Medical Marijuana … Controversial ?
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/
