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Emily Batschelett

11/28/16

English Comp. I

Mr. Hobson

Medical Marijuana: The Natural Medicine

There are so many harmful prescription drugs that doctors prescribe without a second

thought. Why take these harmful medications when there is a better, all natural solution?

Despite it being classified as a Schedule I drug and banned from use in the United States, people

continued to use it, because it makes them feel better and deal with multiple medical issues with

very few side effects. They feel the benefits from using marijuana outweigh the risk of being

arrested for using it. Medical marijuana has been proven to have medicinal value and could help

thousands of people. It is not expensive to produce marijuana, and it is not a dangerous drug.

Overall, it can help people with multiple diseases and symptoms, and strains can be grown to

address a specific illness or symptom. It is time to stop thinking of marijuana as a dangerous

drug and look at it for what it is; a natural plant/medication with healing properties legalization

of which can provide states with millions of dollars of tax revenue to be used in positive ways to

better society.

The cannabis plant has been around for a very long time. The first cannabis-based

textiles date back to 7,000 B.C. and were discovered in northern China (Marijuana: A Primer).

Marijuana was used medically and as a mood altering agent for thousands of years. Cannabis

has been discovered in ancient graves, and this led scientists to believe it was also used for

religious purposes. Until the 1920s, production of hemp was strongly encouraged for the
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production of clothing (Marijuana Timeline). It was not until the Marihuana Act of 1937 that

it was outlawed.

Use of marijuana became more widespread in the 1960s (Marijuana: A Primer). The

hippie culture was centered on music, sex, love, and exploring ones inner self (usually through

drug use). Adults did not understand or approve of this lifestyle, and they blamed the young

peoples behavior on the marijuana use. Later, in 1970, it was classified as a Schedule I

substance and it became a crime to possess or use this natural plant (Marijuana Timeline). It

was believed that marijuana had a high potential for abuse, no medical value, and was dangerous.

Marijuana was considered to be as unsafe as heroin, which we know today is a huge

misconception (Is Marijuana Medicine?).

Even though it was a Schedule I substance, people continued to use marijuana. Some

were recreational users, but many used the plant to help with anxiety, muscle and joint pain,

nauseous, and illness during cancer treatments (Is Marijuana Medicine?). As a result, illegal

marijuana sales became a huge industry. Marijuana was home grown by small-time users/sellers

and mass produced by Drug Lords in Mexico and other countries and smuggled into the United

Sates for huge profits. Recreational use continued, and patients often turned to marijuana as a

last resort when modern medicine or treatments did not help.

In 1996, California was the first state to allow the sale and medical use of marijuana for

patients with AIDS, cancer, and other diseases (Marijuana Timeline). Today 28 states, Guam,

Puerto Rico, and Columbia have legalized medical marijuana ("State Marijuana Laws in 2016

Map; "State Medical Marijuana Laws). Marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I drug at the

federal level, and states with medical marijuana laws have a patient registry to help protect

against being arrested for possession ("28 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC). Seven
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states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana use (State Marijuana

Laws in 2016). Legalization and regulation of recreational use marijuana should generate even

greater revenues in taxes for the state.

Medical marijuana has actually had a very positive impact in the states that legalized and

regulated it, and states will benefit even more if recreational use marijuana is allowed. A well

operated marijuana industry could generate up to $28 billion in tax revenues for federal, state,

and local governments ("Marijuana Legalization and Taxes). Colorados tax collections of

2016 for marijuana will exceed $140 million, and, in Washington state, sales are averaging over

$2 million a day. Just think of how those states can now better their society with all the taxes

from medical marijuana. Taxes collected from marijuana sales can be used to fund education,

infrastructure (roads and bridges) repairs, and health care in the state. Sick people will benefit by

the ability to use marijuana to treat their illness or symptoms; states benefit from the revenue,

and citizens benefit from the improvements the states can make.

Medical marijuana can be used to treat many medical issues. It is widely used for pain

related illnesses such as Fibromyalgia, Osteoporosis, Arthritis, chronic pain, and many more

(Medical Use). It can also help with other illnesses such as cancer, Hepatitis C, HIV, and

Alzheimers disease. Marijuana can even treat depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Many of the

illnesses that medical marijuana can help patients deal with are usually treated by mainstream

medicine by prescribing harmful prescription drugs. These drugs often have serious side effects

that may outweigh the healing properties of the drug itself. In some cases it would be more

beneficial for a patients health to choose marijuana, but that isnt an option because it is not

legal in the state. I know that I, for one, would choose medical marijuana if I had the option. I

have depression, anxiety, and fibromyalgia, all treatable by marijuana; but, since it is not legal in
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Oklahoma, my only option is to take an antidepressant daily, pain medication when my fibro

flares, and another medication when I have an anxiety attack. Sometimes, there are drug

interactions that make me feel awful, but I have no choice but to take the prescribed medication.

Like any medication, Marijuana does come with some downsides. Marijuana produces a

variety of physiological and euphoric effects that can affect some people badly such as

adolescents, pregnant women, and patients who have psychiatric illness (Marijuana: A Primer;

Is Marijuana a Medicine?). There is also a risk of lung cancer and diseases like there is with

anything else you smoke. However, there are alternative ways to use marijuana for medicinal

purposes. Medical marijuana comes in all shapes and forms. It can be made into candies, foods,

and drinks. Cannabis oil can be extracted from marijuana and put into capsules you can

swallow. There are multiple ways to use marijuana, and users/patients can find what form best

fits their needs.

Unfortunately, many people and organizations have labeled marijuana as an illicit drug

that is a gateway to other harder drugs. Users are branded stoners who sit around and play

video games and eat Cheetos all day. Because of this perception, many do not take into

consideration the many benefits of marijuana use. Marijuana is not something to ridicule and be

afraid; and it does not make sense to me to keep a plant safer than prescription narcotics illegal.

Other states have proven that medical marijuana is beneficial to patients and society both

medically and financially. I hope in the near future that all of the states will embrace medical

marijuana use. People deserve to have the option to use medical marijuana and treat their illness

or symptoms without feeling like a criminal. Patients should be able to choose to use any course

of treatment they feel comfortable withwhether medical marijuana or traditional medications.

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Works Cited

"Is Marijuana Medicine?" DrugFacts: Is Marijuana Medicine? | National Institute on Drug

Abuse (NIDA). National Institute on Drug Abuse, July 2015. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.

Marijuana: A Primer. Norml: Working to Reform Marijuana Laws. NORML, 2016. Web. 29

Nov. 2016.

"Marijuana Legalization and Taxes: Federal Revenue Impact." Tax Foundation. N.p., 16 May

2016. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.

"Marijuana Timeline." Frontline. PBS, Apr. 1998. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.

"Medical Use." Norml: Working to Reform Marijuana Laws. NORML, 2016. Web. 29 Nov.

2016.

"State Marijuana Laws in 2016 Map." Governing Magazine: State and Local Government News

for America's Leaders. N.p., 11 Nov. 2016. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.

"State Medical Marijuana Laws." National Conference of State Legislatures. N.p., 09 Nov. 2016.

Web. 29 Nov. 2016.

"28 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC: Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits." ProConorg

Headlines. ProConorg, 09 Nov. 2016. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.