a plant that has been used for medicinal purposes all over the world. By classifying marijuana under schedule one, is the government failing to acknowledge the many therapeutic advantages of marijuana?
8-22-11
Quincy Norwood
English 1520
Research Project
Health Benefits of Marijuana
Can any health benefits be received from marijuana? Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America (behind only alcohol and tobacco), and has been used by nearly 100 million Americans. According to government surveys, some 25 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year, and more than 14 million do so regularly despite harsh laws against its use. Marijuana is less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco. Around 50,000 people die from alcohol poisoning and 400,000 deaths attributed to tobacco smoking. By comparison, marijuana is non-toxic and cannot cause death by overdose. Under the Federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970, cannabis is classified as a schedule one substance. Schedule one substances are defined as currently having no accepted medical use in the USA and having a high potential for abuse. Cannabis is the name of the genus to which the plant belongs. Three species names for Cannabis are indica, sativa, and ruderlaris. The preparation made from the stems, buds, and leaves of Cannabis is known as marijuana. Cannabis' psychoactive effects are caused by potent psychotoxins, which are present throughout its various forms (i.e. marijuana). The most well known of these psychotoxins, which is also it's primary psychoactive component, is delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol (THC). There are many forms of THC; at least eighty derivatives have been synthesized and studied pharmacologically. The effects of THC range from euphoria and relaxation to anxiousness. From the various studies that have been done on marijuana, there has emerged evidence for marijuana having positive medical effects on people. Throughout history, cannabis has been a plant that has been used for medicinal purposes all over the world. By classifying marijuana under schedule one, is the government failing to acknowledge the many therapeutic advantages of marijuana?