California State Medical Marijuana Patient Identification

Medical Marijuana:AIDS Patients in a Controlled Study Had Significant Pain Relief… AIDS patients suffering from debilitating nerve pain got as much or more relief by somking cannabis as they would typically get from prescription drugs — and with fewer side effects — according to a study conducted under rigorously controlled conditions with government-grown pot.

In a five-day study performed in a specially ventilated hospital ward where marijuana patients smoked three marijuana cigarettes a day, more than half the participants tallied significant reductions in pain.

By contrast, less than one-quarter of those who smoked “placebo” medical marijuana, which had its primary psychoactive ingredients removed, reported benefits, as measured by subjective pain reports and standardized neurological tests.

Marijuana Legalization is one of the most debated issues of the twenty first century. Use of the plant even dates back “further than 7,000 B.C. and was legal as recently as when Ronald Regan was a boy…” (Guither). The drug is the most commonly used illicit substance around the world and there are numerous slang terms for the plant such as cannabis, reefer, mary jane, weed, etc. Most Americans are familiar with the anti-marijuana commercials and the side effects of smoking pot as well as seeing athletes and celebrities reprimanded for the legal use and sale of cannabis. However, according to NORML (”The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws”) in 2008 “more than 80 million Americans admit that they have smoked in the past year.” This is a very large number considering how much money the United States government spends on advertising for the war against drugs. Many people agree that the drug is no more dangerous than the use of any other legal drugs such as the consumption of alcohol or cigarette smoking. For this reason, marijuana should be decriminalized and available to the public while regulated as cigarettes and alcohol.

The most obvious reason for a number of Americans to avoid marijuana is the belief that it is morally unethical. Jobs, that do drug testing, make it clear that it is not socially acceptable in the work place and that it will not be tolerated. Most Christians especially do not approve of smoking pot. Ironically, the Rastafarian religion has found numerous references to pot in the bible. For example, “…thou shalt eat the herb of the land (exodus 10:12)” (”BBC”).Though all religions vary in teachings, in general American parents are concerned that legalizing Marijuana sends the wrong message to children. Which is a good indication that most American parents of teenagers do not realize that “47% of high school students have tried marijuana” (Leachman 2). In 1936, “Reefer Madness”, a propaganda film framed as a documentary, warned parents and children of the dangers of the marijuana. The film was a far cry from reality and showed very unrealistic “scenes of high school kids smoking pot and quickly going insane, playing 'evil' jazz music, being committed, and going on a murder spree” (Murphy 1). “Reefer Madness” is now a musical and has been used for entertainment purposes because of its outdated and exaggerated views on marijuana.

For many people, marijuana is what is referred to as a gateway drug, or a seemingly harmless substance which may cause more serious addictions in the future. Joseph A. Califano says that “teens who drank, smoked cigarettes, and used marijuana at least once in the past month are more than 16 times as likely to use another drug like cocaine, heroin ,or LSD”(33) which are all very serious illicit drugs which can lead to severe health and legal consequences. For most of the American population it is considered to be common knowledge that marijuana is what gets people hooked on harder drugs. Despite this assumption, some believe that marijuana is not the cause at all and that most drug addicts begin substance abuse with legal drugs such as alcohol or cigarettes. According to the Institute of Medicine “ecause it is the most widely used illicit drug, marijuana is predictably the first illicit drug that most people encounter. Not surprisingly, most users do not begin with marijuana- they begin with alcohol and nicotine, usually when they are too young to do so legally”(36) It is understandable that”[people who enjoy the effects of marijuana are, logically, more likely to be willing to try other mood-altering drugs than are people who are not willing to try marijuana or who dislike its effects”(The Institute of Medicine 37).The Institute of Medicine also states that “illions of Americans have tried marijuana, but are not regular users. In 1996, 68.6 million people-32% of the U.S. population over 12 years old-had tried marijuana or hashish at least once in their life time, but only 5% were current users”(35). This does not mean that marijuana does not contribute to the amount of people who try hard drugs or become addicted to them. “Most people who smoke pot do not move on to other drugs, but then only 5% to 7% of cigarette smokers get lung cancer”, the lesson is that young people “who smoke pot are at vastly greater risk of moving on to harder drugs”(Califano 33). It would be easy to blame marijuana for drug dependency in America, but drugs that are legal in the U.S. are at fault as much or more because of their availability to the public.

For most educated Americans, it is known that marijuana has several harmful side effects. Health risks include memory loss, gum disease, lung and respiratory problems, and several mental health conditions that could become detrimental to a person's well-being. The most argued health issue is weather or not the drug is addictive. According to Tim Anderson “any people use marijuana compulsively even though it interferes with family, school, work and recreational activities” (226). Alcohol and nicotine are both legal drugs which are proven to be addictive and cause serious problems in the lives of people who become addictive. Why should the fact that marijuana is addictive keep it from being legalized when two other addictive substances are legally sold to the public? Alcohol can lead to the same poor choices as marijuana, such as unprotected sexual activity, neglect of responsibilities, or driving while impaired. Alcohol and nicotine are both proven to have as serious health consequences as marijuana. The Office of National Drug Control Policy states that “people who use marijuana on a regular basis often have the same breathing problems as tobacco users, such as chronic coughing and wheezing, more frequent acute chest illnesses, and a tendency toward obstructed airways”(228). More disconcerting than the physical health issues would be the mental health problems which may follow such as difficulty in “memory loss, distorted perception, trouble with thinking and problem solving, and anxiety” (Office of National Drug Control Policy 226).Regular marijuana users have also been shown to have double the chance of suffering from depression and anxiety, panic attacks, or thoughts of suicide later in life (ONDCP 226, “Drug Facts: Marijuana” 1). Alcohol is a depressant; these same effects hold true for alcoholics. “Is marijuana addictive? Yes, can be, in that some people use it to excess, in ways that are problematic for themselves and those around them, and find it hard to stop. But marijuana may very well be the least addictive and least damaging of all commonly used psychoactive drugs, including many that are now legal. Most people who smoke marijuana never become dependant. Withdrawal symptoms pale compared with those from other drugs. No one has ever died from a marijuana overdose, which cannot be said for most other drugs. Marijuana is not associated with violent behavior and only minimally with reckless sexual behavior, and even heavy marijuana smokers smoke only a fraction of what cigarette addicts smoke. Lung cancers involving marijuana are rare” (Nadelmann 215).

The point is any substance, weather its caffeine or prescription drugs, can be abused and become addictive and harmful to a person, this should not mean that marijuana in particular should be illegal. Instead, marijuana should be legalized and regulated in the same way as alcohol and nicotine.

The first and possibly most essential reason for marijuana decriminalization is the many medical uses for the drug. A number of people with terminating illnesses have found relief from the use of marijuana. AIDS patients have shown an increase in appetite, as well as “cancer patients often smoke marijuana to battle the nausea caused by chemotherapy” (Rich 1). According to Ted Gottfried “arijuana has been effective in treating Glaucoma, a condition resulting from a pressure in the eyes, which the drug eases” the patient's pain (20). Marijuana can be used for medicinal purposes and can be beneficial to society but it is illegal, alcohol and nicotine are not effective as medicine for any diseases however they are both legal to the public. To supporters of marijuana legalization it is obvious why it should be legalized if only for medical use. The main concern for most patients would be the adverse affects of smoking marijuana may be more detrimental than the symptoms that the drug is meant to relieve. Luckily, less invasive ways to use the drug for medicine have been developed: “Pharmaceutical products containing marijuana's central ingredient, THC, are legally sold in the U.S., and more are emerging. Some people find the pill form satisfactory, and others consume it in teas or baked products” (Nadelmann 215). Even if patients decide smoke instead of one of the newer techniques, the effects on the person's health are minimal compared to the disease which it is helping to treat, especially since most of the diseases are fatal and incurable at this point in time.

Unlike cigarettes, marijuana has absolutely no harmful chemicals added before it is sold and smoked. For this reason alone pot is less likely to lead to cancer or lung problems. Lung cancer from the smoking of marijuana is rare and the use of tobacco is much more likely to result in respiratory complications and gum disease. In general, heavy users of marijuana still do not smoke as much as people who smoke cigarettes. Marijuana's health risks are significantly mild compared to legal substances and hard drugs. Infact many of the health risks are exaggerated or not sufficiently supported by scientific evidence: “In 1972, after reviewing the scientific evidence, the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse concluded that while marijuana was not entirely safe, its dangers had been grossly overstated. Since then, researchers have conducted thousands of studies of humans, animals, and cell cultures. None reveal any findings dramatically different from those described by the National Commission in 1972. In 1995, based on thirty years of scientific research editors of the British medical journal Lancet concluded that “the smoking of cannabis, even long term, is not harmful to health” (”Myths and Facts about Marijuana”1).

Some researchers will argue that the effects of marijuana are clearly visible regardless of scientific proof. The idea that marijuana leads to brain damage, has yet to be anything more than a theory. Scientists continue the study of the effects of marijuana on animals and humans:”None of the medical tests currently used to detect brain damage in humans have found harm from marijuana, even from long term high-dose use. An early study reported brain damage in rhesus monkeys after six months exposure to high concentrations of marijuana smoke. In a recent, more carefully conducted study, researchers found no evidence of brain abnormality in monkeys that were forced to inhale the equivalent of four to five marijuana cigarettes every day for a year. The claim that marijuana kills brain cells is based on a speculative report dating back a quarter of a century that has never been supported by any scientific study”(”Myths and Facts about Marijuana” 2).Though marijuana smoke is not necessarily a healthy habit, it is not any more harmful than the legal drugs that are being used everyday in the U.S.

Legalizing marijuana would not increase the number of people who abuse the drug; because it would be less taboo and not as thrilling if it is legal. When drugs are prohibited in America or in neighboring countries, use of the drug is actually increased. As determined by Dan Gardner, “he most frightening jumps in drug use the world has seen have happened after the introduction -or escalation- of drug prohibition” (132). He also believes that “tates with higher rates of drug incarceration experience higher rates of drug use” (133). If that is true, keeping marijuana illegal is counter productive to the fight against drug use in America. Legalization would cut down on the number of people in jail for marijuana related crimes. Instead of police chasing people, who may be illegally dealing drugs or in possession of marijuana, they can focus on catching criminals who are guilty of rape, burglary, or murder. Also if the number of people in jail were reduced tax payer's money would not be wasted and marijuana users could be productive members of society. According to District Attorney, Paul Gallegos, legalization of the drug “would probably reduce the value of marijuana pretty significantly, so we'd probably see a reduction if not a complete end to the ancillary crime associated with marijuana” (1). People who do not smoke pot now while it is illegal will most likely not start if it becomes legal due to religious beliefs or health concerns.

Economically, the legalization of marijuana could be beneficial to the U.S. because it could be taxed and regulated like tobacco. NORML states that currently “Californians consume $1-$2 billion worth of medical marijuana per year, enough to generate some $100 million in sales tax” (2) or approximately 1.3 billion dollars a year! The Economy in America is suffering and hemp could be a major export and beneficial cash crop. The use of hemp in clothing and other products has been around for thousands of years. Infact the first woven fabrics are believed to have been constructed from the plant's stalks (Guither 1). Of course, clothing is not the only industrial use of hemp; “over the centuries the plant was used for food, incense, cloth, rope, and much more” (Guither 1). According to Dan Stancliff California's sale of marijuana could lead the nation out of the recession if pot were legalized. The money would not only come from industrial use but also on “tourism picking up for the entire state, and especially for the Emerald Triangle, 'Green Tours' would have a new meaning, more importantly, legalizing marijuana would put an end to the Mexican cartels who infest our state and national forests with their huge destructive grows” (Stancliff 1). Presently, much of America's tax dollars are being spent on anti-drug programs and advertisements. Many supporters claim that “f drugs were decriminalized…much of the $50 billion spent annually by federal and state government agencies might be used in such critical areas as health care, education, low-cost housing, and programs to reduce dependency on drugs and alcohol”(Gottfried 68). The cost to enforce marijuana laws in the U.S. is an estimated $10-15 billion (Nadelmann 214). Most supporters of marijuana legalization agree with the opinion of Ethan A. Nadelmann:

“No drug is perfectly safe, and every psychoactive drug can be used in ways that are problematic, The federal government has spent billions of dollars on advertisements and anti-drug programs that preach the dangers of marijuana -that it's a gateway drug, and addictive in its own right, and dramatically more potent than it used to be, and responsible for all sorts of physical and social diseases as well as international terrorism. But the government has yet to repudiate the 1988 finding of the Drug Enforcement Administration's own administrative law judge, Frances Young. Who concluded after extensive testimony 'marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man',” (Nadelmann 214).

Instead of spending American tax dollars on advertisements which people will ignore, that money could go toward improving the lives of the citizens.

In the United States, the possession of marijuana lands more that 700,000 people in jail every year (Nadelmann 214), most of which have no other criminal records. That means that the number of people arrested for marijuana related crimes is “almost as the same number as are arrested each year for cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and all other illicit drugs combined” (Nadelmann 214). Clearly the U.S. government has overreacted and over the years this view has grown without many of the view-holders fully aware of the facts. In the some countries the use and sale of marijuana is legal and regulated as tobacco. For example, Amsterdam allows people to buy marijuana at coffee shops and the country does not seem to have a problem with abuse of the drug.

“Young people who smoke marijuana are to do so in coffee shops that openly sell the drug. There are rules governing these coffee shops. They are not allowed to sell alcohol or hard drugs. They may dispense no more than five grams of marijuana or hashish in any single transaction. Drugs may not be advertised. The shops must not cause any nuisance to local neighborhoods” (Gottfried 92).

Not all Americans agree that the same success with pot would happen in the U.S. Amsterdam and the other European countries, which do not prohibit the sale of marijuana, rely more on public transportation than most citizens of the United States. If pot were legal to the American public for personal use, laws prohibiting driving under the influence of marijuana should be enforced much like the laws regarding drinking and driving.

For a number of United States citizens that idea of marijuana legalization is a subject in which lies a lot of gray area. There are people who are totally against the idea, others who think that legalization is an imperative part of improving the quality of life in America, and many who are undecided on the matter. However, a plethora of American people who believe that marijuana should be legalized are vocal enough to gain national attention. Nadelmann states that “Marijuana Prohibition is unique among American criminal laws. No other law is both enforced so widely and harshly and yet deemed so unnecessary by such a substantial portion of the populace” (213). Many people disagree with the use of marijuana because of moral views but the same groups also disagree with tobacco and alcohol, both of which are not prohibited by law. Marijuana is no more dangerous than cigarettes or alcohol and therefore, should be legally treated as equals.

Above the Influence. “Drug Facts: Marijuana.” http:// www.abovetheinluence.com/facts/drugs-marijuana.aspx#. (2009)

Anderson, Tim. “Marijuana should be Decriminalized.” http: //www.themountaineeronline.com. (18 Nov 2008).

BBC. “Worship.” http: //www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafaria/customs/customs_1.shtml.(18 Mar 2009).

Califano Jr., Joseph A. “Marijuana is a gateway drug.” Espejo, Roman. Drug Abuse. San Diego: Green Haven, 2002.

Drug Policy. “Myths and Facts about Marijuana.” http:// www.drugpolicy.org /marijuana/factsmyths /#harms. (2009).

Gardner, Dan. “Legalizing Drugs would not cause an increase in Drug Use.” Espejo, Roman. Drug Abuse. Green Haven: San Diego, 2002.

Gottfried, Ted. Should Drugs be Legalized? Brookfield: Twenty First Century, 2000.

Guither, Pete. “A Brief History of the Criminalization of Cannabis.” http:// Marijuana.drugwarrant.com. (2009).

The Institute of Medicine. “Marijuana Use does not lead to Harder Drugs.” Espejo, Roman. Drug Abuse. San Diego: Green Haven, 2002.

Leachman, Dr.Mackenzie. “Welcome to High School: What to Expect of your teenager through High School.” http://www.pld.fcps.net/welcom/htm. (19 Mar 2009).

Murphy, Kevin and Dan Studney. “Reefer Madness History.” http: //web. archive.org/web/20060328163232/ www.reefer=madness-movie.com/index.html. (2005).

Nadelmann, Ethan A. “An End to Marijuana Prohibition”. Goldberg, Raymond. Taking Sides: Drugs and Society. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006.

NORML. “NORML Statement on the Cultivation of Industrial Hemp.”http://www.norml.com/index.cfm? group_ID=5447. (11 Dec 2006).

Office of National Drug Control Policy. “Marijuana and the Truth behind 10 Popular Misperceptions.” Goldberg, Raymond. Taking Sides: Drugs and Society. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006.

Rich, Alex K. “Legalization of Marijuana: an overview.” Points of View: Legalization of Marijuana. http: //search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=puh&AN=23554883&site=pov-live. (Feb 2007).

Stancliff, Dan. “California can lead the nation out of this depression by legalizing Marijuana.” http:// www.times-standard.com/ci_11865538?source=most=viewed. (08 Mar 2009)

Tam, Donna.” Marijuana Legalization Supporters say Bill could save Billions.” http: //www.times- standard.com/localnews/ci_11865543. (08 Mar 2009).

Medical Cannabis 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 prescription medicinescontaining cannabis 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.

Ricky Williams is back to his old ways and has failed yet another drug test. It is now being reported that last month he tested positive for marijuana use and his NFL return is now officially in jeopardy. Williams was already trying to return from a one-year suspension for failing a drug test, but his latest setback will prolong a decision on his return.

First year Roger Goodell will likely make an example out of Williams, and deservedly so. It is hard to imagine him getting yet another chance to embarrass himself and the league. It won't help his cause that Miami also has a new coach, Cam Cameron. Cameron will probably not put up with his shenanigans and is doubtful that the Dolphins will even ask Ricky to return. Miami has a talented backfield led by returning starter Ronnie Brown, a former Auburn University standout and first round draft pick. Brown has proven to be a durable NFL back surviving his first two seasons without losing much playing time. The Dolphins also acquired Florida State's Lorenzo Booker in this year's draft.

Ricky Williams is the latest in a long line of sports figures who have literally thrown away the opportunity of a lifetime over dope. I guess that's why they call it dope, because only a dope would mess with it. If I were a betting man I would bet that this is the end of the line for Williams. He is still on the hook for $8 million for walking away from the Dolphins prior to the 2004 season. I suppose the Dolphins could take him back at a minimum salary offer to work off some of this $8 million balance. Maybe they could put him on the scout team and let Jason Taylor and the defense pound on him some. At least the he might get some sense knocked back into him!

Williams has fallen a long way from 1998 when he won the Heisman Trophy at the University of Texas. His first few years in the league were promising until his drug abuse problems began to show up. Williams walked away from football in 2004 leaving the Miami Dolphins hanging without a viable option at running back. Many players and staff didn't forgive him for this, but first-year coach Nick Saban allowed him to return. Williams shared carries with Ronnie Brown that year, but Williams failed another drug test and was relegated to the Canadian Football League where he showed promise before breaking an arm.

Well, first off, there are many active ingredients in Medical Marijuana, which is to say it is not a single drug molecule, such as alcohol or cocaine, rather a combination of more than 400 diverse chemical components. In fact, they're so different that 60 of them (called cannabinoids) are exclusive to marijuana.

While we're discussing numbers, let’s point out that the primary mind-altering cannabinoid is a little item by the name of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or “THC”, for short. It's this chemical that triggers marijuana's main drug reactions and in turn effects the body and the brain.

Tetrahydrocannabinol is a mind altering compound that breaks up into at least 80 different byproducts (or metabolites) prior to being eliminated from the body… Which can take a while.

The mood altering process starts as soon as the medical cannabis THC enters the bloodstream, and begins zeroing in on Cannabinoid receptors (anandamides) in the brain and the central nervous system.

Boston — Ballot Question 2 in Mass. is a hot button issue in the days leading up to the presidential election. The current Mass. law states that anyone caught with any amount of marijuana will be arrested and tried as a criminal defendant in a court of law. If Ballot Question 2 passes, people caught with less than one ounce of marijuana would be issued a ticket similar to a traffic violation.

The amount of the ticket will be $100 dollars and the fine would go to whatever city the offense took place in.The benefit of the fine, rather than the arrest, is that it will reduce the number of people with criminal records, cut court costs for cities and towns and not tie up the police with the arrest and booking of someone caught with marijuana.

I firmly believe the current marijuana policy needs to be replaced with civil citations. People who use marijuana pose far less risk to the general public than those who consume alcohol, but they face arrest and prosecution for using marijuana. Unfortunately, drug use brings forward the image of the crazed addict who will do anything for their fix, when in reality, many productive members of society use marijuana without any ill effects whatsoever. If Ballot Question 2 passes, minors caught with any amount of marijuana would face a stiffer penalty. Their parents would be notified, there would be a $1,000 fine, and they would be forced to attend a drug education program.

Opponents of the sensible marijuana policy claim that by passing this bill we would be sending the wrong message to kids about drug use. Opponents also argue that it will make it easier for drug dealers to ply their trade without fear of being caught. I believe that the message that children get in our society is not from the laws we pass, but by the actions of their parents. I would have to agree that it will be easier for the marijuana dealers to sell marijuana if this ballot question passes. However if as a society we are willing to say that smoking marijuana is only a civil offense then wouldn't the logical conclusion be that those adults are procuring their marijuana from somewhere? Since we are already aware of this fact then the argument that it will make marijuana dealers freer to sell pot is lacking. It will still be a criminal offense to sell other drugs.

This is a polarizing issue in Mass., and I will be watching closely to see how people feel about this. One local poll reported that more than 70 percent of adults agree that marijuana should be decriminalized. We'll see if those 70 percent feel strongly enough about it to go out and vote for the decriminalization of marijuana.

Souces: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Massachusetts_Sensible_Marijuana_Policy_(2008)

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.

Marijuana is illegal, but should it be? That is a question that remains unanswered. The road to the illegalization of marijuana began in 1937 when the Marihuana Tax Act was passed. While it didn't make the drug illegal, it made it very dangerous to deal with the substance. It wasn't until the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 that marijuana became a schedule 1 narcotic, making it illegal. In order to be declared a schedule 1 narcotic, a substance must meet the following criteria:

(A) The drug or other substance has high potential for abuse.

(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

In this paper we will explore the function of drug laws, how that function relates to marijuana, and whether or not a law prohibiting marijuana is ethical and fair. In addition to the guidelines offered by the CSA, we will include our own reasons for controlling a substance, which are:

(A) The drug induces severe psychological affects, which cause unpredictable behavior that may endanger the user and those around them.

(B) Use of the drug could lead to crime.

(C) Use of the drug can lead to severe health problems.

The opposition to marijuana (in the modern day) stems largely from fears in regards to the possible psychological and physical health effects of the drug. Some claim that marijuana causes permanent damage to brain, hindering a person's cognitive skills over time. Others note personality changes such as loss of motivation, paranoia, and addiction.

Studies have shown the fears regarding personality to be justified. However, the general consensus is that the people most affected by marijuana in terms of addiction and personality changes, are people who began using the drug before the age of 18, a period in a child's life that is important to their psychological and social development. In fact, 10-14% of marijuana users suffer from addiction problems and withdrawal that is comparable to nicotine withdrawal, says University of Vermont associate professor and director of its Treatment Research Center, Dr. Alan J. Budney (Carroll).

According to the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA) marijuana can have lasting effects on a user's daily life. The following is taken from NIDA's information page of marijuana:

Research clearly demonstrates that marijuana has the potential to cause problems in daily life or make a person's existing problems worse. In one study, heavy marijuana abusers reported that the drug impaired several important measures of life achievement including physical and mental health, cognitive abilities, social life, and career status. Several studies associate workers' marijuana smoking with increased absences, tardiness, accidents, workers' compensation claims, and job turnover.

As for physiological health effects, the three main concerns are in regards to the brain, the heart, and the lungs. As mentioned earlier, many opponents to marijuana use claim that the drug causes permanent damage to the brain. Many studies dispute this notion, but we will cover that in more depth when we get to the pro-marijuana portion of this paper. Instead, we will focus on the areas in which scientific studies have been able to confirm potential health risks.

Research has shown that the risk for a heart-attack increases within the first hour of marijuana use. This happens because of an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. In addition to heart concerns, marijuana poses a threat to the respiratory system as it is carcinogenic and users tend to hold smoke in their lungs longer. While it was originally believed that marijuana smoke caused cancer new studies have proven otherwise, some even saying that the active ingredient in cannabis, THC, may be able to help prevent certain kinds of cancer (NIDA).

Nevertheless, the debate on medicinal marijuana has caused an increase in the amount of research regarding the drug, many of which have ended with surprising conclusions. In 15 different studies, varying from 3 months to 13+ years, scientists observed regular marijuana users and non-users to determine if there was any damage to the brain as a result of use. All of the studies conclusively proved that marijuana does not damage the brain permanently as previously believed. Other studies have produced similar results (WebMD).

Igor Grant, MD and lead researcher for the previously mentioned studies makes sure to mention that the participants were all adults and that the results would most likely be different if it was a 12 year old user, whose nervous system is still developing (WebMD).

In regards to addiction, ''Everything is relative,'' said Dr. Donald Jasinksi, a professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins medical school and director of the Center for Chemical Dependence at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. ''Does it destroy as many lives as alcohol? No. Does it kill as many people as cigarettes? No. Does it have as many deaths associated with it as aspirin overdose? No. (Carroll).''

While studies have shown a percentage of marijuana users to suffer from addiction to the drug, it is a small percentage of the population and an argument can be, and has been, made that anything can be addictive based on the emotional attachment a person has to an activity. The withdrawal period is far less severe than that of alcohol and other drugs. The NIDA has found that the average withdrawal begins after 1 day of abstinence, peaks at 2-3, and subsides after a week or two (NIDA).

As far as physical health effects, respiratory problems appear to be the only one that both sides agree on, but advocates of marijuana contend moderate use of the drug is less severe than cigarette use as cigarette users tend to smoke multiple cigarettes a day. Furthermore, alternative means of marijuana consumption such as eating it or using a vaporizer lower the amount of carcinogens that enter the lungs. Even more surprising, studies conducted in Italy and Britain have found that THC might be useful in fighting off bacteria (Fountain).

With the amount of studies that have been conducted on marijuana since the 1950s, and the nature of their findings, it is shocking as to why a collective conclusion has not yet been reached in regards to the legality issue of the substance. Based on the above information and the criteria established earlier for determining whether a substance should be controlled or not, we will systematically explore the ethical validity of a law prohibiting the use, growth, and sale of marijuana.

First, we must define the telos or function of a law. Certainly, most will agree that the function of a law is to protect the majority of the population from a dangerous element of society. If that is the function of a law then we must examine the societal effects of the illegalization of marijuana versus the potential dangers.

As a result of the prohibition of marijuana, millions of Americans have been arrested and entered into the justice system, with 872,721 people being arrested in 2007, 89% for simple possession (NORML). The number is a 5.2% increase from 2006, with the annual number of marijuana arrests rising steadily on a yearly basis (NORML).

The majority of people arrested for marijuana are non-violent offenders with no previous criminal record. This means they pose no threat to society. So what is the law protecting the population from? Themselves? This seems to be the case since the law has damaged more lives through legal troubles than it protected since most marijuana users do not use the substance and go on crime sprees.

If the law's function is meant to protect people from the health risks associated with the population then we must once again return to the studies conducted on the issue. While marijuana, like anything, has negative effects, it appears that overall it is no more dangerous than many legal substances such as alcohol, cigarettes, aspirin, etc. In the WebMD article, which talks about Igor Grant's research regarding the effects of marijuana on the brain, Lester Grinspoon, MD, a retired Harvard Medical School psychiatrist who studied medicinal marijuana use since the 1960s and wrote two books on the topic, says that while Grant's finding provide more evidence on its safety, “it's nothing that those of us who have been studying this haven't known for a very long time.”

“Marijuana is a remarkably safe and non-toxic drug that can effectively treat about 30 different conditions,” he tells WebMD. “I predict it will become the aspirin of the 21st century, as more people recognize this. (WebMD)”

While many credible minds in the scientific community warn about the dangers of marijuana use on people under the age of 18, the consensus seems to be that it is relatively safe to use for adults, especially when used in moderation.

If it poses little danger to a person's health, brings joy to those who use it, and its users are not prone to criminal behavior, what is the function of a law prohibiting marijuana? If, as a law, it is to protect the population from an assumed danger, is it serving that function? The answers to those questions are for the reader to determine based on the evidence and analysis presented within this paper, in addition to any evidence found independently.

Works Cited

Carroll, Linda. “Marijuana's Effects: More Than Munchies.” New York Times 22 Jan. 2008.

“872,721 marijuana arrests in 2007, up 5.2% from 2006.” NORML. 15 Sept. 2008. NORML. 22 Oct. 2008 .

Fountain, Henry. “Marijuana Ingredient May Fight Bacteria.” New York Times 5 Sept. 2008: F3.

“Info Facts - Marijuana.” National Institute of Drug Abuse. June 2008. National Institute of Drug Abuse. 22 Oct. 2008.

Kirchheimer, Sid. “Heavy Marijuana Use Doesn't Damage Brain.” WebMD. 1 July 2003. WebMD. 22 Oct. 2008 .

California electorate is divided over an initiative on the November ballot that would legalize marijuana for recreational use.The Public Policy Institute of Ca. poll out Wed (05/19/2010) found t 49 percent of likely voters would support legalization of cannabis, while 48 percent oppose it. The poll has a margin of inaccuracy of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The state of California already allows medicinal use of cannabis, but would become the first state to legalize recreational use if voters approve the initiative.The poll found that Democrats and independents are far more likely to support the initiative than Republicans. Not overly surprising. Support also is higher in the Bay Area, while L.A. and the Central Valley remain divided.The survey found that men are more likely to favor legalization than women.

In 2001, Canada became the first country in North America to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. The federal government sanctions marijuana farms for medical purposes. The government of B.C. for example, keeps tabs on these farms and limits the size of the crops. Citizens must have a license to legally obtain marijuana for health purposes. Some citizens grow a small crop in their homes providing they have the license to do so and the government has inspected that it is not big enough to be considered grown for commercial use.

The legal potency of this drug must be 20% and no stronger. There are various potencies of the cannabis and law accepts the “red roaster” potency.

Many people who grow these plants in the home for medicinal purposes grow hydroponics plants meaning they do not need soil or dirt to grow. These indoor plants are started from seeds, or a cut from a marijuana plant called a clone. They need food (nutrients) and light to grow. The plant will root and then flower. The whole growing process will take about four months.

These plants are usually very potent because they are use for medicine purposes. Marijuana has proven effective in regulating pain. The plants can be smoked like a cigarette, or placed in a bag, or put in various foods. For example, one licensed domestic grower in Quebec makes marijuana butter.

Cannabis was used for over 4,000 years as a pain reliever in China. It was also in wide spread use around the world until the 19th century and the invention of aspirin. The USA banned the use of Marijuana for pain relief in 1937.

The California Medicinal Marijuana Law, 1996, allows for medicinal use of marijuana for such illnesses as HIV/Aids, chronic pain, cancer, and mood disorders. The State leaves the actual regulation of growing the drug with each respect county.

Doctor Don Abrams is a cancer specialist operating at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion in San Francisco. He uses marijuana as a treatment for his cancer and HIV/Aids patients. His clients gain back their appetite, and report that they are no longer experiencing nausea and vomiting.

Studies have also been conducted showing the reduction of pain experienced by individuals afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis. Dr. Raphael Mechoulam of Jerusalem's Hebrew University is a leader in the research of cannabis for medicinal purposes. He recommends that marijuana be prescribed just as freely as any other drug. He states that the THC chemical in Cannabis could help the brain forget unwanted memories so vital for soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The endocannabinoid system (marijuana receptors in the brain) may also help regulate other neurological disorders such as Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's. Researchers at the Hadassah University Hospital also found that cannabinoid plants slowed down the onset of diabetes in genetically predisposed mice.

Many centers in Oakland California gave out Marijuana to their clients. The State of California has marijuana dispensaries everywhere you look. The city of Oakland just levied a tax of the sale of marijuana at the dispensaries.

Richard Lee owns a marijuana dispensary and has started a cooking school for marijuana, which he calls Oaksterdam. The curriculum of the school includes political and historical information, botany, and differentiation of the male and female plants.

However, even though it is legal at the California State level, the use of Marijuana as medication is not legal at the federal level and many clinics have been forced to shut down. The Federal Law to ban Marijuana use as a medicinal drug not only aims to shut down the California marijuana clinics, which has legalized dispensaries to sell the drug, but slows down the use in the other states which have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. These states are: Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregan, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

Well, the day both anticipated and feared by the medical marijuana community came today, when the new Los Angeles county law regulating Marijuana Dispensaries took effect.
A steady parade of filed into City Hall and paid their $324 registration fee, then were placed on the priority list of collectives that will be contacted within a month and notified if they are eligible to continue operation as a medical cannabis collective.
It was uncertain; however, what the outlook is for the more than 440 dispensaries that opened after the City Council imposed a cessation in November 2007. Many are ready to close, while still others hold out hope that a June 18 court hearing will topple the city law and allow them to continue operation.

Marijuana is a very easy plant to grow. It can even be grown indoors with little extra attention. Marijuana is legal in many states if used medicinally. Each state, county and city has different laws on the amount you can produce.

To avoid misunderstandings with your neighbor's you should probably grow your plants indoors. You will need fluorescent light. A 2 ft section of bulb is needed for each plant. The light should be about 24 inches above the plants. The best light source would be a 600 watt high pressure sodium lamp. You can pick one up online or at a grow store.

Starting with healthy seeds is very important. They should be green, not grey and large. Feminine seeds work the best because they keep growing longer and the plants are larger and contain the most THC. To keep growing great plants, save the seeds from your most robust plants. Before planting, soak the seeds in distilled water overnight.

The plants need a lot of soil. To grow each seedling use pots or even stryofoam cups with holes in the bottom so the water doesn't collect around the roots. Too much water can rot the roots. Use sterilized soil from a nursery or Home Depot. Add some sand and a little fertiliser to the mix. You only need to water about once a week. It will take 10 days to grow a seedling to transfer.

You should transplant your plant to a large growbox. Make sure to keep the soil from the pot attached to the root when you replant. You can use a commercial transplant chemical from a nursery to lessen the risk of a plant dying. To grow a large plant you will need about 1 cubic yard of soil. It will take about 12 to 16 weeks to grow a good sized plant. Plants need at least 8 hours of light per day but 16 hours is ideal. They need clean air so you need a oscillating fan going 24 hours a day.

In order to grow marijuana for yourself or others you must be licensed. To do this you must be someones legal primary care provider or to grow for your self you must get your doctor to recommend medical marijuana for treatment. This must be in writing. If you can't get it from your doctor you can go and see a doctor from the hemp and cannabis foundation. Every city or county is different so to get a card which gives you a legal right to produce medical marijuana you must go to your county's Web site or public office.

A young Montana man who was mauled after he smoked marijuana and entered a pen to feed a grizzly bear at Great Bear Adventures Park where he worked was awarded workers' compensation benefits. “When it comes to attacking humans, grizzlies are equal opportunity maulers; attacking without regard to race, creed, ethnicity or marijuana usage,” Judge James Jeremiah Shea is quoted as saying in the Flathead Beacon. “Hopkins’ use of marijuana to kick off a day of working around grizzly bears was ill-advised to say the least and mind-bogglingly stupid to say the most. However, I have been presented with no evidence by which I can conclude that Hopkins’ marijuana use was the major contributing cause of the grizzly attack.” I wonder if this young man will know qualify for a medical marijuana card?

Should defendants in a trial be forced to take a drug test?  Read one take on the topic.

A quick search of the Internet results in thousands of sites promising to help people pass their drug tests. Certainly, with more and more companies testing employees and perspective employees for drugs, there is a huge market for products that will allegedly eliminate traces of illegal substances from urine. But many of these products either don’t work, or contain ingredients for which laboratories are also screening. In fact, the state of Texas forbids anyone from buying these kits online, and companies that sell these products refuse to ship to addresses in Texas.

Obviously, the best way to pass a drug test is to refrain from using any substances! But the reality is, millions of Americans are casual users of marijuana, and their performance on the job is not affected in any way. Still, their use of this drug can prevent them from being hired for a job, and can also result in their being terminated should a random drug test be conducted. Is there a way to successfully rid one’s body of evidence of marijuana prior to a drug test?

To answer that question, it is important to understand how these tests work and what they are designed to detect. Most drug tests are for THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the primary active ingredient in marijuana. THC is absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract and metabolizes quickly. It is stored in the fat cells and continues to be absorbed by the bloodstream for up to 30 days after ingestion. 

Urine picks up THC from the bloodstream, which is why most drug tests are conducted on urine. Many of the products being advertised to help people pass drug tests contain some type of herb. These may be effective in temporarily removing THC from your system, but are will do nothing to remove the THC from fat cells. For years, goldenseal has been touted as “sure thing” in terms of helping people pass drug tests. But studies have shown that even this herb has no affect on the stored THC.
While no method is guaranteed, many people have been able to pass drug tests by temporarily diluting their urine, thus reducing the concentration of THC. The most common way to do this is to drink a lot of water just prior to the test. While the belief persists that a person should start drinking water three days in advance, this is completely unnecessary. Plan on drinking eight glasses of water just before the test. This will reduce the levels of THC in the urine to a point where it may be undetectable.

While diluting the urine reduces THC levels, it will also alter the color of the urine. Testing labs have been keeping up with trends, and if a urine sample is too clear, it will certainly be singled out as suspect. Taking vitamin B-2 or B-12 will ensure the diluted urine will remain yellow.

Some labs also test for creatinine levels. Again, diluted urine will contain much lower levels of this substance, and this may also lead to questions. To boost creatinine levels, eat a lot of red meat or other protein rich foods during the three days prior to the test. Sexual activity is also thought to boost creatinine levels.

Exercise helps burn fat. However, exercising increases the THC levels in the bloodstream, so it is a good idea to stop exercising a week before the test is scheduled, allowing the anabolic process to begin, storing the fat.

On test day, make sure to urinate several times before giving the sample, and make sure the sample is taken from the middle of the urine stream, just enough to satisfy the requirement.

Some people try to alter their urine with chemicals and other household products. Most do not work, and those that do can alter the pH levels and render the test invalid. Here are some products that do not work, despite claims to the contrary:

-Ammonia (Alters pH level and has a noticeable odor)
-Blood (Has no affect)
-Drain (Turns urine blue!)
-Hydrogen Peroxide (Normal household strength does nothing)
-Lemon Juice (No affect)
-Dish Soap (Tests negative but may suds up!)
-Lemon juice (No affect)

Another method that will ensure negative test results is substituting urine from someone who is clean. Of course, this won’t work if someone is charged with monitoring the testing. The sample must be kept at body temperature, and concealed until the time of the testing. This is the least advisable method, however.

No method of altering or diluting urine is foolproof, and as new means are developed to trick the tests, labs are developing more sophisticated tests to identify these new substances. While the issue of drug testing in the workplace is a hot topic, the reality is that employers are using these tests and people who smoke marijuana are finding themselves increasingly more limited as to where they can work. The best advice is that, if you are looking for a job, it might be wise to refrain from using marijuana prior to beginning your job search.

Medical Marijuana-friendly Oakland California is working hard at bring in money by licensing, and taxingmedical cannabis growers. Meanwhile, Oaksterdam “U” which has over 100 employees voted on Friday (5/29/10) to unionize as part of a retail agriculture and community patient care union. The Local 5’s organizer Dan Rush stated that medical cannabis clubs ,medical marijuana doctors and the industry as a whole “will get the same respect as law enforcement, nurses, doctors” …. Rebecca Kaplan, Oakland City councilwoman and prospective contender for mayor, told CBS that the unionization was “a good day for Oakland,” the city of Oakland has an unemployment rate of over 17 %.

The Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 - The Tax Cannabis 2010 Initiative would generate billions of tax revenue by legalizing marijuana. The Initiative could go on the California's 2010 ballot if enough voter signatures are collected. It proposes to tax and regulate marijuana similar to how alcohol is regulated and taxed.

The Initiative would “allow people 21 years old or older to possess, cultivate, and/or transport marijuana for personal use.” Each city/local government would be able to decide independently whether to tax and regulate the production and sale of marijuana. Other key aspects of the Initiative include: prohibiting possession of marijuana on school grounds, public use, or smoking it while minors are present. It maintains current prohibitions against driving while impaired and outlines serious punishment for anyone providing marijuana to those under 21 years of age.

Benefits
Legalizing marijuana would benefit States by providing much needed tax revenue. Take the profit from the underground and untaxed and place it in the hand of government to support libraries, schools, roads, police, firefighters, etc. An immense amount of money and resources would be saved. Prison would be reserved for serious offenders and probation officers could devote more time to serious probation and parole violations.

If passed, the Tax Cannabis 2010 Initiative would create contractor jobs as regulated stores open to market marijuana products. Regulation would make marijuana safer. To avoid the negative effects of smoking, marijuana can be ingested by drinking, eating or taking a pill! Vaporizers could be sold as a safer alternative to smoking. It eliminates tar and other harmful chemicals and emits very little second-hand smoke.

Facts
46% of Americans favor legalizing marijuana for personal use, according to a Views on Legalizing Marijuana polls from ABC News/Washington Post and Time/CNN.

56% of California voters support legalizing marijuana and taxing its sale, according to The Field Poll.

A number of U.S. cities have already changed prosecution priorities making adult marijuana possession for personal use their lowest priority.

Marijuana possession of up to one ounce is currently punishable with a fine of only $100 in California.

Massachusetts Joint Committee on Revenue held a public hearing October 14, 2009 on H2929, An Act to Tax and Regulate the Cannabis Industry. Richard Evans provided notes on the hearing.

The Federal laws on marijuana have little to do with a state decision regarding legalizing marijuana. The Feds only get involved in high-profile marijuana offenses.

Only 434,000 signatures of registered California voters are needed to qualify the Tax Cannabis 2010 Initiative for the November 2010 ballot. Richard Lee, the founder of the Oaksterdam University, in Oakland, California, is backed by former State Senate President Don Perata. Lee has already collected 25% of the needed 434,000 signatures, and he has pledged to spend $1 million of his own money to support the Tax Cannabis 2010 Initiative!

California
California has been known for setting standards in America and most of its residents recognize that a time for change has presented itself. The state is closer to passing the 2010 ballot since medicinal marijuana laws passed over a decade ago, in 1996. Medical marijuana advocates in California are not opposed to taxing the sale of medicinal or legalized marijuana sales. They understand the benefits legalizing marijuana would have for their great state.

Most residents of Oakland, California recognize the benefits their city would reap from legalizing marijuana to tax and regulate sales. “The new tax revenue will help save libraries, parks, and other public services, and that the once destitute area where Oaksterdam now thrives has seen a clear boost,” City Council member Rebecca Kaplan told Newsweek. Medical marijuana in smokeable and edible variations, sold at competitive prices, is available in Oaksterdam at multiple cafes, clubs and patient dispensaries.

Personal views on marijuana
Erin, my neighbor and mother of two, said she would be more comfortable with her kids smoking marijuana than getting drunk. Erin worries about the loss of inhibitions experienced with drinking. Erin recalls doing things she normally wouldn't do while drunk but never doing anything she wouldn't normally do after smoking marijuana. I tend to agree. I also know many doctors who would prefer marijuana over alcohol. In my experience, marijuana users are nonviolent as opposed to alcohol - a legal, highly addictive drug. Drinking often leads to brutal bar or spousal fights or people getting behind the wheel without understanding how impaired they are and take someone's life.

I purport the days of work missed by the alcoholic are much more than that of the chronic marijuana smoker. There is opposition to this point of view but I disagree. I believe in essence, most everything in life that is done in excess has negative effects.

Marijuana is said to be a gateway drug. Is this true or is it political propaganda? I believe it is the latter and found no supporting research. I have seen serious negative effects of heroine users, i.e. stealing, breaking and entering, to get money to support their habit. I have not seen this with alcohol or marijuana users or abusers.

I challenge anyone reading this to offer opposing views on why marijuana should not be legalized. It is legal for medicinal purposes in 13 states. There is a host of indications for the use of medical marijuana; over 250 to be exact. Why are prescription drugs handed out like candy while marijuana, with proven efficacy, remains completely illegal in most states? My answer - politics! Regardless of legality, marijuana is available for those who know the right people; prohibition doesn't work. The law does not stop them from purchasing it. Legalizing marijuana has serious benefits for cities and states through tax revenue and I do not understand why politicians do not get it.

Let's look at the Netherlands as an example
Hard drugs versus soft drugs: Holland differentiates “Hard drugs are those such as cocaine, ecstasy and heroin. Soft drugs are those such as marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms.” Here is a statistic that may surprise those who think legalizing marijuana will lead to increased use - Marijuana use in the Netherlands is lower than in many other European countries and a lot lower than the United States. In Holland, only 6% of had used marijuana in the past year, compared to 11% in the U.S.! The Dutch Ministry of Justice reports that the Nederweit industry (aka Netherlands weed) employs approximately 20,000 people. I found no negative criminal repercussions, such as increased crime activity. Even though marijuana is legal in the Netherlands, there is still an underground marijuana market.

List of Sources:
The Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010, Tax & Regulate Cannabis California 2010

Changing Views on Social Issues: Allemande Left. Allemande Right, ABC NEWS/WASHINGTON POST POLL: HOT-BUTTON ISSUES

Mervin Field, The Independent and Non-Partisan Survey of Public Opinion Established in 1947 as the California Poll, The Field Poll

Ranee Wright, Massachusetts Act to Tax and Regulate Cannabis, Associated Content

Richard Evans, Notes, Materials on Cannabis Taxation & Regulation

Oaksterdam University Faculty Oakland, Oaksterdam University

Jennifer Molina, Welcome to Potopia, Newsweek

Oaksterdam,Wikipedia

13 Legal Medical Marijuana States, ProCon.org

Marijuana and Dutch Law, Amsterdam Review

If Marijuana Is Legal, Will Addiction Rise?, The New York Times

Should the U.S. Legalize Marijuana?, Opposing Views

U.S. Representative Barney Frank is among 15 members of Congress urging for the Treasury Dept. to set policy that would help facilitate the banks in providing financial services to medical cannabis collectives.

“Legitimate state-legal medical marijuanabusinesses are being denied access to banking services, which does not serve the public interest,” the lawmakers said in a May 20 letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner.

In other words if you are a MMJ collective, or a MMJ Doctor’s office, etc… and in a medical marijuana state, you will be able to get a merchant card services account for your business.

Barack Obama is President of the United States, I am not. It is his job to get this economy up and running again, not mine, however, if I were President this is how I would have gotten the economy up and running. This is my own personal ten point stimulus plan.

Point One: I'd make sure that we passed regulations that ensured that contracts were clear to the parties involved. I am a HUGE supporter of free market capitalism and highly skeptical of regulations, however, I do support regulations when they ensure that all parties are consenting fully to what they are getting into. I don't believe that a person can consent without being fully clear on the terms of the agreement. I believe that in the case of the faulty mortgages (which led to the bubble that got us into this mess) many people were not fully aware of what they were getting into, therefore we must regulate this area more.

Point Two: There has been talk of relaxing mark-to-market rules. These rules require companies to keep track of financial statements and are designed to keep them from concealing information from investors. However, critics of mark-to-market argue that relaxing these rules would give banks breathing room. On the very day I write this there was a hearing on relaxing mark-to-market. It may have passed by the time you read this. Since I believe in recovery at all costs, at least a temporary relaxation is in order.

Point Three: Small business is the foundation of the American economy. We certainly do need more regulations at some macro level in the economy, although small business needs less. Sometime you ought to read Give Me A Break by John Stossel in order to see just how small business faces a stranglehold of regulation. I think that deregulation on small business is not debatable, it should be someting Republicans should support since it will give businesses breathing room and something Democrats should support if they truly want to help the middle class. We must always, always remember that debates on regulation vs. deregulation are a false flag, what we need to keep in mind is the difference between Big Business and small business and the different regulatory structures that these two groups need.

Point Four: Tax cuts for the middle and low-income families. This is one point where Obama really does get it. Cut out waste and we could make those tax cuts even bigger than they are now. In addition, we need to make sure we cover up the deficit with long-term gains in the economy and spending cuts once we no longer need to stimulate the economy with Federal spending. We can't fall into the trap of raising taxes on the rich. Sometimes I worry that people are in “punishment mode” and forget the finer points of how investment on part of the rich helps us all.

Point Five: I'd legalize illegal drugs like marijuana, as well as other victimless crimes like prostitution, gambling, etc. I'd also decrease the drinking age, relax smoking restrictions etc. Sure, this is the libertarian in me showing through but lets cut to a few points. First, when something is made illegal it creates a massive black market and ultimately raises the incentive. Secondly, treating drug use etc. like a medical/social problem rather than a criminal problem is more humane, practical, and I expect will cost less money (considering how much it costs to keep a criminal in prison. Thirdly, it will be a boon for our economy, considering how huge these industries are. Fourthly, it will increase civil liberties, after all, the government's snooping to stop these activities affects even those of us not doing them. Fifthly, it will open up a new area for revenue for the government. With revenue will also come regulation, ensuring that these things will be safer.

Point Six: Get rid of subsidies, tariffs, and price supports. These foolish protectionist policies protect a few jobs at the expense of keeping goods for all of us more expensive in the long run. By reducing and eventually eliminating protectionism, goods that we couldn't have imagined will now be in reach. The reduction in prices will boost consumer confidence and increase consumer spending, stimulating the economy and leading to job creation.

Point Seven: Reduce immigration restrictions. People often take out their economic frustrations on immigrants although I think that this is motivated mainly by bad economics, racism, or both than genuine concerns. The truth is that immigrants bring down prices and add diversity to the economy. Most importantly, we are having a situation where natives aren't reproducing fast enough, people are living longer, and the number of retirees on Social Security and Medicare increases while the number of people supporting them decreases. If we want to reduce this trend, we need to allow more immigrants in. This will take care of a very real future crisis and help our economy now. The more young people in relation to retirees, the lower payroll taxes can be… and you can possibly retire faster.

Point Eight: Perhaps the most radical of my points, along with point Point Five. We will restore limits on the terms of intellectual property. Excessive copywrite terms create a false monopoly and restricts innovation. What we need right now is as much innovation as possible. Innovation leads to prosperity. We need a freer culture! (Also don't forget how this hurts poor people, particularly in the area of medicine, it makes prices far higher than they need to be.)

Point Nine: Temporary increase in food stamps and welfare/unemployment payouts. We cannot keep this up forever because it is unsustainable, but what we need is to put as much money into people's hands as possible. This is an important temporary step in injecting money into local economies.

Point Ten: Very, very critically, we must improve education and make it affordable. I believe firmly in the power of competition over the power of central government. What we need is a school voucher program for lower and middle income people, and we need to extend these vouchers further, up to higher education. Decent education with real competition will get this economy running well for years to come.

Conclusions: I believe that this is a combination of the power of free markets and the need for government to act. The collapse and my subsequent studies have moved me somewhat from my formerly dogmatic laissez-faire position to a more moderate libertarianism. Additionally, social conservatives will probably raise Hell about Point Five, Big Business about point Eight, and teacher's unions about Point Ten. This could make these politically infeasible. Additionally, I note that these ten points tend to span the political spectrum. Point One, Five, Seven, Eight, and Nine are more “liberal” and Point Two, Three, Four, and Six, and Ten are more “conservative.” If this were passed as a comprehensive whole it could either rally bipartisan support or cause bickering. I'm worried that refusal to compromise could make it the latter. Finally, maybe the libertarian movement should take a look at these reforms as a package toward a more palatable, and therefore more feasible libertarianism. Just a thought.

California electorate is divided over an initiative on the November ballot that would legalize marijuana for recreational use.The Public Policy Institute of Ca. poll out Wed (05/19/2010) found t 49 percent of likely voters would support legalization of cannabis, while 48 percent oppose it. The poll has a margin of inaccuracy of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The state of California already allows medicinal use of cannabis, but would become the first state to legalize recreational use if voters approve the initiative.The poll found that Democrats and independents are far more likely to support the initiative than Republicans. Not overly surprising. Support also is higher in the Bay Area, while L.A. and the Central Valley remain divided.The survey found that men are more likely to favor legalization than women.

When I hear the name of President Reagen I think about the hard nosed fool who brought the unconstitutional war on drugs on the American people. Billions of dollars are spent each year hunting down, arresting, persecuting (not prosecuting) drug “criminals”, and locking them up. Giant government agencies were formed sucking up vast amounts of taxpayer money and all for nothing.

First off, what someone does to their own body is their own problem. If someone wants to shoot heroin, or smoke marijuana then let them. Freedom of Choice. Government should have no decision in the matter. Take a look at the prohibition on alcohol and what problems that solved. None at all, it just created problems. Al Capone and his hoodlums made tons of money off of bootleg booze and violence erupted because of it. The same is true for the drug trade today and has been for the last 30 years. Crack cocaine and crystal meth never would have been invented if there was no drug prohibition. People couldn't afford the good expensive cocaine and thus had to learn to cut it and mix with household chemicals, same with meth. The government effectively drove up prices and created cheap, highly addictive, highly volatile new drugs.

With that aside, all drugs don't even need to be legal, but they all should be. If marijuana alone was made legal, many of the US economic woes would be solved. This plant should be hailed and glorified not banned. The buds can be used for medicine. The stems/stalks are used to make clothes, paper, oils, lotions, and much more. This plant has never directly killed anyone. It is less intoxicating than alcohol. Why is it illegal?

How would marijuana solve the economic woes of the country you ask? First, it would get rid of all the non-violent marijuana “criminals” behind bars. Second, it would stop the paying of federal agencies to hunt down innocent civilians. Third, it could be grown as a crop creating many more jobs in the farming sector. Fourth, it would create jobs in the pulp/paper industry. New businesses would crop up to create marijuana processing machines. Operators would be employed to run these machines. Distributors would sell and market the items. Fifth, new industries would be created for legal hemp lotions, oils, clothes, wallets, handbags, flags, etc. Sixth, medical marijuana would be used for a great variety of ailments including insomnia, glucoma, pain. This would free up doctors, because patients would self medicate. All of these things would be taxable, meaning instead of money being spent by the government, money would be coming in to the government. Most importantly this plant grows in 30-60 days and can be grown year round indoor or outdoor making it renewable.

The most important thing though is that it would get rid of the violence that stems from the illegal drug trade of marijuana, effectively cutting off the money supply of drug dealers. If it was regulated and taxed like cigarettes or alcohol, the country would be much richer and the people much happier.