Medical Marijuana Debate Essay
The debate on marijuana is going on all across the United States today and has become a major issue on all political levels. The issue of marijuana recently came to Iowa legislature for marijuana production. Iowa’s current policy is that possession for medicinal use is legal; however, marijuana production is illegal in the state of Iowa. Many families with ailing family members looking to try medicinal marijuana argue that the lack of access in-state is a major problem for those seeking treatment. Legislation to set up state run marijuana growing facilities in the state of Iowa was passed in the Senate on April 15, 2016, but hasn’t been brought to a vote in the Republican held House (Petroski). The question of marijuana legalization has come
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here to Iowa and we must choose: block all legalization, allow for medical uses, or approve complete recreational use? Many people favor banning any kind of legalization in the state of Iowa. Many medical organizations, such as American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), weigh in on medicinal marijuana. The AAP opposes medical marijuana because of numerous negative effects. The AAP opposes smoking marijuana because the “use of smoked marijuana because smoking causes lung damage” (Krader). Many people smoking marijuana face the potential risks and harmful side effects of the drug. Smoking marijuana can also affect children and adolescents, as marijuana use in that age range up to 21 years “give evidence on the negative health and brain development side effects” (Krader). Keeping up the prosecution of drug crimes such as marijuana possession have become a major issue in the US. Some have called he overcrowding in US prisons the incarceration crisis (Giorgi). Many people are in US prisons on small drug possession charges such as marijuana. If we lightened or removed the prison sentence, it could really lighten the load of our prisons. While some agree that marijuana should not be used at all, some think that it should be used for medicinal purposes. Some people think that marijuana can be used as medicine for incurable diseases such as epilepsy and seizures.
One study taken in the UK gauging the supposed effects of treatments with medicinal marijuana on actual patients (Metts, Wright, Sundaram, & Hashemi). In patients with muscle stiffness, medicines including oral cannabis extract (medicinal marijuana), were deemed “probably effective” in reducing spasticity and pain associated with muscle stiffness (Metts, Wright, Sundaram, & Hashemi). Oral cannabis extract was deemed “little help for other neurological disorders” (Metts, Wright, Sundaram, & Hashemi). Medical marijuana has some potential positive effects; and is becoming increasingly available across the United States with 23 states and the District of Columbia legalizing medical use (Nierengarten). With marijuana rising popularity as a medical tool, people still need to be aware of the potential effects, especially adolescents. Adolescents are at risk to be harmed by the negative side effects, especially in their developmental state at their age. Some negative effects that can last up to a day after intake are paranoia, anxiety, irritability, and many more effects (Nierengarten). These harmful side effects seem much greater compared to the minimal benefits. While some only go as far as legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, some push for complete recreational
legalization. Some proponents of marijuana legalization push for complete legalization not just for medicine, but completely recreational. Colorado was the first state in the United States to fully legalize the “cultivation, processing, and sale of recreational marijuana” in November of 2012 (Hudak). The state of Colorado has established its own system of growing, selling, and making tax revenue of recreational marijuana. Much of the tax revenue will spread across the state “for example, the first $40 million collected through the 15 percent excise tax is to be used for public school construction” (qtd. in Hudak). The spread of revenue does not stop there. 15 percent of a 10 percent marijuana sales tax will go back proportionally to the local governments by marijuana sales (Hudak). With all the potential revenue flowing around a state, there are other factors at play. With the choice of taking recreational marijuana, people need to become informed on marijuana. Robert White and Eileen Toughill tells the story of one teen falling off the deep end after trying marijuana:
Andy was a freshman in high school when he first tried marijuana. He and his friends began experimenting, thinking marijuana was "cool and just like smoking a cigarette, only safer." When a friend overdosed in sophomore year, Andy sank into a depression and increased his marijuana use. He dropped out of school in his junior year and began working full time in a variety of jobs. By age 23, Andy and his friends were experimenting with other drugs--heroin, in particular. By age 25, Andy was addicted to heroin, unemployed, and living on the streets. (White & Toughill)
Marijuana is becoming increasingly common in America and with all the legalizations across the states many deem the drug to be safe. Negative effects can be seen in children, “having problems in executive function, expressed as difficulty sitting still, remembering to do homework, or remembering information” (White & Toughill). A National Institutes of Health studied 6624 individuals who used cannabis as their first drug and found that 45% processed to other illegal drugs (White & Toughill). Marijuana can be a gateway drug for many people. With the choice of recreational marijuana, there is much left to each individual person’s decisions. The three choices for marijuana legalization leaves an important question to all of us. These three different roads show our stance on drugs in this country and Iowa and how we choose to act. There is not a large research pool on marijuana to make decisions off of.. The medical proof provided by medical marijuana proponents only seem to come from “a few case studies and small investigational studies, and that almost all of them cite the need for more research” (Schuh). There are also numerous problems in actually distributing the marijuana, as there is not any kind of classification system to determine quality or safety of marijuana prescriptions. If someone gets a bad batch of marijuana, they could be at serious risk for major damages. Another major issue comes in a way many would not expect, the federal government. Federalism states that federal law is greater than state law. If that is really true, since marijuana is illegal on the federal level, how can states such as Colorado be allowed to distribute marijuana in their state? We should push for more scientific studies to allow us to really understand all of the effects of marijuana on the human body so we can balance all our options as well educated citizens. As the question of marijuana goes around the United States, it is important to remember why this matters in small town Iowa. The spread of drugs across the states requires us to be knowledgeable vigilant as marijuana becomes more and more prevalent in our society. We must decide ourselves if we should have recreational marijuana, medical, or not legal at all. Our friends, family, or neighbors may need it for some medical purpose or use it recreationally. We must all make our own choice on the subject so we all may discuss the best solution for everyone.
here to Iowa and we must choose: block all legalization, allow for medical uses, or approve complete recreational use? Many people favor banning any kind of legalization in the state of Iowa. Many medical organizations, such as American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), weigh in on medicinal marijuana. The AAP opposes medical marijuana because of numerous negative effects. The AAP opposes smoking marijuana because the “use of smoked marijuana because smoking causes lung damage” (Krader). Many people smoking marijuana face the potential risks and harmful side effects of the drug. Smoking marijuana can also affect children and adolescents, as marijuana use in that age range up to 21 years “give evidence on the negative health and brain development side effects” (Krader). Keeping up the prosecution of drug crimes such as marijuana possession have become a major issue in the US. Some have called he overcrowding in US prisons the incarceration crisis (Giorgi). Many people are in US prisons on small drug possession charges such as marijuana. If we lightened or removed the prison sentence, it could really lighten the load of our prisons. While some agree that marijuana should not be used at all, some think that it should be used for medicinal purposes. Some people think that marijuana can be used as medicine for incurable diseases such as epilepsy and seizures.
One study taken in the UK gauging the supposed effects of treatments with medicinal marijuana on actual patients (Metts, Wright, Sundaram, & Hashemi). In patients with muscle stiffness, medicines including oral cannabis extract (medicinal marijuana), were deemed “probably effective” in reducing spasticity and pain associated with muscle stiffness (Metts, Wright, Sundaram, & Hashemi). Oral cannabis extract was deemed “little help for other neurological disorders” (Metts, Wright, Sundaram, & Hashemi). Medical marijuana has some potential positive effects; and is becoming increasingly available across the United States with 23 states and the District of Columbia legalizing medical use (Nierengarten). With marijuana rising popularity as a medical tool, people still need to be aware of the potential effects, especially adolescents. Adolescents are at risk to be harmed by the negative side effects, especially in their developmental state at their age. Some negative effects that can last up to a day after intake are paranoia, anxiety, irritability, and many more effects (Nierengarten). These harmful side effects seem much greater compared to the minimal benefits. While some only go as far as legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, some push for complete recreational
legalization. Some proponents of marijuana legalization push for complete legalization not just for medicine, but completely recreational. Colorado was the first state in the United States to fully legalize the “cultivation, processing, and sale of recreational marijuana” in November of 2012 (Hudak). The state of Colorado has established its own system of growing, selling, and making tax revenue of recreational marijuana. Much of the tax revenue will spread across the state “for example, the first $40 million collected through the 15 percent excise tax is to be used for public school construction” (qtd. in Hudak). The spread of revenue does not stop there. 15 percent of a 10 percent marijuana sales tax will go back proportionally to the local governments by marijuana sales (Hudak). With all the potential revenue flowing around a state, there are other factors at play. With the choice of taking recreational marijuana, people need to become informed on marijuana. Robert White and Eileen Toughill tells the story of one teen falling off the deep end after trying marijuana:
Andy was a freshman in high school when he first tried marijuana. He and his friends began experimenting, thinking marijuana was "cool and just like smoking a cigarette, only safer." When a friend overdosed in sophomore year, Andy sank into a depression and increased his marijuana use. He dropped out of school in his junior year and began working full time in a variety of jobs. By age 23, Andy and his friends were experimenting with other drugs--heroin, in particular. By age 25, Andy was addicted to heroin, unemployed, and living on the streets. (White & Toughill)
Marijuana is becoming increasingly common in America and with all the legalizations across the states many deem the drug to be safe. Negative effects can be seen in children, “having problems in executive function, expressed as difficulty sitting still, remembering to do homework, or remembering information” (White & Toughill). A National Institutes of Health studied 6624 individuals who used cannabis as their first drug and found that 45% processed to other illegal drugs (White & Toughill). Marijuana can be a gateway drug for many people. With the choice of recreational marijuana, there is much left to each individual person’s decisions. The three choices for marijuana legalization leaves an important question to all of us. These three different roads show our stance on drugs in this country and Iowa and how we choose to act. There is not a large research pool on marijuana to make decisions off of.. The medical proof provided by medical marijuana proponents only seem to come from “a few case studies and small investigational studies, and that almost all of them cite the need for more research” (Schuh). There are also numerous problems in actually distributing the marijuana, as there is not any kind of classification system to determine quality or safety of marijuana prescriptions. If someone gets a bad batch of marijuana, they could be at serious risk for major damages. Another major issue comes in a way many would not expect, the federal government. Federalism states that federal law is greater than state law. If that is really true, since marijuana is illegal on the federal level, how can states such as Colorado be allowed to distribute marijuana in their state? We should push for more scientific studies to allow us to really understand all of the effects of marijuana on the human body so we can balance all our options as well educated citizens. As the question of marijuana goes around the United States, it is important to remember why this matters in small town Iowa. The spread of drugs across the states requires us to be knowledgeable vigilant as marijuana becomes more and more prevalent in our society. We must decide ourselves if we should have recreational marijuana, medical, or not legal at all. Our friends, family, or neighbors may need it for some medical purpose or use it recreationally. We must all make our own choice on the subject so we all may discuss the best solution for everyone.