Mary Jane: The Devil Weed :: essays research papers fc

Mary Jane The Devil WeedABSTRACT This paper, entitled "Mary Jane The Devil Weed?" attempts toexamine what we know almost marijuana and what problems are associated with its enjoyment. The paper examines briefly the history of marijuana legislation,marijuanas known effects, and conclusions ab come forth its danger.Early in this century, the government waged a war of terrorism on marijuana,or cannabis sativa. "By 1937, forty-six states had jurisprudences against the use ofmarijuana, and its use had already been made a criminal offense under federallaw" (Jaffe, 659). Andrews pointed out that "not until some time in the early1930s did the Louisianna legislature pass a state regulation making use of the medicate outlaw(prenominal)" (5). Jaffe noted that "since the early 1900s, marifuana has beenconsidered the one drug that might introduce the susceptible to hard drugs."Jaffe pointed out that "since about 1950.... smoking of marijuana has beenlinked statistically to the use of other illicit drugs....Most observers haveconcluded that the link is sociological rather than biological and...marijuanais a marker for individuals who are more prone to seek bran-new experiences even whenthese violate social norms and local laws."Andrews related that "sensational newspaper stories relating...to crime isgenerally held to be accountable for the sudden enactment of a law prohibitingits use." He went on to note that "users were often subject to heavy penalties--up to life imprisonment in Texas." "After caffeine, nicotine and alcohol,marijuana is the fourth most popular abused substance" (OBrien, Cohen, Evans,and Fine, 175).does marijuana deserve this reputation? We must first consider what it isand what effects it has. The active ingredient is tetrahydocannabinol, or THC(Andrews). THC, found only in the female plant, produces a mild euphoric effect.Marijuana is considered a hallucinogen, a Schedule 1 drup, under the ControlledSubstances Act of 1970 (OBrien, Cohen, Evans, and Fine, 177). A Schedule 1drug means there is no known medical use. Recently "a new drug application wasapproved for THC (Marinol) to be used therapeutically for control of nausea andvomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy" (Jaffe, 663). This moved THC fromSchedule 1 to 2 (medical use despite potential for abuse).How dangerous is marijuana? Jaffe notes that " both performance test showsimpairment....although no distinctive biochemical changes have been found inhumans." Andrews writes, "Physical effects of marijuana use is probably themajor question....The settle? None." OBrien, Cohen, Evans, and Fine, reportedthat the National Institute on Drug Abuse found, "Marijunan now available isfive to 10 times more potent than it was a half(prenominal) dozen years ago" (178). Whilethese statements may not sound conclusive, the Institute of Medicine, according