I really appreciated reading this article and reading the view of someone else on this matter that is not so conservative. I believe my colleague has come up with some very good view points towards this issue, and I commend her for taking the chance and writing her well thought opinions about it. For a different view regarding medicinal marijuana take time and read Shawnta Anderson’s Medicinal Marijuana commentary.
She begins her article by stating that several states in the United States have decided to allow the use of marijuana for medicinal uses and that many citizens argue that it would lead to extreme abuse of the substance and make it more easily obtainable by children. She also comments on the far more harmful affects of alcohol compared to marijuana. Reading her viewpoints made me do a little research of my own on how many states have legalized this drug, and what the harmful side effects could be. I also formulated my own opinion which is very much similar to Shawnta’s viewpoint regarding obtainment of the substance by children.
In the United States there are at least ten states that have passed legislation that removes state-level penalties from the use of marijuana by patients who have a doctor’s recommendation. But just to clarify it is still prohibited by Federal law. This means that if the substance is prescribed by your doctor and you have it on you and happen to be searched by an officer. There is a legal amount that you can carry, that will in most states only cost you a small fine for possession, instead of being hauled off to jail on drug charges.
In my opinion this is reasonable due to the fact that there have been so many useful medicinal purposes found to help with ailments in humans by ingesting the substance THC. Such as epilepsy, cancer, Chrohn's Disease, nausea, migraines, and premenstrual syndrome to name a few. I believe that some people have the misconception that people are just walking around smoking pot in these states when really there is already a FDA approved drug by the name of marinol (which is pure THC besides the other inactive ingredients that make it a capsule) that is just as potent as smoking pot to help with certain ailments in humans. Which is also already being prescribed to cancer patients in several states including Texas. I am not saying the patients in these states where it is medicinally legal do not smoke the substance because the option to do so is still an option. Also I can’t imagine how that has helped county and city jails to not be so crowded over petty marijuana charged criminals.
The side of effects of marijuana use is still under investigation and the ones that are known for a fact are short term when a patient is actually high on the substance. Which are a series of short breath, coughing, paranoia, dry mouth, and increased heart rate. Shawnta is correct when she states that there has not been any serious long term affects associated with the consumption of marijuana. In fact most websites and literature on the substance read that there are far worse bodily consequences with the long term use of alcohol.
In conclusion I would like to express my opinion towards that of Shawnta’s regarding the obtainment of the substance by children. I absolutely agree with Shawnta that it is far way easier right now for a minor to find and purchase marijuana than it is tobacco, or alcohol. What is worse is that that goes the same for far more worse drugs like heroin, cocaine, and meth.
I also believe that we need to stop spending tax dollars on charging citizens with marijuana charges and utilize the money to take down the trafficking of these life threatening drugs. Taxing the substance would be more beneficial and could be used for healthcare programs. Legalizing the substance not only for medicinal purposes would reduce trafficking along the borders as well. More time and money would be used to stop cocaine trafficking and take down internal meth houses. If marijuana was behind the counter and required an I.D. to purchase it there would be far more control over it than what there is now. It would have the same regards as alcohol in the work place. Also I believe children would be less likely to try it at young age or obtain it as easily as now. I believe Shawnta is absolutely correct when she says we need to evaluate the positive outcomes of the legalization of marijuana.
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