I prefer to use the name cannabis when referring to the
plants Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica and Cannabis
Ruderalis, instead of the vulgar demonizing name marijuana
given to the hemp plant during the malicious prohibition
propaganda of the twentieth century.
First, THE GOOD:
No
other plant has as many US patents, about the
treatment of so many different diseases, as Cannabis
(Marijuana) has. Nor has any other plant been in as many
medical studies or clinical trials.
If
you did not read the patents and medical publications shown in
the introduction,
then I am repeating the links here:
The pharmaceutical companies are going to
extract only some of the cannabinoids and create
medicinal drugs such as Sativex (In
use in 15 countries, including Germany, UK, Italy, and Spain
to treat Multiple Sclerosis, & approved in another 17
countries). This might be OK, but they should NOT prevent us
from having the option to eat, or smoke the
leaves or flowers of the plant, since I believe that is the
natural way to consume this medicinal plant.
The British called cannabis "hemp", imported most of it from
India, and used it to make ropes, textiles, ship sails, paper,
etc. As did the Spanish and other countries in Europe. In
fact, the ropes and sails of the Spanish ships that discovered
America (La niņa, La Pinta, & the Santa Maria) all
had sails made of hemp (marijuana). The oil from it's seeds
was used in lamps, and was also used as food. Hemp seed oil
has an excellent omega-3 / omega-6 ratio, and also has omega-9
fatty acids, and the seeds have all the essential amino acids
(in vegetable proteins form).
Hemp (cannabis) seeds were brought to America by the British,
it was grown in all the colonies. The Spanish also brought
hemp seeds. And the Spanish started hemp plantations in
Mexico.
During the 1990s and the first decade of this 21st century,
the scientific community began to realized the great medicinal
potential of this wonderful plant. And many countries and
states are changing their laws to allow the medicinal use of
this plant once again, after almost a century of malicious and
false propaganda against this wonderful medicinal plant.
Cannabis can now be used for medical purpose in 39 states and
Washington D.C. And 24 states, and Wash. D.C. have legalized
it for recreational use. And 16 states have "decriminalized"
it. It is only a matter of time, before the intelligent
challenged or corrupted federal officials,
responsible for Schedule I, remove cannabis from Schedule I.
There are bills, introduced by some democrats and some
republicans, pending votes by the Senate & House of
Representative, that will make cannabis legal at the federal
level. However, extreme conservatives (bigots), do all they
can to kill these bills in committees, so that they don't make
it to a full senate or house of reps. votes.
Cannabis can also be used for recreational purposes. I
believe that in small amounts it increases our
appreciation and enjoyment of art, music, movies, company
of friends, social events, love making, etc. It has a
relaxing effect and increases our sense of humor. Some
users believe that it increases our religious faith.
The part of the brain that controls breathing and heart
rate, has no CB1 or CB2 cannabinoid receptors. Therefore,
unlike alcohol, opiates,
and other narcotics, we CAN NOT over dose (OD) from too
much cannabis. NO ONE has ever died from consuming too
much cannabis. However, we should always use moderation.
Too much cannabis can put us in a mental/physical state
called "stoned" (different than drunk). In such a state,
we should stay home, not drive, nor do anything
complicated or dangerous, just watch TV, listen to music,
surf the Web, or have an interesting conversation with
friends or relatives who might be in a similar state of
mind.
NOW THE BAD:
Because cannabis can makes us feel good. There is a
"potential" for abuse and "psychological addiction". Also,
depending on the amount consumed, our judgment can be
impaired. There is a big difference between substance
use and substance abuse. Unlike pain killing
opiates and alcohol, Cannabis is NOT physically
addictive (no withdrawal symptoms).
Cannabis is considered illegal by the federal government
because it is a "schedule one" substance (FDA & DEA
claim it has no medicinal use (Obviously a BIG LIE and it
contradicts the US Patent Office)). And this is in violation
of the 10th amendment of the US Constitution, since the
constitution does not give, the federal government, the
right to regulate what medicinal plant we can grow at home
for our personal use, that is up to the states to decide.
The Supreme Court ruled that because the constitution gives
the federal government the power to regulate "interstate
commerce", it has the power to prohibit you from growing
cannabis, in your home, for your own personal use, or using
it if someone gives it to you. It is obvious that some of
the supreme court justices have a different definition for
"interstate" and "commerce" than the definition in the
dictionaries. Or may be some of them are mentally
challenged, or may be they have been bribed by those who
will be financially affected (in a negative way) if cannabis
is legalized (the Mafia, the Medical Industrial Complex, the
tobacco industries, and the alcoholic beverages industries).
They probably don't see it as bribes, they see it as
following the advice of their political/financial
supporters. When metaphorically they are pissing on the 10th
amendment.
In the near future, when it becomes legal (at the Federal
level) for recreational purposes, in my opinion, minors
should still NOT use cannabis. It can affect their school
grades, their personality and the way their brain develops.
In college, once legal, you should NOT use it if your major
is science related (i.e. Engineering, Mathematics,
Chemistry, Physics, etc). If your major is Philosophy, Art,
Music, Drama, or other liberal arts, it's probably OK to use
it in moderation. But this is just my opinion, you
should consult with your family and friends, and use your
judgment. The effects (negative or positive) of cannabis
use, while studying arts or science, needs to be studied.
But this is not possible while the federal government
continues to list it as a schedule one substance.
Adults who are not in school, should not be deprived of the
happiness and good health this plant can provide (in
moderation). And for those of us who are "retired" and
feeling the aches, pains, and illnesses of old age,
this plant can provide us some relieve and joy in the last
years of our life.
And to deprive the seriously ill or terminally ill, who
needs this plant, the option of consuming it, it's immoral,
inhumane, and evil. And I strongly believe this
is a violation of our human rights and constitutional
rights. And if you are a religious person, do you "really"
think that God, who created this plant (through evolution,
or intelligent design) would want to deprive an ill and
suffering human from using this plant in order to reduce his
suffering or maybe eliminate his illness? If your answer is
yes, then your God is an evil god (the negative (evil)
polarity of the Life Force (the Ungod), or the dark side of
the force). Not a benevolent and compassionate God, who
would want us to be healthy and happy. And your ethics and
moral standards are perverted.
AND NOW THE UGLY
Because this plant is federally illegal (maliciously
placed in schedule I by the ignorant, malicious and
crooked president Nixon, and to add insult to injury, they
placed schedule authority with the DEA and the Justice
Department, instead of the NIH), those who need it
(medically) or want to use it for pleasure, have to obtain
it illegally (in some states), creating the following
problems:
Law abiding citizen are forced to break the law, and
associate with criminal elements.
If
these citizens are caught, they could become convicted
felons and could loose their jobs. In some states they
will loose their drivers license. If they are rich and
have good lawyers, they probably will not go to jail.
Otherwise, they might end up in jail, and start a new
career as criminals.
The
money they pay for the illegal cannabis is not being
taxed and can end up being used by criminals for other
criminal enterprises.
We can
not be sure if we are really getting pure cannabis, or
a mix of cannabis and some other drug.
We
could be exposed to, or offered, other drugs, truly
dangerous and addictive ones.
The
cannabis bought illegally could be contaminated with
fungi and/or bacteria.
Legalization eliminates
the above problems.
For people who are sick or have a weak immune system, the
illegal cannabis contamination problem is very serious.
Illegal cannabis is smuggled in tight plastic bags, where
the decaying plant provides a perfect environment for
fungi and bacteria to grow.
Pathogens
and microtoxins that can contaminate cannabis
Also, there are unscrupulous, inconsiderate, and greedy
dealers who will mix cannabis with other (less expensive
non-medical) plants and spray synthetic THC on the mix.
This is NOT good, and dangerous to people who need
cannabis for medical reasons.
Some dealers mix the cannabis with some very addictive
drug (such as opiate pain killers) to ensure that you will
get addicted and become a steady customer.
These problems can also be avoided with legalization
and/or approval for medical use, since dispensaries test
the cannabis to ensure that it is pure and not
contaminated with bacteria, fungi, or other substances.
The DEA and some US attorneys continue to harass
dispensaries, growers, and medical user of cannabis in
states were it has been legalized for medical use. I guess
it's easier for them to go after the legal users of this
medicinal plant than to stop the real dangerous drugs like
heroin, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine.
Another form of federal harassment is the fact that
states, where Cannabis is now legal, are forced to do all
their business in cash because banks claim that federal
regulations do not allow them to handle money used in the
"State Legal" cannabis businesses.
Now, I dare you to find a patent or
medical study that shows that tobacco or alcohol can be
used to treat an illness.
The damage caused by people who drink alcohol and drive
it's in the millions of dollars and thousands of lives,
every year. And yet alcohol is legal.
It is fact, not an opinion, that tobacco is more
addictive that marijuana. And it is a fact that tobacco
causes cancer in the lungs or throat of those who smoke
it, and in the gums or tongue for those who chew it. And
yet it is legal.
I am not saying that alcohol and tobacco should be
illegal. I am against ANY prohibition. Each adult should
decide what substances are good for him or her to
consume and in what amount, NOT the government. The
government should ONLY make recommendations,
based on "scientific studies", not on the corrupting
influence of special interest groups, misguided
individuals, religious fanatics, cults, etc.
It is a moral hypocrisy to make cannabis illegal
and alcohol and tobacco legal, when the scientific and
statistical data shows that it should be the opposite.
The government could make billions
of dollars by taxing legal cannabis. And could
save billions of dollars in judicial costs,
enforcement costs, and jail cost. New, tax
paying jobs would be created (already proven by
financial data from states where it is legal).
Of course, not everybody will be happy,
specially the drug cartels that are now bringing
marijuana from Columbia and Mexico. But hey! If
it becomes legal, they could become legal
growers and exporters.