California State Medical Marijuana Patient Identification

As emotions over medical marijuana and the locations, and numbers of the dispensaries allowed heats up in every city across the state of California… There is still no greater place to live. In one afternoon a properly documented marijuana patients can visit a marijuana doctor, be evaluated, and with 30 min be on his or her way looking for their new favorite medical cannabis club. Of which there are more than a few to choose from.

You have an option as to how you want to take medical marijuana. You can inhale marijuana either through smoking it or through a vaporizer. Of course the healthier option is the vaporizer as there is no irritating smoke.

11-hydroxy THC is thought to be four to five times more potent than regular THC. This is why edibles are known to be more potent when compared to inhaled cannabis. Edibles are also thought to be strong sedatives and many patients use them for treatment of insomnia.

The gift of chocolate is a courtship ritual that dates back a couple centuries in the western world. Sweet and sensual, it's an epicurean delight that appears on nearly every holiday but has become most synonymous with Valentines Day. The image of someone picking up a heart shaped box of chocolates at the last minute has become iconic, and many have claimed that consuming vast amounts of chocolate can induce a psychological state very similar to love. It turns out that there is truth to that claim, as chocolate is not only a reputed aphrodisiac, it also acts upon parts of the human brain associated with pleasure and euphoria.

The sensuality of certain foods is well established, and food and romantic love are both basic human needs that invoke a similar vocabulary: need, appetite, hunger, etc. Hollywood films are replete with erotically charged scenes of lovers enjoying chocolate. There are many who suggest that the aphrodisiac effects of chocolate are in fact simply the effects of enjoying such a pleasurable food. Indeed, enjoying chocolate stimulates the appetite for pleasure in general and may well be a form of edible foreplay.

However, there are compounds in chocolate that act directly on different receptors in the brain that help a person experience pleasure and a general feeling of well being. The ancient Mayans consumed large quantities of chocolate in the form of the heady, spicy drink xocoatl in order to fight fatigue, probably because of the theobromine present in chocolate. The sugars and milk fats in chocolate act upon the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus operates a large variety of metabolic processes, including hunger and thirst. In this case, the sugars and milk fats provoke the hypothalamus to cause us to feel pleasurable sensations and give our serotonin levels a boost. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and well being. The phenyl-ethylamine in chocolate stimulates the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure that motivates us to repeat pleasurable activities. Furthermore, chocolate also contains compounds called N-acylethanolamines that can act upon cannabinoid receptors, the same receptors that accept the THC from marijuana, potentially increasing sensitivity and imparting a sensation of euphoria.

Italian researcher Dr. Andrea Salonia found in a recent study that women who regularly consume chocolate have a significantly more active sex life than those who do not, which Salonia found to be an “intriguing correlation.” Although the jury is still out on whether chocolate can be considered a true aphrodisiac, it is clearly a stimulant on a variety of levels. It looks like there's more than just sentimentality that is in play when romantic couples exchange chocolates on Valentines Day.

For most back pain doctors use prescription medications like other NSAIDS (like Celebrex) or opiates (like Vicodin or Norco) can be effective at treating pain but can also cause many adverse and unacceptable side effects. The addictive potential of opiates is very concerning to patients who struggle with chronic pain and need relief; it is this concern that leads patients to consider using medical marijuana, a very effective treatment for chronic back pain.

“Marijuana leads to homosexuality… and therefore AIDS,” said former White House Drug Czar Carlton Turner. Such statements have risen since before the prohibition of marijuana by the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. However, most experts agree that such statements are outrageous as well as unfounded, and that marijuana should in fact be legalized.

Advocates for the legalization/decriminalization of marijuana propose such claims that the use of hemp as an industrial plant for textiles and paper making could slow global warming in that it would eliminate the use of deforestation. More profound and well-known reasons for legalizing are the medicinal uses of the plant. Supporters are not only users and dispensers, but also many well known doctors, researchers, and scientists. Rivals of such claims recite the cons of use, such as its addiction potential whether psychological or physiological.

Senators and representatives also know of the huge potential revenue stemming from taxing the cultivators, dispensers, and users. Lastly, decriminalization would halt the arrests of 900,000 people every year (90 percent for simple possession) for marijuana charges, thereby freeing tax dollars to help prosecute violent criminals.

A recent report from the Global Canopy Programme shows that an astonishing twenty-five percent of CO2 greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere are from deforestation (Forests). Forests throughout the world absorb massive amounts of CO2, and “he rainforests of the Amazon, the Congo basin and Indonesia are thought of as the lungs of the planet. But the destruction of those forests will in the next four years alone, in the words of Sir Nicholas Stern, pump more CO2 into the atmosphere than every flight in the history of aviation to at least 2025″ (Howden).

Some experts say that this could be countered by growing and using hemp as a textile product instead of trees. Studies show that “as hemp reduces the need to harvest trees for building materials or other products, its use as a wood substitute will tend to contribute to preserving biodiversity” (Small). In fact, the potential is so huge in that one acre of hemp is equivalent to four acres of trees. But, unlike trees, hemp can be used for a multitude of other products such as; paper products, textiles, molded plastics, construction, food, and countless other products.

While there are many arguments about the legalization/decriminalization of marijuana, the most well-known controversy is medical marijuana. Marijuana cultivation in China dates back to “2737 B.C. in the writings of the Chinese emperor Shen Nung” (History). China was not alone in its cultivation; marijuana has long been used as a medicine in India, China, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South Africa, and South America. Medical marijuana is believed to have many uses, such as its use as an analgesic and antiemetic (pain and nausea). Former US Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, MD had this to say about marijuana:

The evidence is overwhelming that marijuana can relieve certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms caused by such illnesses as multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS — or by the harsh drugs sometimes used to treat them. And it can do so with remarkable safety. Indeed, marijuana is less toxic than many of the drugs that physicians prescribe every day. (”Elders”)

There are also other conditions that some scientists and doctors believe the symptoms may be alleviated by the use of marijuna. Conditions such as; AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), Alzheimer's, Arthritis, Asthma, Crohn's, Clinical Depression, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, Hepatitis C, Migraines, Multiple Sclerosis, and Tourette's (Armentano). In fact, since 1996 thirteen states have legalized marijuana for medical use (Active).

Rivals of medical marijuana legalization enumerate their statement that marijuana is already available to physicians in the form of dronabinol (Marinol), the synthetic pill form of the active ingredient found in marijuana, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). However, marijuana contains many other cannabinoids besides THC that contribute to its effectiveness. Mitch Earleywine, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology at University at Albany at the State University of New York stated that “he use of only one active ingredient makes dronabinol less effective than medical marijuana. Many ailments respond better to a combination of marijuana's active ingredients rather than just one. In addition, because dronabinol is a pill, it is difficult for people with nausea and vomiting to swallow. Finally, like any medication that's swallowed, dronabinol takes a long time to digest and have its effects. Inhaled marijuana vapors can work markedly faster.” Many experts agree with Dr. Earleywine's statement, and have found dronabinol to be ineffective when compared with ingesting marijuana in its natural state. Gregory Carter, MD similarly stated:

There are really no other medications that have the same mechanisms of action as marijuana. Dronabinol (Marinol) is available by prescription in capsules, but has the distinct disadvantage of containing only synthetic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is only one of many therapeutically beneficial cannabinoids in the natural plant. Interestingly, it is the most psychoactive of the cannabinoids and is the one that the Federal government allows to be prescribed!Cannabinoids are now known to have the capacity for neuromodulation, via direct, receptor-based mechanisms, at numerous levels within the nervous system. These provide therapeutic properties that may be applicable to the treatment of neurological disorders, including anti-oxidative, neuroprotective effects, analgesia, anti-inflammatory actions, immunomodulation, modulation of glial cells and tumor growth regulation. Beyond that, the cannabinoids have also been shown to be remarkably safe with no potential for overdose. (”Carter”)

With all the pros of legalizing marijuana, one has to wonder what the potential hazards or otherwise cons of its use are whether acute or chronic. Through research it is hard to find many credible downsides to marijuana use; however, one that seems to be at the top of the list is addiction potential. While many supporters of marijuana legalization will argue that it is not addictive, research has found that it is in fact addictive and habit forming. Although it may be addictive, the addiction is psychological, not physiological like that of heroin, other opiates, and alcohol. Meaning that if you used the drug for many years and suddenly stopped its use, you would experience withdrawals such as; headaches, aggressiveness, insomnia, and short-term depression. These symptoms would be temporary and medically harmless. On the other hand if an alcoholic that has drunk for many years suddenly stopped drinking, it could be fatal. Similarly, if an addict tries to get off opiate use, they will experience very severe painful withdrawal symptoms such as; muscle pain, bone pain, insomnia, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes death. Withdrawal symptoms usually last up to a week. So as you see marijuana withdrawal symptoms are infinitesimally small when compared with any real medically harmful substances.

The other common misconception about marijuana is how dangerous it is, and for good reason with government officials and organizations reciting false claims about how hazardous it is. H.J. Aslinger, former U.S. Commissioner of Narcotics stated that “[marijuana is] a more dangerous drug than heroin or cocaine.” With such statements from our government there is no wonder the public was once afraid of using marijuana, never mind the fact that Aslinger pulled that statement out of the air, and has no basis in reality. As a matter of fact, all research from actual doctors and scientists prove just how wrong that statement is. Smoked cannabis alone, contrary to popular belief, does not cause cancer or other diseases of the lungs, according to a recent study (Gardner).

Drugs are commonly given what is known as a LD-50 (lethal dose - 50 percent) rating, which is the dosage that fifty percent of people will die from its use. It is estimated that marijuana's LD-50 rating is 1:20,000 to 1:40,000. What this means is that a user would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times as much marijuana as contained in one marijuana cigarette to cause death. Francis L. Young, Administrative Law Judge for the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said, “A smoker would have to consume nearly 1,500 pounds of marijuana within about 15 minutes to induce a lethal response. In practical terms, marijuana cannot induce a lethal response as a result of drug-related toxicity.”

So already we see the many benefits that legalization/decriminalization could produce in the United States in terms of global warming and medicinal potential, but those are not the only advantages of legalizing. With a current national deficit of 1.4 trillion dollars, our country is at a record new debt never before seen. Combined with the tax potential of legalizing marijuana, it is long past due to reconsider our current laws. A recent report by Jeffrey A. Miron, visiting professor of economics at Harvard University stated that “legalizing marijuana would save $7.7 billion per year in government expenditure on enforcement of prohibition.” Also, that an additional “$6.2 billion annually if marijuana were taxed at rates comparable to those on alcohol and tobacco” (Miron). At this rate economists predict by legalizing on a national level we could generate nearly $14 billion per year, and with a record high national debt, these numbers are not something to be disregarded.

According to those numbers, we are spending $7.7 billion annually on enforcing our current primitive prohibition laws. Mind you, this money is being spent imprisoning non-violent citizens. According to NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) there have been a gradually increasing number of arrests for marijuana offenses since prohibition began in 1937, and in 2007 there were almost 900,000 arrests for marijuana related charges (see Figure 1). About 90 percent of these arrests are for simple possession.

The current classification of marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, which is the same as heroin and cocaine, is unsubstantiated and based on primitive speculative claims. There is no better time than now to legalize marijuana. President Obama just recently released a memo telling federal prosecutors to stop arresting users and cultivators that are abiding by state laws. Prohibition did not work for alcohol, and it has not worked for marijuana. As former president Abraham Lincoln said, “Prohibition…goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.” It is time for the people of the United States to see the truth about our current drug laws and to tell our senators and representatives that we want to change them. It is time to stop the government and DEA's outdated arguments about what we are allowed to do to our own bodies, whether harmful or helpful, it is high time to think for yourself.

Cited References:

“Active State Medical Marijuana Programs.” National Organization for the Reform of Marijuna Laws NORML, 2004. 6 Nov. 2009. .

Armentano, Paul. “Recent Research on Medical Marijuana.” National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws NORML, 15 Jan. 2009. 9 Nov. 2009. .

Carter, Gregory T. “Medical Marijuana Quotes.” N.p., Oct. 2003. 16 Nov. 2009. http://www.ogreatone.net/Medical_Marijuana_Facts/medicalmarijuanafacts.htm

Elders, Joycelyn. “Myths About Medical Marijuana.” Providence Journal (2004). Print.

“Forests and Climate Change.” Global Canopy Programme GCP, 2002. 3 Nov. 2009. .

Gardner, Fred. “Smoking Cannabis Does Not Cause Cancer Of Lung or Upper Airways, Tashkin FInds; Data Suggests Possible Protective Effect.” California Cannabis Research Medical Group 2005 9 Dec 2008

“History of Marijuana.” Narconon Narconon International, n.d. 3 Nov. 2009. .

Howden, Daniel. “Deforestation: The Hidden Cause of Global Warming.” Common Dreams CommonDreams.org, 14 May 2007. 2 Nov. 2009 .

Miron, Jeffrey A. “The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition.” Chanvreinfo Harvard University, June 2005. 2 Nov. 2009 .

Small, E. and D. Marcus. 2002. Hemp: A new crop with new uses for North America. p. 284-326. In: J. Janick and A. Whipkey (eds.), Trends in new crops and new uses. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA. .

Marijuana can be used topically (on the skin) to relieve pain from certain conditions. The medication can be a balm, lotion, ointment or rubbing alcohol solution. This is not a new use for marijuana. In fact prior to the time when most many patients became available and people only had plants to use for medication, many patients would soak marijuana leaves in alcohol and apply them as a poultice to an arthritic or swollen joint. It is not known how the topical treatment works as researchers have not fully studied how the medication passes through the skin.

Over the course of my life, I have tried more hand and body lotions than I care to admit. Hempz Herbal Moisturizer is without a doubt my favorite. I have used more expensive name brand lotions, but they cannot compare to the moisturizing ability and wonderful fragrance of this product.

I was introduced to Hempz lotion by my best friend. She had a bottle of it sitting on her dresser, and curious, I picked up the bottle for a better look. I was surprised to see a label which contained a picture of what looked to be a marijuana leaf! Quite intrigued by now, I sampled the lotion. The fragrance alone, which can be described as banana mixed with a fresh floral, would have sold me on the product, but it was what the lotion did for my skin that impressed me the most. It is billed as an “all day moisturizer”, all day in this case meaning 12 hours, and it more than lives up to this claim. The ingredient behind this intense moisture is pure hemp seed oil and extract.

Hemp is the common name for plants of the genus Cannabis. It is normally used to describe strains of the plant that are cultivated strictly for non-drug use. So, though it looks like a marijuana leaf on the front of the bottle, it is a hemp leaf! The leaves look very similar, so it is easy to confuse the two. Industrial hemp is a different breed of the cannabis plant. Hemp contains less than .3% of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana which gives its users a “high” or “buzz”. So, hemp could be compared to non-alcoholic beer in that it has no illicit use whatsoever. Hemp oil is rather unique. It contains rich sources of essential fatty acid that are necessary for the body to function properly. Few oils can boast of the ability hemp oil has to absorb easily and quickly into the skin. This is because the EFAs are present in exactly the right ratio for optimum absorption into the body. Hempz also contains shea butter and ginseng, plus vitamins A, C, and E.

I was amazed at how long the effects of Hempz seemed to last, both the fragrance and the moisturization. My skin actually felt soft and smooth a lot longer than twelve hours. It isn't often that a beauty product does MORE than it advertises, and it's a joy when you find one that does. Hempz is a superior moisturizing lotion with unusual ingredients that made a dramatic difference in my skin.

I purchase my Hempz lotion from here.

Medical marijuana patients usually find that sleep is a wonderful benefit of cannabis. Many chronic pain patients experience insomnia due to their pain and find excellent relief and sleep when using cannabis.

While many people are finding relief from terrible diseases by smoking marijuana, there are also many people who believe that legislators should allow researchers more freedom to research this drug for legal medicinal usage. To date, 13 states have declared medical marijuana legal to use. The Supreme Court recently ruled that the federal government can continue to ban the use of medical marijuana. Justice Scalia writes that the federal government also has, under the commerce clause, the power to prohibit interstate commerce of this drug. Personal use of marijuana may not be commerce, but if our drug laws were working correctly, they would be perfectly enforced. Even as evidence mounts concerning the benefits of marijuana as a medicine, federal officials and agencies continue to bury their heads in the sand.

Written records on medicinal marijuana stretch back over 2000 years. It was first discovered in print in the 2nd century in a Chinese book of medicine. As far back as 1611, this plant was cultivated for its fiber in Jamestown, Virginia. In the 19th century, it was used to treat such ailments as spastic conditions, labor pains, insomnia, and even helped with appetite. It is still used as a medicine in the Middle East and Asia. Although modern technology medicine does not refer back to the medical practices of ancient civilizations, this only confirms that marijuana has had a significant medical history, and claims of its medicinal use were not just pulled out of nowhere.

Marijuana is a drug that comes from the dried, cut leaves of the hemp plant known as “cannabis sativa”. It goes by a number of street names such as “grass”, “Mary Jane”, “pot”, “reefer”, “herb”, and “weed”. The active ingredient in marijuana is delta tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This ingredient targets Cannabinoid receptors that have been proven to cut tumor growth in half in common lung cancer. It has also been tested and researchers at Harvard University say it also significantly reduces the cancer's ability to spread. Cannabinoids are chemical substances in cannabis, or marijuana. Endocannabinoids are cannabinoids that are produced naturally in the body.

Montel Williams is a huge activist for legalizing medicinal marijuana since he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999. He has debilitating knee and foot pain and has tried Oxycontin and a variety of other drugs with no relief. Then a doctor suggested he smoke pot and “immediately I slept through the night.” Williams is a registered medical marijuana user in California. He began pushing for medical marijuana laws after being stopped at a Detroit airport by an Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms officer for carrying drug paraphernalia. His charges were later dropped.

Williams told a Senate panel about his chronic pain and urged New Jersey to join 12 other states that have enacted these laws. The states that have currently legalized medical marijuana are: California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Maine, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Montana, Vermont, and Rhode Island. New Mexico is planning on signing a bill in 2008. Williams will speak at two events in Trenton; a Drug Policy Alliance-sponsored news conference and a Senate hearing. Governor Jon S. Corzine of New Jersey said last year that he would sign a medical marijuana bill into law. “I break the law every day and I'll continue to break the law.” (Montel Williams)

This bill, sponsored by Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) lists cancer, HIV and AIDS, chronic pain, severe nausea, persistent muscle spasms and even glaucoma as conditions eligible for medical marijuana use. The legislation has never received a hearing, even though it has long been proposed. A 2002 poll found that 82 percent of the people in New Jersey supported allowing access to medical marijuana. Terrance P. Farley, an Ocean County assistant prosecutor told the Associated Press that the bill is only an attempt to legalize drugs. “This is how they're trying to get marijuana legalized”, he said.

Marijuana is listed in Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the most restrictive schedule. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) supports that placement because marijuana met the 3 criteria about this drug: 1) marijuana has high potential for abuse, 2) the drug has no currently accepted medical use in treatment, and 3) it has a lack of accepted safe use under medical supervision. The Federal government should, at the very least, possibly downgrade it to a Schedule II, since it has been accepted for medical use in the United States. A past evaluation by several agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), concluded that supported use of medical marijuana has no sound scientific studies and no human or animal data supported the safety or efficacy for general use.

During the Prohibition of Alcohol period (1920-1933), psychoactive properties of marijuana were left to criticism by the same forces that opposed the consumption of alcohol. Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937, which made continual use of marijuana a criminal act. During hearings held before this act, a lone opponent, a representative of the American Medical Association (AMA), argued that banning marijuana should exempt it for medical purposes, at least. His testimony included the following:

There is positively no evidence to indicate the abuse of

cannabis (marijuana) as a medicinal agent or to show that

its medicinal use is leading to the development of cannabis

addiction. Cannabis at the present time is slightly used for

medicinal purposes, but it would seem worthwhile to main-

tain its status as a medicinal agent…. There is a possibility

that a re-study of the drug by modern means may show

other advantages to be derived from its medicinal use.

Marijuana was removed from the American pharmacopoeia in 1941, over AMA objections, and hope for further research or legal medical use came to a halt. In 1970, Congress restructured the drug laws with the Controlled Substances Act, which kept marijuana banned for medical use.

Marijuana has many substitutes, such as Marinol. Swallowing this substance, however, takes longer to work, has more adverse side effects and is more expensive. A year's supply can cost up to $15,000; too much, some said, for a flawed version of a weed that can be grown in any backyard. One reason many prefer to smoke marijuana rather than swallow Marinol is that it allows them to regulate the amount of THC that goes into their systems. Smoking allows an instant transmission of this ingredient to sites in the brain that control nausea, so when the anti-nausea effect wears off, they only need to smoke a little more if needed. Individual patients respond differently to different doses, and they can avoid taking too much, which is not possible with Marinol.

On the other hand, although several states have passed legal drug laws making smoked marijuana available for various medical conditions, the FDA, the DEA and the Office of National Drug Control Policy do not support the use of smoked marijuana for medicinal purposes. These measures go against their efforts to ensure that medications are proven safe and effective under the standards of the FD&C Act. Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposal would allow chronically ill patients to medicinally smoke, eat or take marijuana in tablets. The program would be monitored by the State Health Department. The amount of marijuana would be capped at 1 ounce and the patients would be issued registered medical marijuana user cards. Bertha Madras, deputy director for demand reduction at the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said in a telephone interview: “We cannot base medical decisions on anecdotes.”

Researchers do not know why THC inhibits tumor growth; they say it is possible the substance activates molecules that arrest cell cycles. It may also interfere with angiogenesis and vascularization, which promotes the growth of cancer. Anju Preet, Ph.D., a researcher in the Division of Experimental Medicine says much work is needed to pave the pathway by which THC functions. “The beauty of this study is that we are showing that a substance of abuse, if used prudently, may offer a new road to therapy against lung cancer.” People hope that the federal courts and legislators will be allowed to take a closer look at the benefits, examine the evidence and conclude that we only want safe pain relief for the people who need it the most.

Drops of the tincture are placed under the tongue (sublingually) and the medication passes through the blood vessels and enters the bloodstream. You will feel the onset of effects in about 5 – 15 minutes with the peak effect at about 30 minutes after taking the medication. For many patients, the effects are similar to inhaled cannabis.

After nearly a decade of training and work in the ER, Dr. Craig S. Cohen was ready for something new. “I have followed the Medical Cannabis movement from the sidelines,” he says. “I now joined those physicians who make it a practice to discuss Medical Cannabis with their patients.”

Many people are not aware that although Medical Marijuana or Medical Cannabis is not legal in many states, it is fully legal in some counties in California, despite the efforts of the federal government trying to stop it. Medical Marijuana became legal in California in 1996 when a Bill known as The Compassionate Use Act was passed. It is also known as Proposition 215.

Dr. Cohen says that many people with Cancer have trouble eating because of the medication that they are taking. “Drugs taken for Cancer or Aids,” he says, “can cause nausea or anorexia, and some drugs can make a patient constipated.” Some, with Aids, lose their appetite and lose a tremendous amount of weight.

Because of the negative after effects from drugs or chemotherapy, Dr. Cohen feels very strongly about the use of Medical Marijuana. He tells his patients that there are many ways that they can use marijuana besides smoking it. He suggests to them to add it to their butter or put it into their tea. They can even mix it in a batter when making cookies. “It's a delicious combination,” Dr. Cohen said. He then continued, ” Patients with serious medical problems come to see me, including HIV, AIDS, Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Pain, and Glaucoma.” Although he does not recommend the use of cannabis for recreational use, he does not form any personal judgment if individuals do use it for such a reason.

Dr. Cohen related that he strictly adheres to the guidelines set forth by the Medical Board of California. Each of his patients can expect a thorough medical history and a physical exam before making a recommendation. “I discuss the gargantuan health risk smoking presents to everyone, and recommend use of tinctures, teas, edibles and vaporization,” he stated

Victoria Pellikka, a retired school teacher, after having breast cancer, went for her first chemotherapy treatment. She became so sick after this treatment. “My oncologist ordered a very expensive pill,” she said, “and it didn't help.” Her friend, who tried to help her, made a recipe with marijuana mixed with butter, and cooked it in a tub. She spread it on her toast and it made her feel better. Pellikka went for her chemotherapy once a week for a month. “I took one piece of toast with the butter after my chemo and it helped,” she said.

A patient of Dr. Cohen said that the recipe works well for him. “It has more of an impact than smoking it,” he remarked. At the dispensary, he pays approximately $50 - $100 a month for this product. He said that California State gives each county the right to decide whether they want the drug to be legal or not.

Dr. Cohen said he gets great satisfaction helping his patients feel better. For anyone who is contemplating going through chemotherapy, or is suffering from severe pain and other symptoms, you will want to know about Medical Marijuana.

Dr. Donald Tashkin, Emeritus Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of the Pulmonary Function Laboratory at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has been studying the effects of marijuana smoke since the 1970’s. He was the lead investigator on the initial studies that identified the toxic components in marijuana smoke. He also reported the the studies that showed that there is damage from the smoke to the cells that line the upper airways of the lungs. His findings have also found that marijuana smokers are more likely than non-smokers to have cough, sputum production, and wheezing.

Introduction

Behind the scenes of our own ignorance lurks a beast, which calls himself the father of our country. This beast is known for his fallacies and his rhetorical speeches. He is known to find corners in cover-ups and conspiracies. The evidence against him is incredible and seeks to find an audience uninterrupted by his scare tactics.

In the late 19th century this beast reared his ugly head through a man known as Henry Asslinger who was a powerful figure confined within the form of this vicious animal. He was a known racist against Blacks and Hispanics, and as marijuana made its way from Mexico and was introduced as a recreational drug in the music scene, composed mostly of black jazz musicians, Asslinger realized his opportunity to convince others of his racist views. A mass hysteria ensued, stirred by Asslinger's straw for power.

Under the influence of this beast was also a coalition of business owners who were promised great profit in the downfall of one of man's greatest industrial, medicinal and social treasures on earth. It his here the great beast we know as our government overstepped its bounds in the name of protecting its people.

Acres and acres of hemp were burned down, leaving a smokescreen of manipulation and political propaganda behind them. A new industrial world had begun, built on a toxic chemical known as petroleum. Hemp, which was once a widely used plant utilized for everything from making fiber for clothes, sails, parachutes, paper as well as other useful products like bio-plastic was banned. Instead, it had become known as the wretched surge of marijuana in our youth. It was now a sin, and was the route of all that is evil.

Our very constitution was written on hemp paper. George Washington himself was known to grow fields of it on his plantation

for several reasons, one being his chronic tooth pain. “Make the most of the Indian hemp seed, and sow it everywhere!” (Washington, 1794) The founder of this nation might be disappointed if he discovered that hundreds of years later it was considered a criminal act to grow it or possess it. The truth, no one protected hemp in the constitution because no one ever thought its benefits would be taken away.

Now because the beast had come, everyone yielded in an irrational dumbfounded fear; a fear, that still plagues this country today. The growth of hemp has become a bureaucratic time bomb threatening our industrial and social development. It is time to make the tumors in our brainwashed minds, benign. It starts here with a real education. We will take our country from the beast and put him back on leash where he can protect us from one another instead of attempting to protect us from ourselves. Our personal decisions must remain intact. Prohibitions, like those on marijuana, refuse us of our rights to choose, and hinder our further abilities to learn about moderation and control.

We are in a crisis that we have become ignorant too. From a social stance, our children have been exposed to far more lethal drugs while marijuana peaks through the soils of our street. They are not being taught about personal responsibility, and many use marijuana for recreational use because of its easy access. We cannot keep a substance like marijuana under control if we cannot see it. We cannot guide our children in the right direction when we don't know what streets they are crossing. Marijuana grows within the depths of the darkness of the black market. As a society we are still blinded by this darkness. We must bring it into light where it can be observed.

Beyond the social dilemmas remains an environmental one. If we continue to walk the path of marijuana prohibition, we may have far more environmental issues than we had ever imagined. Our heavens are filling up with toxins. We are filling our landfills with non-biodegradable hazards. We are cutting down all of our trees and destroying our wildlife. We are using non-renewable resources and soon we will be left with nothing but rare consumables. If we continue to abuse our environment in the name of protecting our youth, we may be looking at a future where we remain inside a human manufactured biosphere, which protects us from acid rain and gaseous poisons like carbon monoxide. The issue has already been recognized. We have taken the path of a costly alternative already, with fuel cells and solar panels as well as hybrid vehicles, but we have a much cheaper one, an alternative that was used centuries ago.

All of this has occurred in the name of protecting us from ourselves, because in the eyes of the beast, choice is not an option unless it is made for us. We must take our lives back. We must create a stronger healthier nation and protect our interests not only socially and politically, but environmentally as well. Putting hemp back into our lives will be a start. We must take ignorance by the hand and walk it down the road to the local schoolhouse. We must legalize marijuana and show the beast, we can in fact be a responsible people.

Social & Political Factors

“More than two decades after it was launched in response to the spread of crack cocaine-and in the midst of a brand new wave of methamphetamine use sweeping the country-the government crackdown has shifted from hard drugs to marijuana.” (Dreyfuss, 2005)

The anti-drug war has gone on for years. Time passes and nothing is accomplished accept for a shift into the focus on marijuana and an increase in costs for law enforcement, leaving little funds for the enforcement of more lethal drugs. With costs assessed at $4 billion annually, the growth of marijuana arrests over the 1990's has not decreased its usage or its availability. As reported by the Drug Reform Coordination Network, it has not demonstrated any impact of usage or any reduction of criminal behavior. “Our analysis of criminal justice processing of marijuana use over the 1990s suggests that the contemporary approach is apportioning resources inefficiently at each stage of the system.”" (Drug Reform Coordination Network, 2005)

Lives are literally stolen; prisons are overflowing; the death tolls are rising. Whatever happened to the heroin pusher across the street anyway? He is probably still there. How do we protect your children by throwing them in jail? We aren't teaching them not to use marijuana. We are teaching them to disrespect the law and law enforcement. Repeated offenses can attest to this. “Pot now accounts for nearly half of the drug arrests nationwide-up from barely a quarter of all busts a decade ago.” (Dreyfuss, 2005) Scaring them with sentences longer than those who are convicted of murder doesn't seem to be working.

Maybe we should frighten our youth by telling them that they could be caught in the middle of a drug bust and get shot in a full out shooting spree by the DEA or other authorities. Maybe that would work. DARE to keep your kids off drugs. Marijuana itself isn't going to kill them, but government officials or a scared dealer will. We can't tell our youth, no one has ever died as a result of marijuana usage. We can say, however no one has ever overdosed on the substance.

The Bush Administration might be eager to scare your children, but they are more inclined to use guilt tactics. “The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy spent more than $3 million for two TV ads during Sunday's Super Bowl. One ad asked viewers: ‘Where do terrorists get their money?' The answer: ‘If you buy drugs, some of it might come from you.'” (Bovard, 2002) Now look around the room and see if your children feel bad about the World Trade Center bombings. It might be time to take control and teach your children the truth.

The truth is that by making it more difficult to traffic drugs, the profit on the drugs goes up on the streets, profiting the terrorists. Who's really to blame? “Unfortunately, U.S. drug laws have done far more to empower terrorists than Bush & CO. would like to admit. Drug laws are far more effective into putting profit into narcotics than law enforcement is at taking profit out.” (Bovard, 2002)

Gary Cartwright, a writer for the Texas Monthly states in an article, “By legalizing drugs, the profitability in their sale would evaporate…” (Cartwright, 2005) The incentive to grow hemp for recreational use could diminish with one decision. “Schoolchildren can't buy hard liquor, but hard drugs are as readily available as candy on the black market.” (Cartwright, 2005) If the government legalized pot, not only would the profits recycle into our own country, but also we would be able to better control its consumption.

Though the profitability of drugs still remains, drug costs are at an all time low and drug availability and purity is at an all time high. The governments on its War on Drugs, has been a monumental failure. (Dreyfuss, 2005)

The gateway drug, it is called, a threshold for the more lethal drugs. Our drug czar, Walters will continue to depict marijuana in this way claiming, “Marijuana use, especially during the teen years, can lead to depression, thoughts of suicide and schizophrenia.” (Dreyfuss, 20005) There is absolutely no evidence for this claim, yet the American public is still being convinced of this fallacy.

The “gateway” effect of this drug may in fact have nothing to do with the substance itself, rather it may have to do with the exposure of other more harmful drugs during its sale. The truth is tobacco and alcohol, are more commonly used first.

Marijuana is taking over our streets and causing our kids to do dumb things, another claim made by those who are less educated on the subject. Kids do dumb things anyway. We educate them; teach them to be responsible. They must learn through their own drive for experience. Nevertheless, marijuana is taking over our youth. Its bad enough; alcohol and tobacco are also taking over our youth, why legalize yet another substance people will have to go into recovery for?

Considering that marijuana is not addictive, the better scenario might be to have our children go into marijuana recovery, rather than to be there when they deal with a heroin or crack addiction. If the drug continues to be on the streets next to where the heroin is sold, they might not only be withdrawing from the heroin, but they may have contracted AIDS, because they shared a dirty needle. Coincidentally they might be smoking marijuana to boost their appetite because the marinol, which is an FDA approved drug, containing THC, didn't work. It's backwards bureaucracy.

If marijuana were legal, it would be out of the hands of drug lords and dealers who profit. It wouldn't be next to lethal drugs. You will definitely not die as a result of one puff of marijuana. You could however die after the first inhalation of crack, the first sniff of cocaine, the first injection or snort of heroin, the first inhalation of crystal methamphetamine, and the first swallow of a tiny little club drug. These are the drugs that should frighten parents and these are the drugs the Anti-drug war should focus on. Marijuana has no place next to them. We have a choice as parents to stop the radical regimes of a racist founded reform. It is up to you to teach your children, not the government, so educate them with a complete education, and leave nothing out.

Marijuana is not the greatest drug, but neither is alcohol or tobacco. Not everyone becomes an alcoholic, or a smoker. We must be given the chance to learn responsibility and moderation as individuals. With choice, we will grow, as individuals, as a society, and as a nation. Without it, we will depend on another force to continue their control and we will be left helpless within its grip with no minds left of our own. The tumors of indoctrination will grow, becoming a lethal carcinogen poisoning any ability to make wise decisions.

Still some people are fighting to keep money in the pockets of politicians, under the influence of bureaucratic brainwashing. Petroleum junkies pay ignorance to stick around for the propaganda parade. Drug education is filled with fallacy, rumor and vague ill stated claims. Marijuana remains the focus of an anti-drug war that only acts as a precipitant for lack of respect for the law.

“Dare to keep kids off drugs” is a challenge successfully making false innuendos that create a barrage of confusion for our youth. Their logic is based off of the same unfounded fears that started the marijuana prohibition. It is based off of correlations manipulated to create a supportive statistic. Information is coincidentally left out to create a more persuasive conclusion. It will kill you. It will make you lazy. It will make you insane. It will cause your children to become depressed, and suicidal. It could make your child a schizophrenic. Cut it down, burn it.

Plastered all over DARE's website are headlines like “girl is charged in teen's death; Police say marijuana is a factor”. Coincidentally marijuana was not the only “factor”, but it was one worth mentioning for their purposes. The girl ran a stop sign. She was an inexperienced driver, and a young teenager distracted by friends. The article states significant amounts of marijuana were found in her system. For anyone uneducated about how marijuana is detected through testing, it might seem like a good argument, but if someone understands that marijuana can be in the system for weeks, and blood testing detects inactive metabolites of cannabis and not active metabolites, as well as the fact that lab testing for metabolites is often inaccurate because certain substances give inaccurate positives, it doesn't seem to be a reputable claim. Blood tests tell us how many metabolites are in the system, but it isn't a record of recent intake, rather a record of intake over time. How can the police tie this inconclusive evidence to the case?

If marijuana is truly the cause, a lesson is to be taught. It is a substance that one needs to be responsible about. Even our parents are confused about it though, they have fear clouding their judgment.

Is it really a “factor” without a definition? These questions go unanswered. Seemingly significant information pertaining to the real truth of this case is left out, leaving the reader into a hyper-hysteria about how a teenager smoked some marijuana, ran a stop sign, crashed into a bus, and then killed one of her friends, and left the others badly injured.

DARE may claim that legalization would further confuse our youth. What's more confusing to our youth is the lack of legalization for marijuana while more harmful chemicals such as tobacco and alcohol are available with a little extra tax. Marijuana's adverse effects fall into the same range as those allowable by other legal drugs, yet it is still “too harmful” to legalize.

It is amazing how the government can claim that a substance such as marijuana, can make you stupid, when the government allows tobacco companies to spike tobacco with addictive and harmful substances with little to no penalties, and then spends billions of dollars on a drug war whose focus is on a substance that isn't addictive. The government then has the audacity to claim that the drug is a gateway drug when statistically our youth smokes tobacco and drink alcohol before they engage in smoking marijuana.

These cases have nothing to do with marijuana. They are cases about government control. They are cases about personal responsibility. One must be responsible with marijuana as one must be responsible with alcohol or any other substance consumed that can affect oneself in a potentially negative manner. As a famous comedian once pointed out, “This is not a war on drugs, it is a war on personal freedom…” (Hicks, 1990)

Environmental& Political Factors

It isn't too harmful to legalize. The truth starts here. We are a petroleum-based country and our tankers are already capsized. Thank you President Bush for your kind offering about becoming a non-dependent nation. Put your money where your mouth is, step off your podium and start planting some hemp seeds. Tell the American public if we had fields of hemp we could combine the hemp seed oil with 15% methanol, cheaper and more easily, and make a diesel fuel substitute that burns %70 cleaner than our petroleum based diesel. In fact, the hydrocarbons found in hemp can be used to make a variety of fuel sources. In addition to a reduction in acid rain our conventional fuel plants release poisonous CO2 into the atmosphere while hemp flues maintain a natural O2/Co2 balance. Instead of protecting our youth, you are in fact putting our entire society at risk with an environmental crisis.

Minimum wage is at a stand still, as inflation creeps across the nation in rising fuel costs. People watch as the prices of products rise as a result. Let's tell the American public that companies like Sterilite support your DARE organizations because they are afraid they will be impacted negatively with a decrease in profits if a more biodegradable plastic were made out of a hemp plant's cellulose. Tell them that this technology has been available for years, and about how all of our landfills would have been saved from our countries petroleum based non-biodegradable plastic.

The truth about our dwindling forests is also a concern. More and more trees are cut down to keep up with the demand of paper products. It is such a crisis, that we have measures to prevent their dwindling by circulating the crop. It takes pine trees a 30 year life cycle. That is a large circle of trees to replace. In addition the yield for the fiber produced per acre from pine is only 3 tons per acre. Our solutions never included growing hemp to replace the cultivation of pine fiber at a yield of 12 tons per acre because, despite the fact that the hemp grown for industrial use doesn't even contain enough THC to get an individual high, growing hemp is illegal. Their argument is that if they allowed industrial hemp to grow then cultivators might be able to hide a more potent crop for illegal use, when in fact the crop would cross pollinate damaging the crop used for industry.

We still use cotton. Why? Cotton only yields .03 tons per acre, a large waste of our time and our land. Hemp's yield is not only higher, but hemp holds an additional quality that cotton fails to. As our ozone depletes faster because of the chemicals we burn, the sun bombards us with more harmful ultra violet rays, which is blocked naturally as long as a product is made with more than 50% hemp. Cloth made from hemp fiber is more durable. It is stronger, more absorbent and softer than cotton.

With five to ten thousand people dying of cancer related to pesticides each year you would think that maybe we would think twice about the need to keep our cotton pesticide free. Hemp never needed pesticides, and naturally crowded out other weeds that attempted to invade its space. (Rousell, 2005) Cotton takes up quite a bit of water for its growth, yet hemp requires little water and can grow in cooler climates. Cloth made from hemp fiber requires fewer chemicals than cotton. (Rousell, 2005)

With all of these factors, maybe we should open our eyes and make a change. Hemp is one of the primary renewable resources on earth. Its maintenance is simple, its yield is high and its cycle of growth is rapid. Among usages that would virtually replace polluting petroleum, a variety of other uses can be made out of the hemp plant.

Conclusion

Education and moderation is the key to our survival as a society. We must be wise have compassion and not turn our face from possible dangers. We do not take hot ovens out of our houses because we are afraid it will burn our children. We should not take marijuana out of responsible adults hands because some individuals are irresponsible. We should not take hemp out of our industry because it also produces a natural psychoactive substance. The substance may be as useful as the occasional drink at a dinner party. Teaching our youth responsibility is our job as parents and as a society. It is not the governments.

We must utilize this resource and take a chance and not allow the beast to consume us one by one while it lashes out for power and control. Soon we will be locked in our homes out of fear for ourselves and one another propagated by a hysterical exaggerated government scheme. As long as the government continues to make our laws for us, we will lose more and more freedoms. Everything we fought for, for so long, our personal freedom, will be eradicated in one sweeping glimpse as we look back wondering how it happened. Consider yourself educated. We must act now while we have a choice, and make the right one.

References

Bovard, James. “The Bush Administration's ‘Drugs=Terrorism' Fraud.” The Future Of Freedom Foundation. (2002). April 2002. http://www.fff.org/comment Retrieved from the WIU Library EbscoHost database September 5, 2005

Cartwright, Gary. “Weed All About It.” Texas Monthly. (2005) July, 2005. (pp.86-88, 99) Retrieved from the WIU library EbschoHost database September 5, 2005.

D.A.R.E The official dare website. “Girl is charged with teen's death; police say marijuana a factor.” Online Posting. October 9, 2004.

Dreyfuss, Robert. “Bush's War On Pot.” Rolling Stone Magazine. (2005). July 28, 2005. http://www.rollingstonemagazine.com/politics

Editors. “Greatest American Hero: Bill Hicks”. Stuff Magazine. (2003) February 24, 2003. http://www.stuffmagazine.com/articles/index.aspx?id=296

Roussel, Scott , Roussel, Janice. “The benefits of hemp”. San Diego Earth Times Online Posting. 2005 http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/sdethemp7.htm

StoptheDrugWar.org: the Drug Reform Coordination Network (DRCNet). “War on Drugs Shifts to War on Marijuana.” Online Posting. May 6, 2005 http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/385/shifted.shtml

Toronto Hemp Company. “Modern Uses for Hemp.” Online Posting. July 25, 2005. http://www.torontohemp.com/hempuses.htm

As California gets ready to address the outright legalization of Cannabis in November 2010. L.A.'s D.A. Steve Cooley has decided to take a slightly different approach regarding the medical marijuana clubs. Mr. Cooley would like to close down every and all legal medical marijuana collectives in the greater L.A. county area. Despite the fact that 74% of the voting public are fine with the current system.

There have been several articles in this space with regard to the use of medical marijuana, upon the recommendation of a physician, to ease the pain of those suffering specific diseases. The first was concerned with the case of Bernie Ellis, an acknowledged activist and sometime consultant to state and Federal agencies, who was prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department for growing and possessing a small amount of cannabis to help him endure pain and for offering the same drug to others similarly afflicted, at no cost. The piece discussed the respective roles of the Federal and state governments and how the former has taken charge. The second was an article discussing the dilemma faced by physicians who can lose their license by facilitating the utilization of marijuana by those who have a medical need, all as allowed by state law. The third article discussed the penalty of forfeiture upon conviction of a drug offense and how Mr. Ellis could lose an extremely valuable farm.

The controversy arises in those states which have enacted laws permitting the utilization of cannabis, upon a physician's recommendation. Such laws, in the opinion of the Federales, do not protect someone from prosecution and, upon conviction, substantial prison sentences.

A disclaimer and personal note.

This article does not relate to purely recreational use of marijuana. In case anyone cares, I hold no brief for the use of marijuana or any drug, including alcohol, for the purpose of escaping reality. I have seen too many instances where drugs have left a person unable to work, function in an adult productive manner or have rational thoughts.

Effectiveness of cannabis for medical purposes

Marijuana has been used for medical purposes for nearly 5,000 years. Until its use was effectively eliminated in 1937 in the United States, it was a component of many medicines used in this country. It is said that the increasing usage of cannabis as a recreational drug made its medical use problematical.

Research and reports in reputable medical journals and from reputable legal and medical organizations have been relatively consistent in supporting marijuana use, in limited situations and for limited and specific conditions. Among those organizations and journals are: the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Bar Association, the American Public Health Association, the British Medical Association, the; California Academy of Family Physicians, the California Medical Association; the National Association of State Attorneys General; the New England Journal of Medicine and the Nurses Associations of California, New York and Virginia.

A study in California in 2002 concluded that marijuana could be beneficial in the treatment of 250 conditions, including as an antiemetic for the treatment of nausea and anorexia associated with treatments for cancer, AIDS, and hepatitis. Cannabis also, according to many studies, acts as an antispasmodic and anticonvulsant and is indicated for neurological conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and spasms. As an analgesic and an immunomodulator it is helpful for conditions such as migraine, arthritis, spinal and skeletal disorders. As a bronchodilator it is beneficial for asthma. Marijuana has been found to reduce intraocular pressure and is helpful for individuals with glaucoma. Cannabis is also used to treat some mood disorders such as post traumatic stress disorder as suffered by returning servicemen and women, among others, clinical depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and bipolar disorder and a plethora of other diseases and conditions.

State laws and policies regarding medical marijuana.

Increasing numbers of states have, to some extent and in varying ways, determined that marijuana might be used by its citizens for medical purposes.

This article examines the types of state laws in effect and the likelihood that additional states will allow medical use of cannabis.

Since 1996, twelve states have legalized medical marijuana use: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. Eight of the twelve did so through the initiative process. Hawaii's law was enacted by the legislature and signed by the governor in 2000, Vermont's was enacted by the legislature and passed into law without the governor's signature in May 2004, Rhode Island's was passed into law over the governor's veto in January 2006, and New Mexico's legislation was signed into law by Governor Bill Richardson on April 2, 2007.
Some states, such as New York, have not yet passed medical marijuana laws, but come to the same result by decriminalizing possession of cannabis. Maryland's new law allows the defense of “medical necessity” to be raised in a state marijuana possession prosecution, but it does not bar arrest and trial. If that defense is successful, an adjudication of guilt is still possible but the maximum punishment is a nominal fine.

While the Federal government takes the position that medical-cannabis is illegal under overriding Federal law, this position may very well change in the face of popular demands. A CNN/Time poll published November 4, 2002, found that 80% of Americans believe that “adults should be allowed to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it. …” Over the last decade, polls have consistently shown between 60% and 80% support for legal access to medical marijuana. The Marijuana Policy Project's site has details of the various and repeated polls.

What Federal-state relations should be.

In New State Ice Co. v Liebmann, Mr. Justice Brandeis, dissenting, remarked on one of the fortuitous consequences of a Federal system. The Constitution establishes a Federal government with limited power, at least that's the theory. The Bill of Rights limits the power of the Federal Congress; the 14th Amendment through its “due process” clause incorporates most of the protections embodied in the Bill of Rights and applies them to the states and lesser entities. Justice Brandeis pointed out that the states serve as a laboratory in which new laws and concepts can be tried out, “It is one of the happy incidents of the federal system that a single courageous State may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.” There is a certain irony in that the Republican Party and its members, said to believe in the supremacy of states' rights and a severely limited Federal government, oppose state laws in this regard.

Status of medical marijuana laws in various states.

In the early 1970's, a number of states adopted therapeutic research programs. In many of these jurisdictions, including Florida, Louisiana and Ohio, the programs have been repealed over the years. In others, the programs are still theoretically operational but not really meaningful. Sometimes it is because the state law requires a physician prescription, illegal under Federal law, or because the cannabis must come from the Federal government and is not available!

In addition to the twelve states that now permit the use of medical marijuana; a number of states are now considering similar proposals.

Alabama has a medical marijuana bill now before the legislature, in the House Judiciary Committee. Missouri also has a comprehensive medical marijuana bill now pending in its House of Representatives. Arkansas has a proposed bill that is due to be considered next year; meanwhile a recent poll shows 62% of the public approve such legislation. Florida still refuses to adopt a medical marijuana law, even though this is the tenth anniversary of the recommendation of the Florida Medical Association that such a statute be passed. Illinois' bill was defeated this year in a close 22-29 vote in the state Senate. It will be re-introduced next year. Similarly, Minnesota will take up a proposed bill next year

Massachusetts has a comprehensive medical marijuana bill now pending in its Legislature, as do New York, South Carolina, Tennessee (home of Bernie Ellis), and Wisconsin (where a poll shows 75.7% in favor a allowing marijuana to be freely used by persons with cancer, MS or other serious or painful diseases).

In addition, there is some indication that Federal laws may be changed. The 2006 midterm congressional elections have provided the most favorable opportunity for passing Federal medical marijuana legislation in years. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is said to be a strong proponent of medical marijuana. Congressman John Conyers, another supporter of medical marijuana, is now chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and longtime supporter Congressman Dave Obey (D-Wis.) chairs the House Appropriations Committee. In the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, another supporter of medical marijuana, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, is chairman of the Subcommittee on Domestic Policy, which is responsible for oversight of the drug czar's office. In the opinions of many, therefore, a re-examination of Federal policy may be in the offing.

This would bring about the results that most medical researchers and authorities feel appropriate.
Those supporters of the free use of medical marijuana feel that they have reason for optimism. At the very least, open and continued research into cannabis use as a medicine needs to be expanded.

Resources: A vast amount of raw data utilized in this article came from the Marijuana Policy Project (www.mpp.org) and the citations set forth in www.saveberniesfarm.com. Both of these sites are comprehensive and helpful. The conclusions drawn, however, are my responsibility!

Are you one of the millions of Americans that is suffering from sleeplessness or insomnia? It is estimated that one-third of all adults have insomnia.

Medical marijuana patients usually find that sleep is a wonderful benefit of cannabis. Many chronic pain patients experience insomnia due to their pain and find excellent relief and sleep when using cannabis.

A topic of invention in which one refers back to general events in the past or to what we can safely suppose will occur in the future based on proof from the past is referred to as common topic of past/future fact (Rhetoricae, 2009). Another commonly used term, as described in Sharon Crowley and Debra Hawhees' text, “Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students,” is common topic of conjecture. By using Aristotle's Topical System I was able to find out a lot of valuable proofs and information regarding medical marijuana use and their dispensaries in Colorado. More specifically, using the common topic of conjecture which answers the following questions: What exists? What does not exist? What is the size or extent of what exists? Did it exist in the past? Will it exist in the future? (Crowley & Hawhee, 2009) The following essay will explore these five statements of conjecture regarding the issue or marijuana in the state of Colorado.

When considering what exists in Colorado, in terms of medical marijuana, one could consult the information given in Amendment 20, passed November of 2000 where Colorado voters effectively legalized medical marijuana. Amendment 20 approves marijuana as a safe and effective medicine for people with: debilitating medical conditions including cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS and also in treating cachexia, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures characteristic of epilepsy, muscle spasms characteristic of multiple sclerosis, and other medical conditions approved by the state health agency (Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, 2009). Amendment 20 also states that anyone may petition “the Registry” to add a condition. The registry created by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment confidentially maintains patients who have applied and are entitled to receive a registry identification card (Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, 2009).

Other regulations in place include the application process, which includes a cost of $90 a year. Any patient with a valid registry card may legally use marijuana for medicinal purposes and their caregiver, if one should exist, may assist them in doing so (Rhetoricae, 2009). Although regulations and rules for medical marijuana do exist here in Colorado, there is still the question of what doesn't exist in Colorado. One thing that doesn't exist is legal distribution of marijuana for non medical reasons. Taxation also doesn't exist for marijuana laws in Colorado, or in any other state.

Debates on marijuana extend beyond just Colorado laws; this situation expands out to all states. It has been said that replacing marijuana prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation similar to that used for alcoholic beverages would produce combined savings and tax revenues of between $10 billion and $14 billion per year,. This was found out in a June 2005 report done by Dr. Jeffrey Miron, and backed by more than 500 distinguished economists (Marijuana Policy Project, 2005).

More recently and specifically, it is estimated medical marijuana dispensaries could generate up to $15 million for Colorado state and up to $45 million in city and community taxes through the 3.62% city sales tax of medical marijuana dispensaries (Chapin, 2009). Even knowing that laws for marijuana haven't always existed; we can tell from recent events that more laws and regulations will be set in place. Senator Chris Romer plans to introduce comprehensive medical marijuana legislation in the nest Colorado General Assembly, which begins in January 2010 (Chapin, 2009). Coloradans, and others, are in favor of taxation on medical marijuana; not only to legitimize the practice but to clean up the industry in general. Put differently, if marijuana were legalized it
wouldn't be seen as such a negative practice, similar to how alcohol is legal and has set taxes and regulations.

With important dates set in January the future is already set in motion. There is a future in the laws of marijuana and starting in the new year they will unfold. Maybe Colorado will be an example state for others to follow in the near future.

References

Chapin, L. (November 23, 2009). Colorado Could Become First State to Regulate and Tax Medical Marijuana. Retrieved December 8, 2009 from www.usnews.com

Crowley, S. & Hawhee, D. (2009). Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students 4th Edition. Pearson Publication, Inc.

Rhetoricae, S. (2009) Common Topics of Invention: Circumstances. Retrieved December 19, 2009 from http://rhetoric.byu.edu/

Marijuana Medicine can help with many ailments. Marijuana is not physically addictive despite what many anti-marijuana people want us to believe|Marijuana users can use it regularly, even multiple times daily, without any problem giving it up} A very small minority of people who use marijuana can find that they have developed a psychological addiction.| Since most people who use marijuana are not heavy chronic users statistically speaking very unlikely If you are concerned about any possibility of psychological addiction it is very easily avoided by taking time off from regular use. For instance, if you use medical Cannabis every day, you should take one day off per week or take one week off every three months.

References to the use of marijuana as a medical treatment date back nearly 5000 years. Western medicine began approved use of marijuana in the mid-1800's and continued to do so until 1941 when Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act that severely limited physicians' ability to prescribe it. Interestingly enough, the American Medical Association (AMA) was one of the most active organizations against this ban

Medical marijuana use, under a doctors supervision, is legal in thirteen states with actual laws varying by state. These states are: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Each state does have its own set of rules and it would be advisable to check them frequently as laws are subject to change at any time. It is important to note that in May 2001 the Supreme Court ruled that federal laws make no exception for distributing or growing marijuana by a third party. Simplified, it means users need to grow their own marijuana for medical use as it is illegal for it to be grown by someone else.

The effects of marijuana on the brain are due to the active ingredient, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. THC acts on cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells and influences the activity of those cells. Cannabinoid receptors are found in many parts of the brain that can influence memory, pleasure, thought, concentration and coordination.

Both anecdotal and scientific research evidence suggests that marijuana provides relief to chronic pain sufferers with a variety of ailments ranging from back pain, migraines, glaucoma, cancer and many more. Research by Vinciqeurra et al. found that 78% of patients tested who were resistant to regular drugs for nausea became symptom free with inhaled cannabis use. There are more than 17,000 papers published that deal with scientific clinical research of the therapeutic value of cannabinoids.

One of the most widely known medical uses for marijuana is in treatment for the side effects of chemotherapy. It is used for the reduction of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. Another well known use is in the treatment of glaucoma. Many standard treatments have very adverse effects and little positive effect on end stage glaucoma. The use of cannabis lowers the intraocular pressure allowing patients to retain their sight and avoid the painful deterioration that leads to blindness.

Medical marijuana is being tested in its use for Multiple Sclerosis patients. At this time there is no known effective regular medical cure available. Cannabis has been found to have a significant effect on MS symptoms. Cannabis use has been found to reduce tremors, restore balance, stop muscle spasms and restore sight, speech and bladder control. Cannabis may even retard the progression of MS, according to the publication, Marijuana - The Forbidden Medicine.

Medical marijuana is also used for the treatment of other forms of pain. One subject suffered a major back injury and consequent surgery. The subject was offered opiate types of pain medication but found the simple use of marijuana was equally effective on the pain without the side effects of an opiate drug. Unfortunately this subject does not reside in a state that allows for the use of medical marijuana and will therefore not be quoted.

The short-term undesirable effects of marijuana include distorted perception, loss of coordination, difficulties with learning, problem solving and memory, and an increase in heart rate with a decrease in blood pressure. Some users may also experience fear, distrust or a feeling of panic. Most of the negative effects of tobacco smoking are also found in the smoking of marijuana. There is a possibility that frequent or prolonged use of marijuana may lead to significant impairment of the immune system and further studies should be part of any research, especially if marijuana is to be used by patients with compromised immune systems. Use of medical marijuana for reducing intraocular pressure in glaucoma can also cause an unwanted drop in blood pressure. The heart rate of the user can increase by 20 or more beats per minute and can cause an increased risk of heart attack.

Many studies and clinical trials are now ongoing, mostly in countries more in favor of the use and further research is needed to fully weigh the pros and cons of medical marijuana use.

References:

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

U.S. National Institutes of Health

http://www.ukcia.org/research/ TherapeuticPotentialMedicalUse s.php

http://www.concept420.com/marijuana_medical_med_uses.htm