Dr. Henry Stewart
English Composition II
29, January 2015 Medical Marijuana in the United States of America Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a flower that is indigenous, meaning it is produced naturally, with the compound chemical of tetrahydocannabinol, known as THC; which gives psychoactive and physiological effects. The plant was well known from the early 1600 's and known uses go back to 7000 B.C, but the plant didn’t reach public awareness as a recreational drug until the early 1900 's. Over centuries the plant was used for food, incense, cloth, rope, etc. George Washington stated “It is hemp season in Mount Vernon and I wouldn 't miss that for all the tea in China.” He and Thomas Jefferson were two founders of marijuana, they farmed and dealt the plant in the early 1850 's for economical reasons. They had three primary farms in Virginia. Washington used some of what he produced to create hemp clothing to be worn by his slaves, Jefferson cultivated hemp for recreational consumption, according to Washington 's diary. Marijuana has never been legalized in all the fifty states, even though marijuana can be used for medical and economical reasons, and also create tax revenue for all of the United States. (Wikipedia 2)(The Diaries of George Washington) I have family members that are survivors of ovarian cancer. The active ingredient in marijuana (THC) cuts tumor growth and significantly reduces the ability of the disease to spread throughout the body. Marijuana increases the appetite, reduces the pain, reduces the vomiting and nausea, as well as helping depression in cancer patients. Over twenty major studies in the past nine years have shown that cannabinoids fight cancer cells. Marijuana helps a variety of different forms of cancer such as brain, melanoma, breast, ovarian, leukemic, and many other forms. The chemicals in marijuana have active components which are called cannaboid receptors. They expose the
Cited: Amsel, Mort. “Cancer: A $124 Billion Dollar Industry.” Before it 's News. 09 Dec. 2013, Web DeNoon, Daniel. “Pot Slows Cancer in Test Tube.” WebMD Health News. 2006. Web. 10 Feb 2015. “How Are My State Taxes Spent?” Turbo Tax. 2014. Web. 10 Feb 2015. “Medical Marijuana Help People With These Conditions.” Medical Marijuana Blog. 29 Dec 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.