Marijuana Dependency
Omar Villarreal
English 1311
University of Texas at El Paso
October 26, 2010
Ricardo Marrufo
Abstract
Marijuana is the common name of a mind-altering substance from a plant called Cannabis Sativa. We will discuss how this drug is composed, the active chemicals and effects on the body. An explanation of how this substance affects our community in a human, social and economic aspect. We will discuss the risks that using marijuana can cause in the human body and a suggested resolution for dependency.
Chemical and Clinical Aspects of Marijuana
The medical uses for marijuana have been known for some time now. Some estimate that marijuana has been used for medical purposes for 12,000 years now. In February of 1997, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a report detailing the possible medical uses for marijuana and most productive avenues for research. The report highlighted five areas of medical care that they felt were most appropriate. They are: Stimulate appetite and alleviate cachexia, control nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy, decrease intraocular pressure, Analgesia, and Neurological and movement disorders (Creighton University 2010). There are currently 14 states to include the District of Columbia that have enacted laws that legalize marijuana for medical purposes. The 14 states are: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington (ProCon.org, 2010).
Chemistry
Marijuana’s chemistry is neither fully known, nor reproducible. Thus far, over 400 different chemicals have been identified in the plant. The proportions and concentrations differ from plant to plant, depending on growing conditions, age of plant, harvesting and storage factors. THC levels can vary from less than 2.0% to over 10%. It is not known how smoking or burning the plant material affects the composition of all these chemicals. It is not possible to reproduce the drug in dosages, which can be considered standardized by any currently accepted scientific criteria (Drug Science, 2010).
Although delta-9-THC is an active ingredient in the marijuana plant material, marijuana contains over 400 other chemicals. At least 61 of these chemicals are cannabinoids. All these chemicals could have some effect on the human body. Since THC is only one of many active ingredients in marijuana, THC studies are of very limited value in evaluating the therapeutic utility of marijuana (Drug Science, 2010).
Human, Social, and Economical Aspects of Marijuana Today
There are many ways that marijuana can affect us, socially, personally, and economically. It affects many aspects of an individual’s life and health, and it also affects us all as a nation from drug related criminal cases to the economy.
According to the United Nation’s (U.N.) statistics, one hundred forty-one million people all over the world use marijuana. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health tells us that marijuana is the most frequently used drug in the U.S. Nearly 69 million Americans have tried marijuana. Marijuana use is most common among young adults aged eighteen through twenty-five. The average age of first marijuana usage is fourteen years old. There have been more than seven thousand published scientific and medical studies documenting the damage that marijuana poses. Not one study has shown marijuana to be safe. The Centers for Disease Control reports that thirty point two percent of college students have used marijuana. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) reports that the younger someone is when he or she uses marijuana, the more likely he or she is to use other drugs when they reach adulthood.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately ten to twenty-two percent of car crashes involved drivers who have been using marijuana or other drugs. Marijuana use and addiction are linked to at least half of the major crimes in this country, such as homicide and assault, were under the influence of drugs when they were arrested. Stress is a major factor in marijuana use and abuse. In the year 2006, there were an estimated seven hundred thirty-one thousand current users of marijuana aged twelve or older. Sadly, almost two-thirds of people in marijuana abuse treatment report that they were physically or sexually abused as children.
Marijuana use affects all of us because parts of our taxes go to government anti-marijuana funding programs. The societal cost of marijuana law reform funding anti-marijuana science, interdicting marijuana, eradicating domestically grown marijuana and industrial hemp, law enforcement, prosecuting and incarcerating marijuana users costs the U.S. twelve billion dollars a year. In the state of California marijuana is the largest part of the state income. (Milton Friedman; Free To Choose). Some economists say that the legalization of marijuana would help the U.S. economy. The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition report shows that marijuana legalization, replacing prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation, would save seven point seven billion dollars per year in state and federal expenditures on prohibition enforcement and produce tax revenues of at least two point four billion dollars a year if marijuana was taxed like most consumer goods. If marijuana was taxed similarly to alcohol or tobacco, it might generate as much as six point two billion dollars a year. Decriminalization of marijuana could have major positive effects on the economy across the country. A lot of income is lost every year going to the narco-trafficking organizations instead of going to the government. Marijuana legalization would save millions of dollars annually on penal institutions, courts, attorneys, juries, and other expenses. The cost of putting a single drug dealer in jail is about $450,000, including arrest, conviction, and a prison bed. It costs about $30,000 a year to house a prisoner, with a marijuana offense and a sentence of about 5 years, this would add up to a total of $150,000 that is paid from the taxes that people pay to the local and state government (Shaffer Library of Drug Use, 2010).
Marijuana crops can be a huge source of income; even small-crop farmers could grow it for a local consumption. It can be processed and provide plenty of employment to the communities. The government can take advantage of the huge revenue they can get by taxing these crops and using the income for education and other government programs that the communities can benefit from, for example it can generate a bigger budget for universal healthcare, parks and recreation or other government programs that really need funding. Also, this revenue could be used to educate people on the consumption of controlled substances and rehabilitation programs, which will make the citizens more aware and cautious when dealing with this substance (Quazen, 2010).
Legalizing marijuana could save the government $7.7 billion a year by cutting the budget on the prosecution of individuals that are in possession of marijuana or growing the substance. In addition to this, it would bring in $6.2 billion if it were taxed at the rates of alcohol and tobacco, which now have a tax that rate from forty cents to three dollars. Numerous studies agree that marijuana is actually safer and less addictive than alcohol and tobacco, so legalizing it wouldn’t affect the community as bad as most people think. It doesn’t really make sense for marijuana to be illegal while alcohol and tobacco are available to the public at convenience stores, super markets, gas stations, and even pharmacies. There is no actual proof for making marijuana legal will increase the demand of the product (Geek Politics, 2008-2010).
Medical Dangers of Smoking Marijuana
The major consequence of smoking marijuana on a daily basis would be attaining a pulmonary infection or respiratory cancer. These illnesses have been connected to marijuana but it has not been proved that they are actually related. The effects of marijuana can include pulmonary problems like bronchitis, impairment in the function of smaller air passages, inflammation of the lung, and a reduction in the capabilities of defensive mechanism in the lungs.
Smoking marijuana regularly damages the cells in the bronchial passages, which protect the body against inhaled bacteria and lowers the ability of the immune cells in the lungs to fight off fungi, bacteria, and tumor cells. If you already have a weak immune system, this puts you more at risk of obtaining a pulmonary infection like pneumonia or other infections.
There are theories and studies that suggest that marijuana leads to many mental disorders, including acute toxic psychosis, panic attacks, flashbacks, delusions, depersonalization, hallucinations, paranoia, depression, and uncontrollable aggressiveness. Marijuana is known for triggering mental illnesses like bipolar psychosis and schizophrenia. Also, marijuana use has many indirect effects on health. It’s effect on coordination, perception, and judgment means that it causes a great deal of vehicle accidents and other dangerous situations. (Cyber Law Harvard, 2003).
However, there are some research studies that have found that smoking marijuana may reduce the risk of getting certain head and neck cancers. Researchers from Brown University studied patients with head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC) on a control group and found that subjects who had smoked marijuana for ten to twenty years had sixty-two percent reduced risk of getting HNSCC. Those who smoked marijuana half to one and a half times per week had a forty-eight percent reduction in risk. The study authors said that this is due to the anti-tumor action of cannabinoids. (Join Together, 2009).
Suggested Resolution To Marijuana Dependency
There are a couple of solutions for the consumption of Marijuana. Although it is now being used for medical use to treat illness and tumors, the use of it is up to the individual. Legalizing it and taxing marijuana will diminish the use of this drug. People have a basic right to make a choice for themselves as long as their actions do no harm to others. A person should have a limit to the intake of marijuana. If unable to perform and conduct in a civil way, then they must stop the use of marijuana immediately.
The government is wasting our time and money by prohibiting marijuana. Taxpayers are forced to pay billions of dollars to persecute, prosecute, and incarcerate people for having marijuana. If marijuana was legal and regulated (like alcohol and tobacco) this money, plus tax revenues from marijuana sale, could be used for other purposes such as health care and with the right education about marijuana we can diminish abuse and make positive and profitable gain from marijuana. (Marijuana Legalization Organization, 2007). Prohibition is not an effective solution to the problems associated with marijuana use.
We have learned a lesson from history. Alcohol prohibition did not work, and there is no logical reason to believe that marijuana prohibition is a better idea. Marijuana, like alcohol and tobacco, can be abused. Prohibition is expensive and ineffective: education and regulation are better solutions. Regulating sales of marijuana and teaching people the truth about its health effects will allow us to minimize the harms and cost to society (Marijuana Legalization Organization, 2007). Everyone yourself and others about the use of marijuana will lead you to make the right choice.
Conclusion
Marijuana is a controlled substance that is becoming legal in several states of the country, it posses medical properties that help relieve some illnesses. It is said that it leads to different mental and pulmonary problems but it is not scientifically proven. Marihuana affects the communities in several ways, it is often related to crimes, aggressiveness, and violence. Excessive use of this substance can cause accidents and other problems. In the economy, the government spends billions of dollars yearly on programs to educate and prevent addictions, prosecuting crimes related to this substance, and fighting narc trafficking. All this money could be invested in other government programs to benefit the people. Also if marijuana were taxed, it would bring a huge revenue for the government’s budget.
References
Creighton University. (2010). Clinical Uses of Marijuana. Retrieved from
Drug Science. (2010). Cannabis Chemistry. Retrieved from
ProCon.org 2010. Medical Marijuana. Retrieved from
Quazen.(2010).The Economic Benefits of Legalization of Marijuana for the United States. Retrieved from http://quazen.com/recreation/drugs/the-economic-benefits-of-the-legalization-of-marijuana-for-the-united-states/
Geek Politics. (2008-2010). Legalize Marijuana to Stimulate the Economy. Retrieved from http://geekpolitics.com/legalize-marijuana/
Shaffer Library of Drug Use. (2010). What Does it Costs to Put a Single Drug Dealer in Jail?. Retrieved from http://www.druglibrary.org/Schaffer/library/basicfax9.htm
Join Together. (2009). Marijuana May Reduce Risk of Certain Cancers, Study Says. Retrieved from http://www.jointogether.org/news/research/summaries/2009/marijuana-may-reduce-risk-of.html
Cyber Law Harvard. (2003). The Medical Dangers of Marijuana Use. Retrieved from http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/evidence99/marijuana/Health_1.html
