Marijuana Facts

   "The toxicity levels of cannabis compounds are estimated at 40,000, meaning that a subject would have to ingest 40,000 times the regular dose to induce death" (Toxicity 1), which means ”a smoker would theoretically have to consume nearly 1,500 pounds of marijuana within about fifteen minutes to induce a lethal response” (Toxicity 1). Thus it is virtually impossible to overdose on marijuana, and as I have stated before, there has not been one single reported case of anyone dying from smoking marijuana, "the consumption of marijuana -- regardless of quantity or potency -- cannot induce a fatal overdose" (Armetano 12).

     Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Studies have shown that THC has previously unknown benefits which has helped people with illnesses and cancer. It can also be very therapeutical. "The earliest records of medicinal marijuana use have been traced back to China in 2737 BC, and evidence of its therapeutic use can be found throughout world cultures" (Mathre3).  Ancient cultures used marijuana in rituals which were celebrated by whole communities. "After studying all the evidence, the judge in DPF v. DEA #92-1179 and ACT v. DEA #92-1168 found marijuana to be 'one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man' " (Mathre 5). Marijuana is safe to use recreationally.

 

 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

 







      It is clearly preposterous for lawmakers to make the use of marijuana a crime. Politicians are supposed to act in strict regard with what the public opinion is. In Colorado, it is now "legal for adults 21 years of age and older to use, possess, and cultivate limited amounts of marijuana under state law" (Marijuana Policy Project 2). Lawmakers decided to let citizens vote on marijuana legalization in the past 2012 election and the vote came out to be in favor for the legalization of marijuana. Hopefully Maryland will have the same type of vote in 2016, as well as the same outcome.

 

    In conclusion, marijuana should not immediately be looked down upon because of previous assumptions. One should learn to respect the herb that nature has given to us. In Colorado citizens have a clear demand that lawmakers respected and let the citizens of the state vote on marijuana's legality. Upon further indulgence in the knowledge of marijuana one will gradually shift their previous assumptons on the subject and realize that marijuana is not as bad as it was once thought to be.

 

"Toxicity." cannabismd.net/toxicity. Lifevine Media, 26 July 2008. Web. 27 Mar.2013.     

http://www.cannabismd.net/toxicity/

 

Armentano, Paul. "Recent Research on Medical Marijuana." NORML.org. NORML | NORML Foundation, 14 Mar. 2012. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. http://norml.org/component/zoo/category/recent-research-on-medical-marijuana

 

Mathre, MSN RN CARN, Mary L. "The Medicinal Use of Marijuana." Mary Lynn Mathre, MSN RN CARN . UKCIA, June 1993. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. http://www.ukcia.org/medical/medicinaluseofmarijuana.php

"Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force issues recommendations ." mpp.org. Marijuana Policy Project, 8 Mar. 2013. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. http://www.mpp.org/states/colorado/

Chill out

      Marijuana for recreational use needs to be made legal. The truth about marijuana is coming to the light more and more everyday. The movie  "Reefer Madness" (1936) was a ridiculous way of demonizing the wonderful plant which has done virtually no harm to anyone. Can we just make it legal and get it over with? I mean come on, if alcohol and ciggarettes are "legal" then why isn't marijuana? According to The American Cancer Society, since 2002 50 million people have died from the use of tobacco and "If trends continue, one billion people will die from tobacco use and exposure during the 21st century, or roughly one person every six seconds"(Castillo 3). The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reports that in the United States 25,692 have died from alcohol induced deaths, not including accidents and homicides in 2012. Another 15,990 people have died that same year from alcoholic liver disease. How many people has the evil marijuana killed? 1 million? 10 million? A billion? Actually, there has not been one single reported case of somebody dying from smoking marijuana.

      As far as I have noticed, school systems and many government officials will have you believe that marijuana is as bad as crack cocaine and heorine, but I am noticing a shift in many people's awareness towards this so called "evil-plant" and people are waking up to the true and false facts about marijuana everyday. "Despite more than 70 years of federal marijuana prohibition, Americans’ consumption of and demand for cannabis is here to stay. It is time for state lawmakers to acknowledge this reality" (Armentano). The lawmakers need to pull their heads out of their butts and face the reality of this marijuana being illegal situation. Fore once they pull their already tiny narrowly-minded noggins out of their pompously tight butts and clear away the fecal matter which has stringently worked its way through their corneas all the way through to their optic nerves which inturn has further hindered their obviously flawed ability to reason, they will come to realize that people like to smoke weed and they can not stop them from doing so.

      People should not be deprived of their freedom for recreationally using this wonderful plant. About 755,000 people were arrested in 2011 for marijuana possession, that means "that marijuana users were arrested last year at a rate of one every 42 seconds" (Webster 2). Some folks like to drink a beer when they get off of work, some like to smoke a ciggarette when their day is done, and others would simply like to smoke a joint when they get off of work without having to worry about having their freedom stripped away from them because a guy in a suit says its not okay. Life is short, toke up. I do not mean live only for the sole purpose of smoking marijuana, but a few hits of a joint every now and then will not kill you. Neither will a couple bong rips. Thus this wonderful plant and people's clear and present demand for it, deserve much more appreciation and respect than they currently receive.


Armentano, Paul, NORML Deputy Director Maryland, Lawmakers To Debate Marijuana Legalization Bill Tomorrow March 18, 2013

Castillo, Michelle. "Tobacco use claimed 6 million lives in 2011, report shows." CBSnews . Web. 25 Mar. 2013. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57401584-10391704/tobacco-use-claimed-6-million-lives-in-2011-report-shows/.

 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/alcohol.htm

 

Webster, Stephen C. "America’s 2011 drug war tally: One marijuana arrest every 42 seconds." The Raw Story 29 Oct. 2012. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/10/29/americas-2011-drug-war-tally-one-marijuana-arrest-every-42-seconds/