California State Medical Marijuana Patient Identification

Medical Cannabis is nothing new, despite the current groundswell of laws making pot legal for medical uses. Here's a quick fact file on Marijuana and its medical history.
1. “Marijuana” is a Mexican term that originally was applied to low-quality tobacco.
2. Cannabis was cultivated in China for therapy (and recreation) over 4,700 years ago.
3. More than 20 prescription medicinescontaining marijuana were sold in U.S. pharmacies at the turn of the 20th century. marijuana based medications were commonly available until 1942, when cannabis was stricken from the U.S. Pharmacopeia, the official compendium of drugs considered effective. From 1937 to 1942 the federal government collected a tax of $1 per ounce for such drugs.
4. About 17,000 studies on marijuana and its components have been published, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, an advocacy group, but fewer than 20, all of them small, have included human subjects.
5. The federal government is in the pot-growing business. Under a federal contract, the University of Mississippi in Oxford cultivates marijuana for use by researchers, who have to be cleared by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
6. The plant has nearly 500 chemical compounds, called cannabinoids.
7. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. But patients in these states face federal prosecution for using it—or for growing or possessing pot for medical purposes.
8. Federal law prohibits physicians from prescribing or otherwise actively supplying patients with the drug. But in 2002 the U.S. Supreme Court backed an appellate court ruling that physicians who discuss it with patients, or provide oral or written recommendations, are protected.

A week ago, three premier NCAA football stars admitted to using marijuana, and many analysts wondered whether or not their decision to be honest would affect their status in the 2007 NFL Draft. All three players were selected in the top ten Saturday afternoon, silencing critics that questioned whether honesty was truly the best policy in this case.

In a Pro Football Weekly column printed last Thursday, the three blossoming young stars admitted that they had tried the illegal substance at one point in their lives. Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who was widely accepted as the best player in this year's college crop, was the highest profile player of the three who admitted prior use. He was drafted number two overall by the Detroit Lions. Apparently, his work ethic, character, and honesty overruled any worries Lions executives had about Johnson's drug issues. Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams also claimed to have smoked pot a a teenager, but he was taken as the first defensive player in the draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the number four slot. Adams is the Bucs' likely heir to the pass-rushing end spot held by Pro Bowler Simeon Rice, who has only one year remaining on his contract. Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, a 6'2'' 300 lb. star, admitted that he tried the illegal substance in high school. Okoye is only 19 years old, and he is the youngest player ever to be drafted into the NFL. He entered high school at age 12, and was a freshman at Louisville by the time he was 16. Okoye was taken number ten overall by the Houston Texans, who bolstered their defensive line for the second year in a row (they selected DE Mario Williams with the first pick in last year's draft). Before the players announced at the NFL scouting combine that they had smoked marijuana, all three were expected to be drafted in the top ten- and that proved to be exactly what happened on Saturday in New York.

Because the three answered honestly, some analysts claimed that the players' draft status should not be affected. Most players would have lied when asked that question to avoid the onslaught of media attention. In fact, Almost 80% of all Americans try marijuana by the time they are 21, according to a report by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Athletes are not exempt from this statistic, and it is incorrect to assume that many more players selected in this draft haven't smoked the substance than have admitted it. The NFL does test for marijuana, and none of the three currently use the substance which generally finds its way out of the body in less than a month or so. Had the players slid down out of the top ten, they stood to lose millions of dollars in guaranteed salary and possible advertisement endorsements.

Judging by previous drafts and the increase in the NFL's salary cap, all three players will likely receive very lucrative contracts. As the second pick, Johnson will probably sign for around $60 million dollars, with about $30 million guaranteed. Adams, as the franchise's future defensive stud, will probably ink an offer sheet of close to $50 million. It is likely that Houston's Okoye will join the roster for upwards of $30 million.

New NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has had his hands full while trying to clean up the image of his league. Cincinnati wide receiver Travis Henry and Tennessee corner back Adam “Pacman” Jones are both being suspended this season for off-the-field problems. Henry's punishment is pending, and Jones has already been told that he will not be welcome in the NFL for the duration of the 16 game season. The idea of having to deal with three up-and-coming stars with drug problems was certainly not something Goodell wanted to think about. It appears that NFL scouts did not take much stake in the players' admitting to marijuana usage, however. “If a kid just used pot once or twice, that's not a big deal,” said one NFL assistant. One general manager told the media last week “If they have a problem, we're going to find out…These guys were honest and they don't have a problem that we can see. Now we're going to punish them? That would be pretty stupid.”

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Marijuana as medicine is nothing new, despite the current groundswell of laws making pot legal for medical uses. Here's a quick fact file on cannabis and its medical history.
1. “Marijuana” is a Mexican term that originally was applied to low-quality tobacco.
2. Cannabis was cultivated in China for therapy (and recreation) over 4,700 years ago.
3. More than 20 medicationscontaining marijuana were sold in U.S. pharmacies at the turn of the 20th century. Pot-based medications were commonly available until 1942, when cannabis was stricken from the U.S. Pharmacopeia, the official compendium of drugs considered effective. From 1937 to 1942 the federal government collected a tax of $1 per ounce for such drugs.
4. About 17,000 studies on marijuana and its components have been published, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, an advocacy group, but fewer than 20, all of them small, have included human subjects.
5. The federal government is in the pot-growing business. Under a federal contract, the University of Mississippi in Oxford cultivates marijuana for use by researchers, who have to be cleared by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
6. The plant has nearly 500 chemical compounds, called cannabinoids.
7. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. But patients in these states face federal prosecution for using it—or for growing or possessing pot for medical purposes.
8. Federal law prohibits physicians from prescribing or otherwise actively supplying patients with the drug. But in 2002 the U.S. Supreme Court backed an appellate court ruling that physicians who discuss it with patients, or provide oral or written recommendations, are protected.

In the United States, marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 substance, and is put in the same category as heroin, and LSD. Under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA), marijuana is illegal to possess, or distribute, and is considered to be unsafe for medicinal purposes. Yet many individuals, including Medical Doctors dispute this, and advocate for the use of medicinal marijuana. (Stern & DiFonzo. 2009). Because the government does not accept marijuana as an appropriate form of medical use, various States have enacted legislation that allows for the use of medical marijuana. Thus a conflict appears between Federal and State laws, which also cause concern for individuals who depend on medical marijuana.

The subject of legalizing marijuana has been extremely controversial. Critics often cite that marijuana is the 'gateway' drug to harder drugs, and if marijuana is legalized there will be an increase in crime, an increase in drug addicts, and an increasing demand for harder drugs, such as cocaine, or methamphetamines. Advocates claim there are a variety of reasons to legalize marijuana, and assert that marijuana is on the same level as alcohol. Some of the other reasons include the notion that keeping marijuana illegal is costly, prohibiting marijuana does not work, just as alcohol prohibition in the 1920s, and criminalized marijuana use increases 'criminal' activities. Advocates also state criminalized marijuana does not help individuals who need it for medical purposes, and also complicates matters to make marijuana legal only for medicinal uses, yet banning it for general use. Advocates also cite that other countries have legalized marijuana, and they have not had any negative consequences. For example, Readings in Deviant Behavior discuss the legalization of marijuana in the Netherlands, and while the increase in marijuana use was initially seen, users have tapered off, and its use is lower than the United States. “…the de facto legalization of cannabis in the Netherlands has not brought about a torrent of marijuana and hashish consumption…the experiences of the Netherlands and the United States suggest that decriminalization would not produce significantly higher levels of marijuana use.” (Thio, Calhoun & Conyers, pg. 345. 2010).

The stigma attached to marijuana use has decreased, and more individuals are in agreement with the use of marijuana for medical reasons. “Gallup poll results reflect that nationwide support for medical marijuana is increasing, from seventy-three percent in 1999 to seventy-eight percent in 2005.” (Stern & DiFonzo, pg. 16, 2009). In fact, in 2009 President Obama set forth a measure that would prevent Federal persecution of States that allow the use of medical marijuana; however this measure does not protect individuals who traffic marijuana. “'It will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana…but we will not tolerate drug traffickers who hide behind claims of compliance with state law to mask activities that are clearly illegal.''” (Stout & Moore, 2009).

Because of the increase in individuals showing support for medical marijuana use, I personally believe that the stigma associated with using marijuana will not exist as it has in previous years.

References

Stern, R., & DiFonzo, H. (2009). The End of the Red Queen's Race: Medical Marijuana in the New Century. 27 Quinnipiac L. Rev. 673.

Stout, D., & Moore, S. (2009, October 19). U.S. Won't Prosecute in States That Allow Medical Marijuana. The New York Times. Retrieved 8th March 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/us/20cannabis.html

Thio, A., Calhoun, T. C., & Conyers, A. (2010). Readings in Deviant Behavior Sixth Edition. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.