Marijuana

The use of marijuana in human civilization dates back to 6000 B. C. In this era, China found that cannabis seeds are edible and later discovered a greater use as textiles. From that time period, humanity has made significant advancement, and has discovered further uses for the marijuana plant. Today, marijuana can be used as medical cannabis to treat ailments that other medication cannot possibly treat. Although medical cannabis has some great benefits, in the many countries it is still illegal to possess and/or use.

Thus the legalization of marijuana should be legalized through its promising and beneficial results. Contrary to belief, medical cannabis has very few health risks compared to propaganda suggested to most people in mainstream media. Throughout the years many random and bogus facts of marijuana have circulated, many of these disputes however, have been debunk through actual scientific study done today. The monkey marijuana experiment in 1973 for example was a huge hoax. In the case study, the monkeys were exposed to marijuana smoke everyday and died after ninety days.

The autopsy report ruled that hey died to a dead brain through great loss in brain cells. Therefore, the conclusion of the study was that marijuana kills brain cells, but the experiment failed to report the monkeys were being suffocated for five minutes on a daily schedule for three months. The process of asphyxiation or suffocation causes lack of oxygen to the brain, which leads to death of brain cells. Soon after, many more theories have been tested and most of the so-called health risks were nothing more than hokum.

Marijuana has fairly less harmful effects, unlike other legal drugs such as: alcohol, tobacco, cetaminophen, amphetamine, OxyContin, Xanax, sleeping pills, and many other legal drugs. Adversely, compared to other drugs and the drugs listed prior, marijuana has very few health risks. Since there are very few scientifically proven health risks, they are much more minimal in harmful effects than other recreational drugs. Alcohol and tobacco for instance, have higher risk in use than marijuana.

The Center of Disease Control and Prevention states that: There are approximately 80,000 deaths attributable to excessive alcohol use each year in the United States. l This makes xcessive alcohol use the 3r d leading lifestyle-related cause of death for the nation. 2 Excessive alcohol use is responsible for 2. 3 million years of potential life lost (YPLL) annually, or an average of about 30 years of potential life lost for each death. l In 2006, there were more than 1. 2 million emergency room visits and 2. 7 million physician office visits due to excessive drinking. The economic costs of excessive alcohol consumption in 2006 were estimated at $223. 5 billion. 3 Compared to the average marijuana smokers, tobacco smokers frequently smoke more as stated in Mikaela Conleys ABC News article, “Among the study participants, the average pot smoker lit up two to three times per month. The average tobacco user smoked eight cigarettes per day. ” Due to the greater amount of frequency in lighting a cigarette the average tobacco smoke causes much more air pollution as well as second hand smoke.

In summation, the negative output of marijuana is miniscule compared to the negative output of most legal drugs/over the counter drugs. The medical uses of prescribed a mysterious herb as tea. This tea was marijuana and was used to treat, everything from pain relief to earache to childbirth. Doctors also warned against overuse of marijuana, believing that too much consumption caused impotence, blindness and “seeing devils. (Stack& Suddath)” Ever since then the uses of medical cannabis has varied from nausea to cancer and even to pain relief.

According to “Disabled World”, Few herbs offer a wide variety of therapeutic applications like these: Relief of muscle spasms, relief of chronic pain reduction in interlobular pressure inside the eye, suppression of nausea, weight loss – increase and restore etabolism, AIDS – Marijuana can reduce the nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting from the condition itself and the medications as well. Today, medical cannabis remains one of the most controversial social issues around the world.

Although many people disagree with the drug, for one boy it proved valuable results. Jayden David of California suffers from a, “debilitating form of epilepsy, which causes him to experience frequent seizures – some lasting up to 90 minutes. (Fox40)” This only treatment for his epilepsy prior to medical marijuana was twenty types of medication hat he must take everyday in order to control his epilepsy. Once Jayden was on CDB (cannabidol), “Jayden’s seizures are down approximately 80 percent. Jayden is functioning now,’ David, of Modesto, Calif. told Fox 40. ‘The doctors told me Jayden would never walk or talk. ‘ (Fox40)” This is Just one of the stories of many lives that medical cannabis has managed to improve, including: cancer, chemotherapy, anorexia, bulimia, and many other ill patients. Due to its already besmirched image, the process in which obtaining medicinal marijuana has become such a hurdle that it is much harder to obtain than it should. Along with its beneficial results as medical cannabis, marijuana could have a substantially great impact on economy.

With the drug being legal, less police force is needed to enforce the law, thus saving a substantial amount of taxpayer’s money from the “get-go’. The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition in the United States reveals that, “The report estimates that legalizing marijuana would save $7. 7 billion per year in government expenditure on enforcement of prohibition. $5. 3 billion of this savings would accrue to state and local governments, while $2. 4 billion ould accrue to the federal government. This is Just from deprivation of reduced police force, TBIMP states that, “50% of possession arrests are due solely to marijuana possession rather than being incidental to some other crime. ” Declaring the arrest rate of 50% of all arrests are marijuana possession shows and reinforces the idea of how much the United States can save with reduced arrests and enforcements. In addition to the legalization of the drug, it could be taxed and distributed as a product worldwide for increase GDP in not only the United States, but also many other countries. However in the U. S. he estimated report says it would yield is, “$2. 4 billion annually if marijuana were taxed like all other goods and $6. 2 billion annually if marijuana were taxed at rates comparable to those on alcohol and tobacco. ” Increase of new product in the market allows more economic growth worldwide. If the enormous revenue of legalization of marijuana is so great, it imposes the question of the legitimacy of illegalization of a drug in the first place, and to answer that question frankly it should! morality of it (which is the only answer to the question imposed prior to this entence).

Most people against marijuana say that it is a drug and it is bad, but hold no other credible evidence of it truly being “bad”. In 1920 the United States imposed an alcohol prohibition because of their morale of it being “bad”. Just like marijuana alcohol is a drug, and has many pros and cons, such as medical uses like a disinfectant as well as a recreational drug. The hypocrisy came when the government imposed the prohibition when the motto has been “for the people by the people”. This lack of representation of the people caused one of the greatest failures in law reation since slavery.

Not only did prohibition fail in stopping people from drinking alcohol, it also increased the amount of people drinking as well as crime rate. The distillation process of making alcohol became a homemade Job, but due to the lack of proper equipment and sanitation this beverage was much more hazardous to drink. It was estimated at least ten thousand people died during the enforcement of the 1920 to 1933 Prohibition. During this time the profit of making alcohol skyrocketed, which made it more tempting to break the law.

Along with the increase crime rate, it as also reported that vandalism and public disturbances increased. This example is currently like the prohibition of marijuana, not only is it making crime more profitable, but it is also increasing the negligence of the people consuming and the law enforcement. However, due to a greater understanding of responsibility and information of recreational drugs, modern day society has allowed awareness in safety of alcohol consumption. This awareness could also be used for marijuana, Just as it has been done for tobacco and other drugs.

In summation, the use of marijuana medically and recreationally has been around ince the beginning of civilization, and should still be continued today; Just as Bert Lance once said, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. ” In addition, the legalization of marijuana should Just be reinstated prior to it’s ban through its promising medical uses for all sick and ill patients, its beneficial economic results for everybody, and its use as a reminder that public opinion are still held accountable; even with the modern political Jargon going around today.

So, for the sake of the ill who needs the drugs, to us, the people who could benefit from the drug, we should keep in mind that the ecision is more than Just a basis of morality, but also the basis of something for all. “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one.

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Marijuana Marijuana is a psychoactive drug, and is the most controversial of these types of drugs. The reason being is that there are so many myths and misconceptions that surround marijuana. It is not clear about the addiction potential, physical and psychological problems of marijuana. . Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America behind only alcohol and tobacco, and has been used by nearly 100 million Americans (marijuana). Marijuana is widely used and it is estimated that nearly 25% of Americans have used marijuana once in their lives and that 2-5 million people use it daily despite it being illegal.

Marijuana is a mixture of crushed leaves, flowers, small branches, stems, and seed of the hemp plant. This plant grows best in tropical climates and can be found throughout the world. Most countries cultivate this plant on purpose. Cannabis Indica species can withstand colder climates (“Marijuana, history of,”) If marijuana were to become a cash crop it would be the largest grown in the United States. It is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world, following caffeine, nicotine, and alcoholic beverages in the popularity.

In the United States, where the route of admission is usually smoking, it also has been called weed, grass, pot, or reefer (“Marijuana, history of,”). Marijuana is a depressant. The effects of marijuana may vary with its strength and dosage and with the state of mind of the user. High doses can cause tachycardia, paranoia, and delusions (“Marijuana, history of,”). Marijuana can also have a psychedelic effect in high doses. With this being said, marijuana is classified as both a depressant and a psychedelic.

Marijuana does produce some of the same effects as hallucinogens like a LSD or mescaline, but it differs chemically and pharmacologically. Marijuana is made up of many chemicals. There are currently 426 known compounds in the plant. When marijuana is burned there are 1500 additional compounds that are formed. The chemical compounds that are found in marijuana only are called cannabinoids. These cannabinoids are the most active and mind-altering ingredients in marijuana. The primary active component of marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), although other cannabin derivatives are also thought to be intoxicating.

In 1988 scientists discovered receptors that bind THC on the membranes of nerve cells. They reasoned that the body must make its own THC-like substance. The substance, named anandamide, was isolated from pig brains in 1992 by an American pharmacologist, William A. Devane (“Marijuana, history of,”). The potency of marijuana is determined by the amount of THC present. All the parts of the plant have different concentrations of THC. So the mixture of the plant material used and the conditions of how the plant was grown determines the potency of this drug sold on the street.

The root of this plant has no THC value, the stalk have very little value, there is some THC found in the branches, there is a moderate amount of THC found in the leaves(male has 5 leaves and female has 7 leaves), and the highest amount of THC concentration will be found in the buds, flowers and seeds. The concentration of THC has increased over the past 30 years. Marijuana is 25 to 40 times more potent than it was in the 1960’s, it’s up from . 2% to 5-8% pure today. Marijuana dates back to 2700 B. C. in ancient China. The plant was used to make rope, cloth, and paper from its fiber.

It was during this time that the resins, flowers, and leaves from the plant could also be used for medical use. It was used to treat gout, malaria, and gas pains. It was by 500 B. C. that the Chinese put a ban of the use of the plant because of it unpredictable intoxicating effects. Marijuana was introduced into ancient India mainly for the mind altering effects. Marijuana was used in religious ceremonies the euphoria producing ability. It didn’t take long for the plant to be recognized for its intoxicating effects and its value in making rope and cloth.

In America the public didn’t show any interest in marijuana as a recreational drug. It was just used in medicines. It was primarily prescribed legally for a numerous physical and mental aliments until 1940. In fact when Congress passed the Harrison Narcotics Act in 1914, many drugs were removed from the marketplace, but it excluded marijuana. It was not until the prohibition of alcohol that marijuana smoking became prominent. The Mexican immigrants were introducing marijuana along the Mexican border, while West Indian sailors were bringing it into the Gulf States.

People no longer could legally use alcohol in and get their intoxicating effects so smoking marijuana became very popular. It became apparent in the 1930’s that marijuana was being abused and there was an increase in violence because of its use. Tales were beginning to spread of the effects, murder, rape, sexual excess, and memory loss from using marijuana. The federal government tried to scare the public with a film called “reefer madness”, but it actually did more harm than good. In 1935 the states took action and started passing their own laws towards non-medical use of marijuana.

In 1937 the federal government stepped up and passed a Marijuana Tax Act that prohibited the use of all non-medical marijuana, the possession and use of cannabis nationwide. Marijuana came back on the scene during the World War II era. It was extensively cultivated during the World War II era, when Asian sources of hemp were cut off (“Marijuana, history of,”). It was commercially grown. The Philippines were being invaded by the Japanese so there was no sisal plant to make rope. American farmers were actually encouraged to the marijuana plants for rope production.

Birds loved the seeds of this plant and when they would leave their droppings it would start wild plants of marijuana to grow throughout the United States. Marijuana became a very popular drug of choice because of its availability. Today marijuana is a widely used illegal drug among many ethnic groups. Hipics are among 9. 2 percent of users; non-Hipic blacks (7. 7% , nearly 8 percent of females used marijuana in the past year vs. 14% of males used in the past year); non-Hipic whites (6. 7%, nearly 7 percent vs. 11 percent); Asian/Pacific Islanders (2. 0%, 2% vs. 7. %); South Americans (4. 2%, more than 4% vs. 13 percent). It can be found on the street for a price of $250-500 ounce depending on where it is bought. The cheapest is in Oregon at $258 ounce and most expensive in Washington D. C. at $486 ounce. Age itself is one of the most significant variables in understanding marijuana use. Past-year use of marijuana increased with age, to a peak prevalence of about 23 percent among 18 -25 year olds, before declining to about 44 percent among persons aged 35 and older. Among adults, male smoking rates for marijuana are nearly twice those for females.

IN the total surveyed population, males were about 70% more likely than females to have used marijuana in the past year (11 percent versus 6. 7, nearly 7 percent). The only exception to the data showing more male smokers of marijuana than females occurs among children and teens. There still remains controversy over the medical uses of marijuana. Proponents are saying that it is useful for treating pain and the nausea and vomiting that are side effects of cancer chemotherapy and for restoring the appetite in people with AIDS (“Marijuana, history of,”) Modern research uggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief-in particular (neuropathic pain), nausea, plasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant, specifically for patients suffering from HIV, the AIDS wasting syndrome, or dementia (Marijuana). What are the acute effects of marijuana? Marijuana can reach the brain through the bloodstream in less than 30 seconds of smoking a joint. It delivers a physical and psychological effect rather quickly.

The peak of the effects is usually reached by the time smoking is finished. If a person wants these effects to last longer they would have to consume the marijuana orally from brownies for example. This would allow the marijuana to be absorbed into the system much longer and these effects would last over 2-3 hours. It only takes a single use of marijuana to impair a person’s motor coordination. The person who just used marijuana may think that they are just fine, but they are really clumsy. This kind of thinking from a person under the influence only spells disaster waiting to happen.

A person under the influence of marijuana and their ability to follow a moving stimulus is greatly diminished and can last up to 4-8 hours beyond the point of intoxication. This would interfere with their driving skills. Also their ability to perceive light will be significantly impaired and would be a major risk for someone operating heavy machinery. Marijuana has some serious physical effects on a person. Although legalization activists and many marijuana users believe smoking pot has no negative effects, scientific research indicates that marijuana use can cause many different health problems (The health effects of marijuana, n. . ) . Smoking a single joint of marijuana is the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes. Marijuana has at least 50% more tar and carcinogenic materials than cigarettes. Because marijuana is not filtered it enters the lungs at a temperature hotter than cigarette smoke and thus drying and irritating the tissues in the lung. Marijuana has been shown to increase the heart rate. Within a few minutes after smoking marijuana, the heart begins beating more rapidly and the blood pressure drops.

Marijuana can cause the heart beat to increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute, and can increase even more if other drugs are used at the same time (The health effects of marijuana, n. d. ) It is because of the lower blood pressure and higher heart rate that the researchers have found that a person smoking marijuana has a 4 times greater risk of heart attack compared to them not smoking marijuana. If a person is aware that they have heart disease they should avoid the use of marijuana. Marijuana can hurt the immune system of a person’s lungs.

Smoking marijuana can paralyze or destroy the anti-infection white blood cells of the lungs. It is because of this that most smokers will develop laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, cough, hoarseness, and dry throat. Research indicates that THC impairs the body’s immune system from fighting disease, which can cause a wide variety of health problems. One study found that marijuana actually inhibited the disease-preventing actions of key immune cell (The health effects of marijuana, n. d. ) . There have been recent studies that show marijuana can depress T cells.

The depressing of T-lymphocyte functions known as “killer T cells” would make a person more susceptible to the AIDS infection. The greatest concern is the fact that marijuana is a drug. Some of the most profound effects occur in the brain. Marijuana produces a sense of euphoria, but it also produces anxiety, confusion and if used heavily-drug induced psychosis. Not to mention the effects on reflexes, vision, and motor coordination. Marijuana has effects on long-term memory, because studies suggest that marijuana will fill a synaptic gap between brain cells which stops the flow of electrical signals.

Marijuana users experience burn-out or amotivational syndrome from regular use. They have a lack of concern for the future, loss of motivation, loss of ambition, loss of effectiveness, dullness, diminished ability to carry out long term planning, difficulty in concentration, intermittent confusion, impaired memory, and a decline in work and school performance. There are treatments for marijuana disorders. Marijuana dependence may appear to be very similar to other substance dependence disorders, but the long term clinical outcomes may be less severe.

The adults who are seeking treatment for marijuana abuse or dependence have used marijuana nearly every day for more than 10 years and have attempted to quit more than six times (“Marijuana abuse,”). Let it be noted that marijuana dependence is most prevalent in patients that are suffering from other psychiatric disorders, who are mostly adolescents or young adults. Usually dependence in marijuana co-occurs with other drugs such as cocaine and alcohol. Studies indicate that effectively treating the mental health disorder with standard treatments involving medications and behavioral therapies may help reduce annabis use, particularly among heavy users and those with more chronic mental disorders. Behavioral treatments, such as motivational enhancement therapy (MET), group or individual cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and contingency management (CM), as well as family-based treatments, have shown promise (“Marijuana abuse,”). Success rates of those seeking treatment are modest and even the most effective treatment for adults will only achieve 50% abstinence in a 2 week period. Those that do achieve a full two week abstinence, more than half will resume use within a year.

Across studies, 1 year abstinence rates have ranged between q0 and 30 percent for the various behavioral approaches (“Marijuana abuse,”). This data suggest that a more chronic care model should be considered for marijuana addiction. The intensity of the treatment can be stepped up or down based on the patients need. The availability of family and other supports are needed. There are currently no medications to treat the abuse of marijuana, but there is ongoing research being conducted. The studies are mostly targeting the withdrawal syndrome of marijuana.

For example, a recent human laboratory study showed that a combination of a cannabin agonist medication with loffexidine ( a medication approved in the United Kingdom for the treatment of opioid withdrawal) produced more robust improvements in sleep and decreased marijuana withdrawal, craving, and relapse in daily marijuana smokers relative to either medication alone(“Marijuana abuse,”). There have been recent discoveries about endogenous cannabin systems inner workings. It raises the possibility of a future medication that would be able to block THC’s intoxicating effects.

This would prevent patients from relapsing by eliminating marijuana’s appeal. References Abbott, A. (2010). Alcohol tobacco and other drugs (2nd ed. ). Washington, DC: NASW Press. Colorado and washington legalized marijuana today, what happens now? (2012, November). Retrieved from http://blog. norml. org/2012/11/08/colorado-and-washington-legalized-marijuana-tuesday-what-happens-now/ Demographics of marijuana users. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. opposingviews. com/i/gov-t-stats-reveal-demographics-of-adult-marijuana-users Drug facts: marijuana. (n. d. ). Retrieved from

he Controlled substance act pertaining to Marijuana has been a long on going battle as to whether marijuana should be legal in Canada and taken out of this act. The law behind the drug has a long history and many failed attempts at decriminalization. There are both positive and negative effects to this law, but I believe the positive effects weigh out the negative and that because of this marijuana will be legal in the near future.

The Marijuana laws in Canada today are unresolved, as superior courts have ruled all cannabis laws to be of “no force or effect”. Although the federal level of courts have made this ruling it has not caused any changes to other Canadian jurisdictions, the Criminal Code or the Controlled Substances Act. (“Legal History of Cannabis in Canada) The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act was passed in 1996 by the government under Prime Minister John Cretien. It is Canada’s federal drug control statue. This act outlines penalties for possession, trafficking and production of the substances established as illegal, including Marijuana. “Controlled Drugs and Substances Act) Canadian laws pertaining to drugs began in 1908 with the opium act, which was replaced by the opium and narcotic drug act in 1920. Marijuana however was not added to the confidential restricted list until 1923. (“Legal History of Cannabis in Canada”) Marijuana and the laws surrounding the issue only started to receive attention in the 1930’s and even then it was very minimal. It wasn’t until the 1960’s where problems arose with the law. At this time the maximum penalty for possession of small amounts of cannabis was 6 months n prison and a $1000 fine. A government injury was commissioned and public hearings were held to analyze the law over a period of three years. A report on the findings of this inquiry was published in 1972. The “La Dain Commission” suggested that penalties for can ibis possession be abolished, but to not legalize the substance. Of course this proposal was denied, along with other potential law reforms over the years. (“here to help”) In Recent Years the fight for the decriminalization of Marijuana has been more persistent.

Research showed that Marijuana for medical use could help a number of ailments and disieses. Medical Marijuana in Canada was made legal in 2001 for things such as HIV, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord disease and injury, anorexia severe pain, seizures and persistent muscle spasms. (“Legal History of Cannabis in Canada”) Along with the boost in medical use came a boost in personal use. According to a report from the United Nations Canada is the highest in marijuana use in the industrialized world and more than four times the global rate. “Canadian Pot Use Four Time Global Rate”) In May 2002 Chretien introduced a bill to decriminalize marijuana for personal use. This bill was denied mainly because of pressure from the U. S and a threat to slow down border crossing between the two countries. Paul Martin in 2004 tried to pass an almost identical bill, which was also rejected. (“Legal History of Cannabis in Canada”) It was in 2007 when Justice Minister Rob Nicholson and the conservative minority government introduced Bill C-26, which presented mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenders (“Controlled Drugs and Substances Act”).

A recent poll released by Toronto’s Forum Research showed that majority of Canadians support relaxing marijuana laws. In fact it showed that 65 % of Canadians support either the decriminalization in small amounts or legalization and taxation of the substance. (Ballingall) Unfortunately with the new mandatory minimum sentences it seems our laws do not reflect societies views. (Wood, Antweiler) Although it seems Canadians and Americans are in favour of decriminalizing Marijuana it is important to understand the reason these laws are there in the first place.

Marijuana is harmful to ones health and to youth. The president of the Canadian Police Association believes Canadians are trying to decriminalize marijuana prematurely. He says supporters of change are overlooking the risks. “We don’t have the tools and the training available to us now to ensure that people aren’t driving cars, for example, or operating machinery, while they’re impaired by Marijuana” he said. “ There are all kinds of implications that I don’t think people are considering carefully enough… Its still a harmful substance ultimately” (Ballingall)

That being said there are many negative effects to having the prohibition of Marijuana in place. The Union of B. C municipalities passed a resolution summoning research be done looking into the . They came to the conclusion that the prohibition has been ineffective in deterring youth use, and production of the plant. (Wood, Antweiler) It seems that other measures need to be taken in order to ensure the youth of Canada don’t use drugs recreationally, and criminalizing marijuana has little effect. Researchers from the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser’s university have estimated B.C’s marijuana market would be worth more than $500 million annually. Unfortunately most of the revenue goes to criminal organizations. (Wood, Antweiler) This number is based on one province alone, think of how much this number would go up if the whole country were involved in their research. The profiting of criminal organizations in turn causes more violence, guns and other illegal activity in the country. If Canada were to legalize and tax cannabis the government would then receive all the profits, this money could fund government programs such as health care, social assistance and education.

It would also significantly decrease criminal activity, and save money in courts and jails. One of the main reasons in the past for the prohibition on marijuana was the negative response from the U. S, however there are now 12 states that have decriminalized Marijuana (Wood, Antweiler) meaning there is less pressure from our bordering Country. This and the obvious preference of legalization from Canadian citizens means it is only a matter of time before marijuana is officially decriminalized, taken out of the Controlled Drugs Act, the criminal code and consistent laws in all Canadian jurisdictions.

This I believe will come first, and potentially government controlled sales and taxation shortly after. It would be insane for the government to not take seize the opportunity to bring in so much revenue for the country. It seems as though the prolonged struggle to still needs time and The Controlled Substances Act will remain as it is for a while longer. Although there are potentially many positive effects to decriminalization and controlled sales for taxation It is clear Canada still need the time to prepare to ensure it is done safety, effectively and not detrimental to youth.

Canadians may be ready for a change and the government will eventually have to surrender, regardless of minor health issues cannabis causes.

Bibliography

1. Ballingall, Alex. “Canada. ” Thestar. com. The Toronto Star, 20 Nov. 2012. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://www. thestar. com/news/canada/2012/11/20/marijuana_legalization_or_decriminalization_backed_by_most_canadians_poll. html>.
2.  “Canadian Pot Use Four times Global Rate. ” Canadian Pot Use Four times Global Rate. N. p. , 10 July 2007. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://www. canada. com/nationalpost/news/story. html? id=67996149-9dee-4a3a-a86e-f7a022274658>. .
3. “Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. ” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 Oct. 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Controlled_Drugs_and_Substances_Act>.
4. Hathaway, Andrew. “Legal History and Cultural Experience of Cannabis. ” Www. heretohelp. ba. ca. N. p. , 2009. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://www. heretohelp. bc. ca/visions/cannabis-vol5/the-legal-history-and-cultural-experience-of-cannabis>.
5. “Legal History of Cannabis in Canada. ” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 Apr. 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_Canada&

Marijuana can be found on every college campus in Canada and is the drug of choice coming in right behind alcohol. The Department of Justice Canada conducted a survey and found that, “almost one-third (29%) of college students had reported using marijuana during the previous 12 months of 1998. (http://www. justice. gc. ca/eng/pi/rs/rep-rap/2002/qa02_2-qr02_2/p2. html). According to a similar study, the majority of students on college campuses that use marijuana will also participate in other high risk activities.

This destructive behavior includes things such as cigarette smoking, binge drinking and sex while intoxicated. Marijuana is so easy to obtain and can be very tempting to experiment with, especially if you have already had a few drinks and your thinking is impaired. Marijuana causes many internal and external problem for a college student, Marijuana can lead to academic problems, addiction, and physical/mental issues, marijuana can also lead to serious problems with the law. All these issues can potentially damage the outcome of a student’s future.

Marijuana prices have a major effect on the amount of use by college students at any given point in time. Although it may be more socially available on college campuses, the price still determines the usage. The fact that marijuana is illegal in Canada helps to keep the price at a seemingly higher level. This artificial price illusion regulates the buying, selling and usage among college students. Compared to alcohol, marijuana is much more accessible, especially on college campuses. Getting alcohol requires an ID or someone with an ID.

Getting marijuana only requires someone that supplies the drug. So even though it is illegal, marijuana is seemingly more common. Since possession of marijuana is illegal, it is not surprising that the consequences can be so debilitating. While attending college with federal financial aid, you run the risk of jeopardizing your federal aid by being charged with a misdemeanor. Possession of marijuana is considered a misdemeanor and if you are charged, the federal government has the right to take away any government aid that you were granted.

So not only do you have a record for possession, but more than likely you are going through the judicial system of the college or university and may be suspended or expelled. Marijuana use can also lead to academic problems. Students that participate in these behaviors have a tendency to spend more time socializing than concentrating on what they should be, their academics. These students spend more time partying than studying which greatly affects their academic performance. Two of the physical effects of marijuana that directly affect academics are difficulty in problem solving and poor memory.

Students may become less and less motivated to be involved in campus activities, and also may become decreasingly concerned with their long-term goals and career plans. Users may have a hard time limiting their use and may build a tolerance to the drug. This tolerance means that the user now requires a larger amount of the drug to get the same effect, and may develop problems with their jobs and personal relationships because the drug becomes such a major part of his or her life. Many students see marijuana as a “recreational” drug.

With increased “recreational” use, the drug can become addictive. It is not so much an addiction, but a psychological dependence for smoking, and that feeling of intoxication. However, besides being illegal, marijuana may contain unknown contaminants that can severely harm your brain and lungs. With all of the risks of the drug, it is amazing that people still use it “recreationally”. It is common for students to first experiment with their peers, whether it be a friend, sibling or just an acquaintance. The peer pressure is the most likely cause of first time users.

Physical effects of marijuana are different according to the way in which it is taken, where it is used, the expectations and or ideals of the user, and whether or not it is used in conjunction with other drugs. Users often have chronic bronchitis and increased chances of getting lung cancer. Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers have. Marijuana also affects the brain, researchers say that THC changes the way in which sensory information gets into and is acted on by the hippocampus.

The immediate effects of marijuana other than a feeling of intoxication are: bloodshot eyes, anxiety, confusion and paranoia, loss of coordination, and increased appetite. Mental effects show that the drug can impair or reduce short-term memory, alter sense of time, and reduce ability to do things which require concentration and coordination. Marijuana’s effect on a student can tally up to some very serious consequences that a student can suffer, the cause and effect of marijuana lead to problems of addiction, health problems, trouble with the law and poor academic performances.

Alcohol and marijuana are two drugs commonly used and abused in the United States. Alcohol is the number one abused drug, while marijuana is number one among illegal drugs. While alcohol remains legal, and marijuana illegal, this does not necessarily mean that alcohol is better for you. There have been many arguments where people suggest that marijuana should be legal because alcohol is more deadly. On the other hand, there are alcoholics who would tell a pothead that smoking weed is bad for you.

Both substances are very bad for your health and should not be heavily used by anyone but we do need to be a little more piteous to the people that do drugs because you don’t know what they go through in life . Although, Marijuana has such a bad reputation Marijuana is one of the most common drug today and its also arrant. But what exactly is marijuana? Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seed, and flowers of the hemp plants. There are a lot of names for this drug and they are: pot, herb, weed, grass, boom, mary jane, gangster, or chronic.

Marijuana has been around for many years and has been thought to be illegal and harmful. But marijuana has been used for medical reasons, including: medicine, hemp rope, crude cloth and enjoyment. Why do young people use marijuana? There are many reasons why they do that and most young people smoke marijuana because their friends or brothers and sisters use marijuana and pressure them to try it. others may think its cool to use marijuana because they hear songs about it and see it on TV and in movies. Some teens may feel they need marijuana and other drugs to help them escape from their problems at home, at school, or with friends.

Alcohol is a drug that is classified as a central nervous system depressant. There are three forms of alcohol, beer, wine and distilled spirits. Alcohol is one of the most commonly used drugs in the United States and has more adverse effects that most other drugs combined. There are many aspects to consider when thinking about alcohol as a drug. There are many myths surrounding alcohol, including who uses it, what its effects are on users, social and sexual situations and the amounts people drink. The vast majority of the American population uses alcohol and in many various ways and this also causes different effects.

Alcohol is also has a great causation in crimes committed by users, social, medical, and educational problems as a result of use as well. Marijuana and alcohol are similar in many ways because weed and alcohols seems to satisfy most teenagers in today’s world. Some of there similar effects are that they both make you very hungry and sleepy and they both make you escape from reality. When I say they both make you escape from reality I mean that most people drink in smoke because they are going through something and they just don’t want to think about it anymore and that’s how they escape from reality.

If they were to get rid of marijuana and alcohol I think that would be very formidable. As you can see marijuana and alcohol are the most common drugs used in today’s society but does that make it right for everyone to do them? Should alcohol be illegal since marijuana is illegal or should they both be legal? Those are some of the questions you have to ask yourself because just because your friends are drinking and smoking doesn’t mean you have to drink and smoke also, jus be above the influence!

A proposal to the public Marijuana was first used in 2737 B. C for medical purposes by the Chinese for things like rheumatism, gout, and malaria. Though it was also used recreationally by ancient cultures, it was known more for its medicinal purposes. In 1545 the Spanish brought marijuana to the New World. In 1611 the English introduced marijuana in Jamestown, where it soon became a major cash crop alongside tobacco and was grown as a source of fiber. It was in the 1860’s that marijuana started to become regulated and restricted.

Today there are 17 states in the U. S and Washington D. C, home to a number of our Country’s political leaders; that allow the use and sale of medical marijuana, with some restrictions of course. They include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Washington D. C. Medical marijuana could be a key to the nation’s deficit by creating a tax on the plant, that every U. S president has admitted to trying at least once with the exception of a handful, and already seems to be providing people with medical benefits throughout the nation. The purpose of this proposal is to make the public more aware of the issue with medical marijuana and the benefits it could possibly have to our society and state. Should marijuana be legal? Could Mississippi benefit from medical marijuana? There are stories all over the web of how people have benefited through the use of marijuana medically.

Making marijuana legal for medical use in the state of Mississippi could create jobs, create revenue for the state, and help people in the process who suffer from medical disorders and diseases. I will conduct my research by giving a survey to a wide range of participants. I hope to gather my information for prospective questions through research that will relate or pertain to the issue of medical marijuana. I plan on doing a survey that will have anywhere from 10 to 15 questions. This survey, I hope, will shed some light on the opinions that people have about medical marijuana in Mississippi.