Legalization of Marijuana in Arizona The Legalization of Marijuana in the state of Arizona has been under fire for the past several years. Ever since 2010 when Prop 203, which called the right to have a medical marijuana card in the state, arose it caused a stir in society on which to allow marijuana to be legal. The ballot for the state is set in November and as we approach the deadline many people are coming out with their takes on the issue. The legalization of marijuana has many positive and negative effects on society that make it a tough decision for many voters. Marijuana has been a commonly used medication for thousands of years, the oldest written record of the use of marijuana is 2727 B.C.E. in china, up until 2003 when marijuana was classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance by the Controlled Substance Act which prohibited use and sale of the substance. This act caused major controversy and sparked many scientific experiments that are still going on today to try to understand the drug. The legalization of marijuana in other states has increased access to and acceptability of this drug for both medicinal and recreational purposes. In the absence of well-designed research and FDA approval, this creates unique challenges for both practitioners and regulators alike. Doctors are being pressured to recommend medical marijuana based off of the requests of the users. The regulations that have been put on marijuana are extremely loose fitting and hard to control
The cannabis plant (marijuana) has been used medicinally by a variety of cultures around the world. It was used as medicine in the United States until when a new tax fee led to its discontinued use. Congress has voted on several bills to legalize the medical use of marijuana; however none of those bills were passed. In June 2005 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that federal laws against marijuana, including its medical use, are valid. The government has authorized few research studies into the health effects of medical marijuana. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved
In addition, anecdotal evidence exists that marijuana is effective in the treatment of arthritis, migraine headaches, pruritis, menstrual cramps, alcohol and opiate addiction, and depression and other mood disorders. Marijuana could benefit as many as five million patients in the United States. However, except for the eight individuals given special permission by the federal government, marijuana remains illegal-even as medicine! Individuals currently suffering from any of the aforementioned ailments, for whom the standard legal medical alternatives have not been safe or effective, are left with two choices: Continue to suffer from the effects of the disease; or Obtain marijuana illegally and risk the potential consequences, which may include: an insufficient supply because of the prohibition-inflated price or unavailability; impure, contaminated, or chemically adulterated marijuana; arrests, fines, court costs, property forfeiture, incarceration, probation, and criminal records.
The debate on Medical marijuana has been a controversial subject mainly because people have an abundance of opinions and very little scientific research to back up either side of the debate. The most important question here is “will medical marijuana be used for medical purposes or will it be used inappropriately?”
The legalization of cannabis in the state of Massachusetts has proven to be a very controversial topic with many citizens for and against its legalization. Personally I am for the legalization of cannabis, and today I will be writing a totally opinion based paper regarding the economic benefits that legalization could offer this fine state.
Joycelyn Elders, former Surgeon General, once spoke about the legalization of marijuana for medical use in a press conference. "It's criminal to keep this medicine from patients," she said (Silverman, 1995, pg. 2). She received criticism not only from many citizens of the United States, but also strong criticism from the President who appointed her. The legalization of marijuana for medical use has always been a sharply debated subject, and many of the debaters are uneducated about the effects of using this illegal drug for therapeutic use. Many studies have been done and the results are clear. As a medical drug, marijuana should be available to patients who do not adequately respond to currently available
No matter what it’s called: reefer, hemp, cannabis, or weed, the medicinal properties of the leafy green herb have been recognized for centuries and the medicament was readily available in pharmacies as early as 1840 and continued to be for nearly another one hundred more. Then came “Reefer Madness”, a propaganda movie critical of the effects of marijuana and the plant, despite its known benefits, became prohibited. Fast forward to 1996 and the Compassionate Care Act of California gave the first hope to patients in need of new treatment alternatives. Though some states have legalized the use of marijuana for both medicinal and recreational use, it remains illegal federally. Legalization of medical marijuana will offer a safer, more cost-effective approach to disease management for people suffering from debilitating conditions, as well as generate state and federal
There has been major news forming around the legalization of marijuana in Colorado. Medical marijuana has been effective in Colorado since 2000. Now marijuana is legal for recreational use for people 21 and up. Many rules and regulations follow the legalization of marijuana. Many people of Colorado fear this legalization, where others are totally for it and think it will help boost Colorado’s economy. I have found many
David Casarett a Physician in California explains how he learned about Medical Marijuana and how he has come to recommend other physicians to research and consider medical marijuana. Casarett asks, “What if mainstream health care operated more like a medical marijuana dispensary?”
Today’s society is unique to any times in history. From the legalization of gay marriage, to our increased national security of USA PATRIOT act, we see a high contrast on personal rights as a citizen of the united states. Recently, an increasingly debated topic on marijuana legalization is widely argued. Whether it’s for medical or recreational usages, this topic is reaching boiling point. The complicity on the legalities of marijuana has reached a point in society where legal usage has been popping up across the country. In the medical sector, studies have shown benefits, and harmful effects in patients. Some physicians support, however some physicians do see health concerns that influence their stance on whether medical marijuana laws are to be altered from a prior state. Addiction rate, health impact, reason to prescribe, and economic benefits are all factors needed to take into reason whether medical marijuana usage should be prescribed or not. Medically prescribed marijuana can treat symptoms of certain conditions and diseases, however can impact the mental health and be addictive to heavy users. In this explorative essay, topics on both sides of the argument will be expressed, background information will be added to provide context, and will be unbiased to shed light on the depth of the topic. The legalization of medical marijuana is a heavy topic, and legal aspects are central to its debate. Despite the potential health benefits of medical marijuana, new
Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America behind only alcohol and tobacco, and is estimated that nearly 80 million Americans use it at least one occasion. According to government surveys, some 20 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year, and more than 11 million do so regularly despite harsh laws against its use. Being used for medicinal purposes or simply for recreational, there are not only laws to consider when the topic of legalization comes up but also ethical concerns as well. For this paper I will outline some of the uses for this drug and some of the benefits of its use. I will apply the
The legalization of marijuana for medical use is something that has been widely debated across the US for years, especially recently. While many see it as just another way for “stoners” and “hippies” to get high, millions of people nationwide rely on marijuana and its derivatives for pain management, cancer treatments, relief from anxiety and depression symptoms, and many other diseases. It has even been known to relieve nerve pressure and preserve the nerves damaged by diseases like glaucoma and multiple sclerosis (Tomida, 2004). Because of its numerous medical uses, there are scientists, public health officials, and policy makers who believe that medicinal marijuana could be the key to
In this brief paper I will first define what historically is known about the medicinal benefits of cannabis. Then I will describe recreational use of marijuana and the acute effects it has. I will then examine the laws of my home state of Illinois on the legalization of medicinal marijuana and the amounts allowed to be dispensed to a patient. Lastly I will provide my position on marijuana and support my stand with a solution from a scholarly source.
Cannabis is becoming increasingly widespread and increasingly common in modern-day society for both recreational use and for medication. The article by Craig Reinarman, ‘Criminalisation, legalisation and the mixed blessing of medicalisation in the USA’ generates many controversial issues of cannabis.
The use of cannabis toward medicine should not be shocking to anyone, since it has been around for centuries. As a matter of fact, it has been under medicinal aid for an estimated 5,000 years. Western medicine truly grasped marijuana’s medicinal abilities in the 1850’s. Infact, doctors documented over one hundred papers about how marijuana helped numerous disorders, such as nausea, glaucoma, movement disorders, pain relief, depression, and anxiety. It also helps cancer patients and those with HIV or Aids. Currently, many American patients have access to marijuana use so that they can have effective treatments for their illnesses. Medical marijuana use is achievable because
As the debate about marijuana’s use as a medicine continues, experts have given us information pertaining to