Imagine a five year old preparing for her first day of school. Both parents and the future scholar are beyond excited as they pack a healthy lunch to head out the door. Mother and child review a checklist of needed supplies. Crayons? Check. Pencils? Check. Backpack ready, they head out the door.
Besides the jittery nerves of a new experience, the day goes perfectly. The child shares the same experience as the other students, with one minor exception: stopping by the nurse’s office for a “snack” after recess. Since it’s the first day of school, none of the children know what to expect in a school day, so everything is fine.
But day after day, they start to wonder why the child has to have a separate snack everyday, and why the nurse keeps
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“If it was legalized and if the medical community of Texas find that the medicinal benefits outweigh other potential concerns, I think that would do a lot to decry the stigma of cannabis use,” said Patsy Thomas, President of Mental Health Connection of Tarrant County. “Perhaps, then, it would become another acceptable tool health professionals could implement into treatment plans.”
Data from the 2015 (CCHAPS) Community-wide Children’s Health Assessment and Planning Survey indicates that access to healthcare is an issue for many local children and their families. Since access is an impediment to healthcare, experts say communities need to be more willing to embrace safe medical options that date back thousands of years such as cannabis oil, rather than allow it to be locally criminalized and stigmatized.
Mental Health Connection, a coalition of agencies that work to improve the delivery of mental health services in Tarrant County, suggests citizens take the following steps to help bring about change: Stay informed on legislation, medical studies and breakthroughs Work with local advocacy groups and talk to local and state legislature Consult with your healthcare team If possible, participate in clinical trials and studies Be proactive by generating awareness of medicinal cannabis success stories
Cannabis Legalization Stigma - Pg 2
Cannabis Legalization Stigma - Pg 2“People don’t understand that ongoing, chronic illness effects the whole family and
Allusions to well known characters are often found in artistic expression to describe universal traits. These implicit references, often Biblical, Shakespearean, or Greek, rely on the viewers’ previous knowledge to understand the main theme of a piece. Allusions are able to convey underlying messages in a more relatable manner because of shared classical ideas. One popular Biblical reference, that of Judas, one of the original twelve apostles of Jesus, signifies betrayal and greed in a friend. Whether 700 years ago or 70 years ago, this allusion can be seen in both literature and art alike in the role of a traitor to the protagonist.
He then talks about the stigma that society has on it, and how it has helped the economy in legalized states and countries. Although he is pro-legalization in the article, he shows dignity to the other side of the argument. This article is acknowledging the risks that come with the legalization, but emphasizes the benefits. In the article, "Legalizing Marijuana", Dr. Marco Leyton argues for the legalization of marijuana by stating the pros and cons, focusing on its connection with the law, and evaluating its current stigma in society.
The drug is currently recognized in a majority of the country as twenty-nine states have medical marijuana laws in addition to eighteen states that have passed legislation acknowledging the health benefits (“Medical Marijuana Overview”, 2017). The growth of medical marijuana programs is a contributing factor to national polls steadily revealing a 60%-89% support rating in favor of the drug, and assisted the nation in overcoming the social stigma, specifically in the western states (Campbell et al., 2015). 64% of those between the ages of eighteen and thirty-four support marijuana legislation; and according to a 2014 national public radio poll, more than three-fourths of Americans support medical marijuana use (Campbell et al., 2015). Furthermore, a 2013 report in the New England Journal of Medicine disclosed that 76% of physicians surveyed would recommend medical marijuana to their patient (“Medical Marijuana Overview”,
As more effective treatments for diseases and cancers are being developed, a safe and promising drug is being under attack for its many misconceptions. Marijuana use of both medicinally and recreationally, has been hindered by the misconceptions it has faced due to it being on the schedule 1 drug class of the U.S government. These misconceptions of medical marijuana have hindered its legalization by having people continue to believe them, refusing to learn the beneficial properties of medical marijuana, and as a result have affected people who could benefit from this form of treatment.
Cannabis has provided millions worldwide with relief from chronic pain caused by a myriad of pain-producing illnesses. Cannabis has significantly improved the quality of life of people with cancer, AIDS, arthritis, and the list goes on. The medical marijuana movement is not concerned with decriminalizing or legalizing cannabis for recreational use. It is concerned with helping people with serious illnesses and disabilities to get on with their lives. (Bearman, 2011)
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.
Marijuana has been around for a long time and its use has become wide spread in America. So much so, that an underground culture and economy have formed around it like a protective shroud. For most people, a supply of marijuana is only a phone call away (ICSDP.) Yet it has been illegal to possess, use, grow, or distribute since the thirties. Despite the possibility of becoming addicted to marijuana, many use it recreationally, while others rely on the medicinal effects of marijuana to alleviate a variety of diseases. Thirteen states have enacted medical marijuana laws and programs despite federal prohibition policies against the use of marijuana. Twelve more states are in the process of following this trend and if they are successful in
The issue of Legalizing marijuana is a very controversial topic of modern times. The use of marijuana is all over the media with celebrities doing it and young people in on the craze. Marijuana is the world’s oldest illegal drug, not only that, it is also the drug that is most widely used among society today (Aanstoos, 2015). Different types of people use this drug for a variety of reasons, such as, as a way to disconnect from todays hectic world, something they are peer pressured into, or even medical reasons. My argument is against the concern of legalizing marijuana in general including medical marijuana. Before completely going all in against this drug, note that there is some relevant research, which shows Marijuana has some benefits to it. This paper will explore both points in against and in favor of legalizing marijuana to be revealed, aiming for an understanding of the issue and present a public health policy to improve and educate the public of this hot health topic.
A controversial social topic surrounding our time has been the issue of legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes. Cannabis sativa, also known as marijuana, was classified by the United States government as a class I drug in 1970, which means that it is against the law to possess and distribute this illegal substance (Source 2). However, in recent years, many states have made marijuana more accessible for medical and recreational use. States such as Colorado and Washington have not just decriminalized possession and distribution, but have enacted laws that encourage the recreational use of cannabis. Around 100 million Americans have experienced this drug (Source 1). Essentially one in four Americans
Since the legalization of marijuana in Washington and Colorado, I have been patiently waiting for my chance to vote on this issue in Texas. It seems that we have been left in the dust as 25 other states and Washington D. C. now allow medical marijuana, with four of the states allowing recreational marijuana. One of the naysayers that does not want medical or recreational marijuana are the Parents Opposed to Pot, who claim that marijuana is causing schizophrenia and psychosis. The second naysayer that I will be addressing is Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana, or CALM. CALM claims concerns about the economic effects that marijuana will have. I am responding to both of these organization’s arguments with researched facts about marijuana.
For the past fifty years, the public has been fed incorrect information about marijuana’s risks by law enforcement and anti-drug groups. Time has changed, because Colorado and Washington State became the first states to legalize recreational marijuana, this has arose the possibility of a rippling effect across the nation. Now, many states such as Oregon and Alaska are voting on this issue. Although medical researchers have claimed that marijuana may help patients and the drug is not as dangerous as informers noted before, legalizing the drug will create a downfall to society by expanding its accessibility to our future generation. Not only will expose our youth to more harmful drugs, but it will also endanger the safety of our community.
I am glad that the textbook dedicated a decent portion of this chapter to cannabis. In our country today, this is a very hot topic that results in quite a few heated debates. Marijuana is obviously very widely used, and it is easily accessible. One of the biggest debates on marijuana use is that of the health dangers and the addictive qualities of it. The textbook talks about cannabis use disorder. The number of people in today’s society that have this disorder is significantly higher than that of the early 1970s. One of the main reasons for this is that the THC is much more potent because it is grown in hotter and drier climates today.
As far back as I can remember, I have always had a great fascination with chemistry. Thus, when I discovered the chemistry club at my school during my sophomore year, I felt a natural obligation to follow my passion and join the club even though it consisted of only upperclassmen. At our meetings, we explore chemistry with a level of depth that is much greater than in class, participating in various complex labs, domes, experiments, and investigations. I found a newfound appreciation for the realm of chemistry that I will carry with me for the rest of my life as I launched rockets, mixed chemicals, and solved puzzles. In addition, my leadership qualities were demonstrated in the chemistry club through group labs.
Many people wonder what it would be like if we legalized marijuana, and what its effect would have on today society. On the other hand many do not even want to think about the drug legalization even if it is for a good cause, such as it being made into medical marijuana. The definition of Marijuana is “dried leaves and flowering tops of the pistillate hemp plants that yield THC and are smoked in cigarettes for their intoxicating effect.” (Merriam) Many people think that Marijuana is bad due to the fact that it is a drug but what many people cannot see is that Marijuana does more than just getting a person “high” it gives the freedom to sick patients from all their harsh medicines and pain to feel more normal, and functional. Although there
Close your eyes and imagine for a moment. You now have a child who suffers from extreme, almost constant, terrifying seizures. Unfortunately, none of the medicine prescribed in the past has worked. In fact, some medication even makes the seizures worse. Suddenly, doctors discover a medicine that has the potential to reduce seizures and sometimes stop them all together, therefore improving your child’s quality of life. They have turned that medicine into safe drops, vapor, and pills. Would you want to at least give the medicine a try? Would you want to give your child some relief? If you answered yes, then you have just proven that it is not the medicine that people feel uneasy about, it is the stigma of the name of plant the medicine comes from, marijuana.