Legalizing marijuana
Introduction
In the United States of America, there have been various changes regarding the laws concerning the use of marijuana. Often times, there has been a conflict between the federal and state laws regarding cultivation, sale and use of marijuana in various states. In states like Washington, individuals are allowed to cultivate and possess marijuana. The provision is however only meant for possession for either medical or recreational use. Regardless of the conflict between the federal and state laws, the Drug Enforcement Agency has been involved in enforcing the controlled substance act which is intended to regulate the use of marijuana. Despite the act however, more states are making their pleas to have the use of marijuana legalized for medical if not recreational use. Such is the case with the state of Florida where a divide has risen up with some people proposing the legalization of marijuana for medicinal use while others are against its legalization.
The issue of whether to legalize the use of marijuana or not started back in the year 1998 when the 692 initiative was voted into law and dubbed the Washington state medical use of marijuana act (WSMA, 2016). Through the act, patients with specific medical conditions were allowed to legally poses, sell or cultivate marijuana for medicinal use. After attaining a medical authorization certificate and having it signed by medical professional, such people were allowed to possess marijuana but only in limited quantities. The law would also protect doctors who were responsible for prescribing marijuana to specific patients provided they only gave the prescriptions for patients that were compliant with the regulations set for medical marijuana use. Limitations were however put in play to restrict the amount of marijuana that one was allowed to possess and the type of diseases that were eligible for marijuana prescriptions (WSMA, 2016).
Methodology
The methodology for this paper involved researching various peer reviewed journals that addressed the issue concerning the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes among them being the state of Florida. Like most states that are yet to legalize the use of marijuana, Florida has had various debates as to whether to follow states like Washington that have already approved the use of marijuana. According to WSMA (2016), the 502 initiative was voted in and it allowed people to use marijuana for recreational purposes. Through it, any individual aged 21 years and above could legally possess marijuana. The initiative however implemented heavy taxation on marijuana and the money collected would be used for the purpose of educating people on the effects of substance abuse and offering health care for those who abuse various substances.
The state of Florida had already made approaches on the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The state had ventured into using cannabis oil that was extracted from cannabis and was useful in treating epilepsy. Such benefits of marijuana have led to support gathering for the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Polls conducted in the state revealed that 57% of the population tested supported the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. Another poll conducted in Quinnipiac University revealed that 88% of the students supported the legalization of marijuana (Kardish, 2014). The growing support for marijuana is as a result of the various benefits patients stand to reap if its medicinal use is legalized. According to Boyette and Wilson (2015), the use of marijuana as a medical painkiller could help reduce the number of people who get addicted to other drugs that are more harmful. They further state that the number of people who died in the state as a result of overdosing from the various pain killers was likely to decline by 25 percent.
Other than its effectiveness as a pain killer, marijuana helps to provide relief for patients who suffer from multiple sclerosis, muscle stiffness and alleviates pain of people diagnosed with AIDS. It is also effective in treating people suffering from Parkinson’s disease and post traumatic stress (Kardish, 2014). Like most drugs, the use of marijuana as a medicinal drug has its own share of side effects. These negative effects are however not serious and the patient can tolerate them. The conclusion has been drawn from various tests that have been run on the effects of using marijuana as a medicinal drug. It is only wise that the drug should be given proper consideration as an ideal medicinal drug (Pain, 2013).
In the year 2010, the University of California conducted various random clinical trials on the medicinal capability of marijuana especially is it was inhaled. The results from the studies revealed that the drug could be used to treat various ailments among which was treating patients with neuropathy diseases. The tests not only investigated the effectiveness of marijuana in curing diseases but also its ability to combat ailments. Other than its ability to eradicate symptoms such as nausea that comes with chemotherapy used in curing of cancer, the cannabinoids in the drug have the potential to modify disease prevention. Scientists discovered that they have the ability to relieve disorders in the autoimmune system such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. The drug is also capable of treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer which are both neurological disorders (Boyette & Wilson, 2015). The drug is also being investigated its ability prevent cancer since it is believed to be capable of initiating programmed cell deaths and then forming new blood vessels which results to reduction of the spread of cancer cells and thus the disease itself.
Discussion
According to Boyette and Wilson (2015), marijuana contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). These two ingredients have various health benefits such as relieving pain and helping people to control seizures. Even though the drug enforcement agency has been laxative in classifying marijuana as a medicinal drug, various health organizations have called for the agency to reduce the restrictions against its use. Lowering the restrictions will pave way for more research which will enhance the amount available to determine whether marijuana is beneficial as a medical drug or not. Such information will be of great importance because it will help in identifying the results that may occur if children or individuals with neurologic disorders use products that contain marijuana.
Position statement
While the benefits for using marijuana for medicinal purposes are many, there are those who are unwilling to have it legalized for such purposes. Their decision is mostly based on studies that discuss the negative repercussions that may arise from the use of the drug. According to Landsman, Livingston and Wagenaar (2013), people who use marijuana are likely to become addicted and thus dependent on the drug. Adolescents and young adults are the most at risk and use of the drug could affect their education negatively. Though this may be an outcome, the chances are minimal and the drop in level of education may be caused on other factors and not necessarily marijuana. Marijuana has a lot of advantages that could be reaped if it is legalized for medicinal use. It is therefore the position of this study that legalization of marijuana as a medicinal drug should not only be considered but also approved by the state of Florida.
References
Boyette C and Wilson J, (2015) “Its 2015: Is weed legal in your state?” CNN
Kardish C, (2014) “Florida may become first southern state to legalize medical marijuana” Governing Magazine
Landsman D, Livingston D and Wagenaar C, (2013) “Effects of state medical marijuana laws on adolescent marijuana use” American Public Health Association
Pain J, (2013) “Cannabinergic pain medicine: a consise clinical primer and survey of randomized controlled trial results” National Institute of Health
Washington State Medical Association, (2016) “Medical and recreational marijuana”
