An Overview of Cannabis

After watching this documentary (this isn't the complete version), my judgement about cannabis changed.

  

            Cannabis is a medical drug that eases the agony for patients with serious conditions such as cancer, chronic pain, AIDS, and glaucoma. When it is smoked or eaten, cannabis has a painkilling and intoxicating effect. Though it is a substance that helps to relieve symptoms of serve illnesses, it is classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance in the United States. Under Schedule 1 drug, cannabis falls within the following specifications: it has no accepted medical use, has a high potential for abuse, and contains safety issues for the person who chooses to use the substance.

            Over the past years, cannabis has been a controversy topic debated in almost every state in America. Only 16 out of 50 states have laws that allows the medical use of marijuana.  Despite having laws that permits the medical use of marijuana, the biggest problem is that this drug is still classified under a Schedule 1 drug. This affects benefit patients in multiple ways especially when obtaining the drug becomes harder. When benefit patients can't obtain the drug, they strike and the governor, knowing that his/her state is one of the 16 states that have laws permitting the medical use of marijuana, must take action. According to Bryan Buckalew's article "Medical Marijuana Legislation Gets Another Shot in Washington State," he stated that "[m]edical marijuana advocates have been trying to pass a bill to allow marijuana dispensaries." The governor is fighting against DEA to reclassify the drug. However, the federal government constantly ruled that is has no accepted use and should remain classified as a dangerous drug like heroin. The problem is that the federal governments are not looking at the big picture. There is a difference between marijuana and heroin. Both drugs are completely different physically and contains different side effects. The only thing both drugs have in common is they both get abuse!

            The federal governments cannot accept the differences between the drugs. They believe that marijuana is dangerous because the drug, like heroin, does get abuse by benefit patients too. Marijuana is classified under Schedule 1 drug because of the awareness of illegal cultivation and amount of overdosing. The federal government find it hard to reclassify marijuana under a Schedule 2 drug because they already know that if patients do abuses the drug, they can't arrest those patients. I feel that the federal government is too strict with these controlled substances. They should cool off a little with the idea that marijuana is like heroin just because people tend to overdose it. Although I do agree that the federal government should have every right to arrest illegal cultivation and overdosing patients, I feel that they should also consider marijuana as a medical drug. It is a drug that relieves the agony away from many patients with serious conditions. This drug should be consider an over the counter drug and be allow to only benefit patients with a marijuana license, not a permit. Cannabis is a very powerful drug that should only be prescribe to benefit patients.

Reclassifying Marijuana

Youtube Video: Rhode Island governor asking to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule 2 drug

            Marijuana, a controversy topic that surrounds the legalization of cannabis as a medicine or for personal use, has been one of the most controversial issues in America. It is mainly debated in both political and medical arenas. According to "Medical Marijuana: A Continuing Controversy," Carol Eustice explained that "[d]ue to the social stigma that is attached to the recreational use of marijuana, the potential benefit that could result from its use as a medicine is being argued." The federal government regulates drugs through an act, the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which does not recognize the difference between medical and recreational use of marijuana. Under CSA, marijuana is treated like every other controlled substances, such as heroin. Every control substance is classified under a schedule according to its relative potential for medicinal value and abuse. There are two schedules and Eustice proposed that "Schedule 1 drug means [marijuana] is considered to be potentially addictive with no current medical use [and] Schedule 2 drug means it would be considered potentially addictive with some accepted medical use." Marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 drug meaning that it has no medical value. Doctors may not prescribe marijuana for any medical purposes under the federal law; however, they can recommend its use under the First Amendment.

            During the 19th and 20th centuries, marijuana was a very popular botanical medicine. Yet, in 1970, the drug was certified a Schedule 1 controlled substance and was labeled as high potential for abuse. In1986, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), charged with enforcing federal drug laws, took an interest in medical marijuana patients and caregivers in general, and large cultivation and distribution operations more serious. Eustice stated that DEA held extensive hearings about the proposed change. The DEA's own administrative-law judge concluded "it would be unreasonable, arbitrary, and capricious for DEA to continue to stand between those sufferers and the benefits of this substance in light of the evidence". The DEA however overruled the judge's order to transfer marijuana to Schedule 2, and in 1992 issued a final rejection of all requests for reclassification. " On December 1, 2011, Yahoo news reporter, Rachel La Corte, addressed that "Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee have files a petition with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration asking the agency to reclassify marijuana so doctors can prescribe it and pharmacist can fill the prescription" (http://news.yahoo.com/wash-governor-wants-dea-reclassify-marijuana-020305152.html). Both governors want the federal government to categorize marijuana as a Schedule 2 drug because marijuana is currently a Schedule 1 drug. They feel that patients with serious medical conditions should have access to marijuana.

            DEA is too strict and should understand the difference between patients with serious medical conditions and patients who abuses the drug. They can arrest any patient they suspect abusing the drug, but they should understand that marijuana is a medical drug and classify it was Schedule 2. Marijuana is a medical drug that eases the agony among benefit patients. In fact, DEA should calm down and stop perceiving marijuana as a negative drug. The website "Legalizing Marijuana" stated that "[m]arijuana is actually less dangerous than alcohol, cigarettes, and even most over-the-counter medicines or prescriptions. Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. By any measure of rational analysis marijuana can be safely used within a supervised routine of medical care" (http://www.uri.-edu/personal/atro6990/). Marijuana shouldn't be treated like every other controlled substances such as heroin or cocaine. It is a drug that actually works because it does help eases the pain for benefit patients. DEA is too strict with classifying marijuana as a Schedule 2 drug and they should reclassify it.

Eustice, Carol. "Medicinal Marijuana - A Continuing Controversy." About Arthritis - Rheumatoid Arthritis - Osteoarthritis - Related Joint Diseases. 30 June 2011. Web. 03 Dec. 2011. <http://arthritis.about.com/cs/medmarijuana/a/marijuanadebate.htm>.

Stop DEA: DEA is searching homes for over-cultivating marijuana.