Marijuana Essay

I had this in another thread, but people got caught up on old responses back when it was a rough draft so i figured i'd start a new one for the new version of it.

Cannicontroversy

Why is it that one of the most studied plants in history that has been found repetitively to have many beneficial qualities is still illegal? This plant is a saint in terms of negative side effects when compared to other medical and recreational substances. This plant's name is Cannabis sativa, but more commonly know as pot, weed, or marijuana. “Cannabis is one of the most studied plants in the history of humanity”(www.hr95.org/medicalmarijuana.html). This may be because this plant has potentially significant value to society, but is not used to its full capabilities. Others say it is because it is a killer that threatens the youth and adults alike and its potential for danger must be studied to its full extent.

Although marijuana did not experience a more mainstream feel in America until the 1960's, there were “charred [cannabis] seeds found in Romania dating back to the 3rd millennium BC” that prove its use much earlier.. Jumping forward, to the time of Marco polo: one of the first myths was made about marijuana. Middle Eastern fighters, who smoked hashish (a form of marijuana), were labeled as violent because the style and vigor with which they fought. Polo made the connection between marijuana and this violence the fighters were associated with, and started the myth that marijuana causes violence. This was one of the first popular myths made of marijuana. Unfortunately there would be many more.

The inhalation of marijuana was largely introduced to the United states starting in 1910 by Mexicans. Along with their tacos, beans, and hard working attitudes, they brought a plant from Mexico known as marijuana. In these times there was much more racism than there is today. Much of it geared towards toward Mexicans who were thought as of unequals by many, and were invading American culture. This is evident in this quote that was said on a senate floor "All Mexicans are crazy, and this stuff [marijuana] is what makes them crazy." (http://www.friendsofliberty.com/modu...ticle&sid=3334) Marijuana quickly became associated with Mexicans, and took on the same level of predilection as them: not much. Many Americans disliked these people and the plant they brought with them. The problem was exasperated when a group of Mormons traveled to Mexico in 1910. They found out about marijuana while in Mexico, and brought some back to the Utah. The church disapproved of this plant. The Mormon church had a lot of power in the Utah government, and pushed for marijuana prohibition, achieving their goal in 1914, causing Utah to become the second state to outlaw marijuana. The first state, California did not make any public notice in the press of the law. Other states followed suit, quickly making marijuana illegal. (http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/...j_outlawed.htm) This was the beginning of an all out war on marijuana that will get progressively more intricate, expensive, and more costly, and destructive.

Later on, during in the 1930's and 40's marijuana was commonly used by jazz musicians, a predominately African American group. Racism against black people was still very strong in many. The same association between marijuana and black jazz musicians took place as marijuana had previously had with Mexicans in the 1910‘s and 20‘s. Many stories sprung up that were backed up with no evidence that starred crazed black and Mexican people attacking and in some cases raping or killing white women while under the influence of marijuana. Harry Anslinger, the nation's first drug czar, under much pressure, and out of no interest of his own, made the marijuana tax act of 1937 even though “had doubts about its constitutionality and about whether it would have any substantial effect on the problem of marihuana use” (http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/.../mustomj1.html). Another source that influenced his decision was big companies such as DuPont. Once enacted, this opened the door for harsh punishments, and government organizations designated to catching marijuana users.

With his new found reason to bash marijuana, Anslinger used started an anti-marijuana campaign that used questionable means to propagate his cause. Anslinger appealed to racists across America by making up “facts” about marijuana's effect on “darkies“, and other altogether racist statements such as "Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men." (www.vikarsrant.net/Rants/MarijuanaMyth.htm)
Anslinger also specifically targeted the jazz and music community which commonly used marijuana. He used condescending statements such as "[Marijuana is taken by] musicians. And I'm not speaking about good musicians, but the jazz type...". (http://www.ornorml.org/articles/quot...REEFER+MADNESS)
Anslinger was quoted as saying "...the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races." (www.gopetition.com/petitions/legalize-weed.html)
Since then it has been found that marijuana has no specific effects on any race in particular. Because the primary cause of marijuana prohibition as said by the first drug czar was a faux, Marijuana was made illegal on a false basis.

Racism may still be prevalent in society, but to a lesser extent, especially when under the spotlight of media. Harry Anslinger's statements, if made today would land him a spot in the unemployment line. This means other factors play into keeping marijuana illegal in the US. One would probably not have a hard time guessing what it is. It is what empowers government, every day life, crime, and greed. Money. Big companies such as DuPont had a big rival in marijuana. They had and still have tons of money invested in paper and plastic products. They two years before the marijuana tax act of 1937 also invented nylon. They wanted to knock out any competition they could to this product which is today one of the most commonly used polymers.(http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stori...naIllegal.html) An old technique of making paper out of hemp was one of wood pulp paper's only major rivals. Hemp is the “industrial form“ of marijuana, containing relatively small amounts of THC(the active psychoactive ingredient in marijuana)compared to “normal” marijuana. DuPont hopped on the anti-marijuana propaganda train, lobbying with tons of money to try to get marijuana to become and stay illegal, in order to eliminate their competition for good. (http://joomla.montanahemp.org/index....d=56&Itemid=39)

Anslinger needed to appeal to more than just the racists of America, as they only made up a piece of the population. In order to reach a bigger audience, Anslinger implemented other forms of propaganda to spread his message. Anslinger used eye catching phrases and statements such as "Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death." and "You smoke a joint and you're likely to kill your brother” (www.heartbone.com/no_thugs/hja.htm) in order to get people's attention. These along with other outrageous claims like "Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.” ( www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5571.shtml) are almost comical as almost nobody would believe them today. (http://www.fcda.org/tenthings.html#fn12) Some credit the lies and false propaganda Harry Anslinger used for his own political gain as the main reason marijuana became illegal and is still illegal. One has to think, if these “facts” are the reason marijuana is illegal, and they are false, why is it still illegal.

\t“Hemp is one of the fastest growing biomasses known, requires no pesticides or herbicides and is completely biodegradable.” (http://www.stpetersrwc.org/sermons/Sermon_07_20_08.PDF) It has many potential uses that are not allowed in the US because it is the only industrialized nation in the world where growing industrial hemp continues to be banned.(http://votehemp.com/PR/2-6-04_9thCir_grants.html) The hemp industry has huge potential and could doubtlessly provide many jobs and tax dollars to the US. Its uses include making clothing , ropes, mulch, paints and varnishes , moisturizing creams, lip balms, paper, biodegradable alternatives to plastics, and in cooking.(http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-284.html) Hemp is environment friendly because it can help cut down on non biodegradable trash, petroleum consumption, tree consumption, and the use of toxic bleaches used to make paper. It is also a crop that requires extremely small amounts pesticides if any at all. It also releases oxygen, and helps prevent topsoil erosion. (http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-284.html)
The government knowing all of this would fix it right? The answer is not so clear cut. It takes a lot of money, lies, time and effort to keep a whole nation, and world ignorant about marijuana. Unfortunately, another huge industry stepped into the equation. It is arguably the biggest industry in the world, with by far the most lobbyists(people paid to convince the government their companies‘ ideas) in Washington of any other industry.(http://projects.publicintegrity.org/...t.aspx?aid=723) This industry is Pharmaceuticals. With all of this money at stake, keeping this lie going is and was way too profitable, and way too easy. Additionally, many people already hated marijuana due to racism and propaganda from competing industries such as DuPont. To many people it was a back burner issue that didn't matter enough to even give thought to. When the 60's rolled around, and marijuana became more popular , especially in the counter culture and youth, even more industries and money jumped on the band wagon to keep the anti-marijuana propaganda machine alive. After all, with enough money, anything is true

Two big industries that joined the cause are surprisingly alcohol and tobacco. In fact, three big contributors to many anti-drug groups are alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceutical companies. Alcohol and Tobacco can look like the good guys by donating to a "good cause" in the eyes of the American public and hiding the deaths that stack up every year due to their products. It also protecting their product from the huge competition marijuana would bring to them, and disassociates their products with the negative connotation the category illegal drugs has. As the sixties turned into the seventies, and the seventies the 80's people forgot marijuana was ever legal. Newton's law of Inertia states that "objects will resist change". This law applies to marijuana prohibition. People became accustomed to marijuana prohibition, and caused it to get lumped in as taboo with murder, robbery, and other heinous and more importantly destructive crimes that would never even be considered to be made legal. This caused almost all politicians to take a hard stance on marijuana for fear of being "soft on drugs". It is currently very hard for a candidate to get elected into office with a pro-marijuana stance. An example of this is 2008 democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Before the 2008 election neared, Barack thought that "We need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws." (findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_/ai_n24264101) and even admitted that "When I was a kid I inhaled [marijuana] frequently. That was the point." stash.norml.org/2008/02/13/barack-obama-and-marijuana/) Once the election neared, he started to make contradictory statements, and eventually abandoned the idea all together. He then went a step further, and chose Joe Biden as his running mate, the person responsible for many of the stiff punishments today marijuana users face.

Policing Departments, especially the DEA also have much to loose in the legalization of marijuana. Without marijuana, they are not in nearly as much need, as marijuana for example in 2007 made up 47.4% of all drug related cases.(http://cannazine.co.uk/cannabis-news...from-2006.html) The DEA says it aims to capture the big time dealers and growers, but continues to feed on the average American pot consumer. In 2007, 89% of marijuana related arrests were for simple possession.(http://cannazine.co.uk/cannabis-news...from-2006.html) The DEA would have funding slashed, and loose much of the organization‘s pertinence if marijuana was made legal. The money that keeps the DEA and drug policing agencies going could be redirected into more productive areas of work. These areas could include catching people who actually commit crimes that hurt people, education, or just lowering taxes. This war on drugs has also not only needlessly endangered cops, but also wasted their time. Instead of catching the serial killers, rapists, robbers and other criminals, cops have been arresting a non proportionate amount of minorities, minors, and small time users of marijuana. Cops also take the brunt of the blame from marijuana smokers because the cops are the ones who arrest them. This is not the fault of the cops, but the politicians. Instead of catching the serial killers, rapists, robbers and other criminals, cops have been arresting a non proportionate amount of minorities, minors, and small time users of marijuana.

The American public is not as naïve or misinformed as they once were, and are now more skeptical of the government and politicians‘ motives. This caused the government to come up with some new methods of getting the anti-pot message across. They use studies which "prove" that marijuana causes cancer, death, depression, anxiety, and the list goes on. One example of these so called studies I would like to share with you. The study showed that marijuana causes immune impairment. In this case, they neglected to tell you they gave the rats used in the experiment 1000 times proportionally the dose it takes to get a human high". (http://www.ccguide.org.uk/serious-crime.php) This leaves this study useless, and misleading. If you take the same idea, and apply it to water, the conclusion would be that water kills people 100% of the time when drank, and is extremely dangerous. One also has to remember there is a lot of money in finding that marijuana is deadly, but almost none in that it is safe.

In order to prove the stupidity of marijuana being illegal to use from a medical standpoint , I will compare it to Methamphetamine. It is a schedule 2 drug, which means it is legal to be prescribed like a doctor. (http://www.incb.org/pdf/e/list/green.PDF) Methamphetamine is also an extremely strong amphetamine, is a drug which is quite easy to overdose on. It has been proven to be extremely addictive, possible to overdose on, promote rapid tooth decay, cause brain damage, cause kidney failure and the list goes on. Marijuana doesn't have many negative effects, and has comparable medical benefits, but is denied to dieing aids patients for reasons that are unacceptable. In fact former DEA Judge Francis Young said “...marijuana is one of the safest, therapeutically active substances known to man." (http://www.alphanova.nl/index.php?pa...rtikel&p_id=52) Many medicinal marijuana patients set up their own nurseries(marijuana growing facilities) in states such as California where state law allows possession, growing, and use of medicinal marijuana. (http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/MMP/Pages/default.aspx) Their hearts are broken to see the DEA come and cut down their only source of quelling their terminal life sentence of pain and agony. These politicians are causing people pain, both physically and emotionally. Many politicians, and drug officials say that medical marijuana “does not exist“, because there is in their opinion no accepted way to use marijuana as a medicine. This is even though there were already many medicinal marijuana products on the market before it was made illegal. Marijuana commonly used in place of aspirin.(http://cannabisnews.com/news/21/thread21326.shtml) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme...ma/1632726.stm)

These politicians must have no heart or common sense in thinking that people who are suffering from cancer, aids, skeletal and muscle disorders, severe migraines, glaucoma, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, HIV dementia and other diseases have a plot to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes. A survey conducted in the US found that one in four HIV/AIDS patients had used cannabis medicinally in the past month. This goes to show that marijuana works so well treating aids because so many people use it. (http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6636#52)There are products on the market containing some of the cannabinoids(group of substances that bind to cannabinoid receptors) of marijuana. Marinol, a legal alternative to medicinal marijuana which contains the primary psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana called THC(Tetrahydrocannabinol). It is considered by many to be less effective than marijuana. About one third of Marinol patients say they experience adverse psychological effects from Marinol. One study found that "When the routes of [drug] administration were analyzed separately, it was found that inhalation was far superior to ingestion: 90.39 percent of the patients in the group that inhaled the marijuana showed improvement while only 59.65 percent of the patients in the group that orally ingested the delta-9-THC showed improvement," (http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6636) This huge gap in effectiveness may be due in part to the lack of cannabidiol, a cannabinoid that may help diminish THC's strong psychoactive effect. Many people favor natural cannabis over Marinol because Marinol only contains one of the 66 naturally occurring cannabinoids scientists have found present in cannabis. The cannabinoids left out are a key part to the effectiveness of marijuana as a medicine. They have been accredited with anti-nauseating effects, fighting rheumatoid arthritis, having anti-convulsant properties(helps with epilepsy),helping prevent strokes, brain cancer prevention, brain cell death prevention, having anti depressant qualities, having anti tumoral qualities, and the possibility of slowing down diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease , and Huntington's disease. (http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6635)

These medicines like Marinol are taken in the form of a pill, unlike marijuana which is normally smoked or vaporized. When taken in a pill form, it can take hours for full effects to kick in. This means patients can easily over or undo use the medication, leading to either an unpleasantly “uncomfortable” feeling of taking too much, or the pain not being numbed due to taking too little. When smoked or vaporized, marijuana can be taken on an “as needed” basis as effects are felt within seconds, and is more exact. (http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6636) The federal government and pharmaceutical companies acknowledged and created these products, and therefore must realize the medical value of this plant. The reason the natural form of marijuana must stay illegal, and only be legal through a manufactured, synthetic medicine is because somebody can grow a marijuana plant free of charge in their back yard. This means no profits for the pharmaceutical companies and no taxes for the government. When used in the synthetic form, much more can be charged, and thus more profits for the pharmaceutical companies. Since marijuana can be used for such an array of ailments and diseases, the demand of all kinds of medicines would be significantly diminished.

Another reason marijuana continues to be in prohibition is that it is cast in a negative light due to the “gangsters” and “black market” surrounding it. One cannot disagree that the black market, gangsters, and violence that go along with marijuana do not exist. This may be true but they exist unnecessarily. James C. Paine , a Former US District Judge said "Alcohol didn't cause the high crime rates of the '20s and '30s, Prohibition did. And drugs do not cause today's alarming crime rates, but drug prohibition does. Trying to wage war on 23 million Americans who are obviously committed to certain recreational activities is not going to be any more successful than Prohibition [of alcohol] was.”. (www.umich.edu/~umisl/quotes.htm) Prior to making alcohol illegal in the United States, very little amount of criminal activity surrounded the manufacture and distribution of alcohol as it was commercialized and regulated. Once it became illegal gangsters, criminals, and people of the like were attracted to a quick, easy way to make money. (http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk..._gangsters.htm) These criminals who were willing to break the law made huge amounts of profits out of making and distributing alcohol(much like marijuana today). This essentially rewarded people willing to break the law with tons of money. It also kept a lot of legitimate money and jobs from the American people. With these large amounts of profits came more people who thought they could make a quick dollar. When people crossed territory, and large amounts of money were involved, crime was bound to happen.(http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk..._gangsters.htm) On top of this, all of this money was going to fund criminals and their operations instead of companies which could provide jobs and for people seeking legitimate work. The profits from illegal alcohol manufacture and distribution were also not taxed, taking away a big check that would have resulted from taxes on alcohol from the US every year. Much like alcohol prohibition, if marijuana is re-legalized, it will provide jobs to American people and tons of tax dollars for the government. The marijuana industry would also become commercialized, legalized, and loose the black market associated with it just like the alcohol industry after prohibition. Any industry moved to the black market results in violence and increase in crime.

With all of these obstacles, and people fighting to keep marijuana illegal for the wrong reasons, marijuana needs a strong movement to gain legalization. With no source of money to fund it, as it has no companies profiting from it, marijuana has an under funded campaign. It can't keep up with the conglomerate of companies and people such as paper and plastic products companies, tobacco companies, alcohol companies, the pharmaceutical companies, politicians who will do whatever to get into power, and policing departments who will do whatever they can to keep their power and money. These groups have enough money to pay for the campaign ads you see on TV, the billboards on highways, the lobbyists in Washington, the expensive dinners for influential government officials and the overall brainwashing of America and the World. Marijuana fortunately has a handful of users, a few stand out citizens, and a few organizations who try to spread the truth, but lack funds and numbers to be effective. The biggest threat to these organizations that marijuana has on its side is the truth. Sometimes however, the truth can only get you so far, as is shown by marijuana's continued prohibition.

Justice Robert H. Jackson, a supreme court justice once said "It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error." It is not the job of the government to keep you safe from yourself. If you choose to do drugs, although it may be harmful to your body, you should be allowed to do it. If you choose to eat fast food, although it may be harmful to your body, you should be allowed to do it. If you choose to sit on the couch all day and watch TV, although it may be harmful to your body, you should be allowed to do it. If the government had the power to decide whether you are allowed to do every day activities like these it would be called totalitarianism. Our government is not a totalitarian government,(it is actually quite opposite) and therefore should not act like one. This is obviously a big problem for those who wish to keep marijuana legal. They get around this by using the clause from the declaration of independence that states “promote the general welfare”. This clause has been the subject of many debates spanning many topics. This clause could essentially give the government power to do ANYTHING they think is “promoting the general welfare”. There has to be a line that is too far, and marijuana is not even close to that line. In no way would keeping marijuana illegal promote the general welfare more than banning fast food, tobacco, alcohol or trans fats. In fact, in the year 2000 tobacco caused 435000 deaths, alcohol caused 85000, and marijuana caused a surprising amount. It was zero. This so called dangerous drug has in fact never had a documented death in the history of the world. More people have died from water than this. As you can see, the motivation of the government lies in “promoting a selected few people's political campaigns and wallets, not in “promoting the general welfare”.

The opponents of legalization say that legalizing the drug would further spread its use in society, causing more Americans to use the drug. This statement may not be true as the Netherlands which currently uses a non- enforcement policy on marijuana has maintained similar level of use of cannabis. This country recognizes drug use is not a problem that can be solved by penalizing and jailing its citizens. The Netherlands instead allows the use of cannabis in designated coffee shops. This policy on drug use has landed the Netherlands lower drug use levels in every category than the United States. (http://www.drugpolicy.org/global/dru.../thenetherlan/) We have the fortune to be able to see what happens when a national allows the use of cannabis, and therefore must not infer the outcome. We can see the positive effects the legalization of marijuana would have on America, and it is about time we start to take action.

Marijuana has many reasons for being illegal. Racism, and Religious interference with government are two reasons that got the movement going. Funding and lobbying from big companies such as DuPont and alcohol and tobacco companies then took over to keep it illegal. Power and greed help fuel many of the anti-marijuana campaigns you see on TV today. In order to keep the people misinformed, the government came up with many false statements that have stuck in Americans' heads to this day. Alternative versions of cannabis have been used in medicine to try to avoid having to legalize the natural state of cannabis. All of these reasons have one thing in common: they are not in the interest of the people. These reasons all have to do with a select few who want power, money and fame. The government does not have the right to control our day to day activities, and does not have the right to take away the peoples' right to consume marijuana. Marijuana has been proven to have more benefits than drawbacks. There is no reason to believe marijuana causes any sort of permanent damage to the human body. This is about more than a single plant, this is about liberty, and a person's right to have liberty as long as it doesn't infringe on another's. Marijuana should be legalized if not because it was made illegal on a false basis, or that it is kept illegal by corporate greed, or that it poses no significant health risk, then because you have a right to do as you please.