Legalization of Marijuana in the United States, Essay Example

Executive Summary

The condition by which illegal drugs are mandated in the US community, it could be understood that the government is dependent on how the said substances are carried on to respond to particular health issues. Relatively, such considerations are measured according to their applicability and practicality especially reliving issues of medical conditions among some patients. Through the years, the debate over legalizing drugs like marijuana or cannabis has become a contending issue that that both medical and social experts intend to resolve. Notably though, the medical field has already released several researches pertaining to the supposed applicability of cannabis in treating particular ailments such as cancer and is thus considered for legal distinctions (McKinney, 2013). How has the path towards the legalization of cannabis in the United States determined several developments in the country and what is the public’s response to this matter? Response to these particular questions shall be given specific attention to in the research that follows. Collecting data from 20 participants who have a background in using marijuana for either casual or medical purposes provides this study the distinct foundation it needs to be considered applicable and practical in nature.

Introduction

Up to what extend would a person and its government sacrifice for the sake of promoting better health? Studies conducted by medical practitioners from all over the globe define the fact that marijuana or cannabis has specifically dangerous effects on users. It is considered highly addictive in nature and is able to impact the physical, mental and emotional health of the person taking it in. This is the reason why it is considered illegal in most countries. In the United States though, the consideration over the right of each state-administration to decide on certain matters [such as medical policies] insists on the fact that there are some states in the area have decided to make the use of marijuana for medical purposes be accepted and legalized.

The consideration over this matter is usually dependent on the way the administrators perceive marijuana. Officially, the Food and Drug Authority of the United States continue to remain strong in determining their stand against legalizing marijuana (McKinney, 2013). The said authorities continue to believe [through medical studies they have conducted] that marijuana is dangerous and is evidently affective on how the mind and body functions against the normal pace. Although there had already been some proven studies about its applicability in particular medical procedures given to AIDS and cancer patients, FDA does not fully support its being applied as a legal drug that could be prescribed to patients (McKinney, 2013). In consideration to those who would like to try whether or not marijuana or cannabis would actually work for them and their medical case, the national government left such decision in the hands of the local administrators.

Given that there is a fair hope for developing medical marijuana to ease out particular controversial ailments at present, FDA does not close its doors towards experimenting on the matter. It aims to support possible experiment that could prove the safety and applicability of marijuana as a medical substance that can be used to help ease out the pain among patients suffering from particular diseases. Nevertheless, getting approval for such experiment is tough enough that only a few are actually able to get the benefit from such researches and continue their aim of determining the real worth of medical marijuana in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

Currently, 16 states in US have already considered changing their drug policies specifically dedicated to legalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Their policies are often accompanied by specified clauses that determine the amount of marijuana intake that is allowed per person within a specific span of time. Such specific clauses are important especially when it comes to determining the criminal offences related to the possession of such substance. Prescriptions of such medications is also stated necessary to be found in possession of the one taking in marijuana for medical purposes. Such prescription shall protect him from being reprimanded by the law in case he is accidentally accused of not being able to follow the rules relating to legal drug use.

With such controversy being given specific attention to when the talk about medical marijuana comes into account, it could be considered necessary to know what marijuana is actually for and how its users feel about the legalization of the substance. In the sections that follow, an overview and discussion on the methodology used to redefine the facts about medical marijuana in this research shall be given attention to. Along with it are the primary proofs provided imposing the need for marijuana to be legalized in relation to the perception of the participants interviewed for this study.

Methodology and Findings

The methodology embraced by the researcher of this study could be determined by the use of directive questionnaires that are directed to the participants in the form of an interview. There are 20 participants who have agreed to undergo the procedure. Each of these participants were chosen from public forums dedicated to drug use and drug regulation. Getting their attention through formulating a particular post on legalizing marijuana, the researcher was able to get 20 individuals who agreed to be interviewed. The age range of the participants begins from 19 years old towards 40 years of age. At least 70% were men and the rest are composed of women. Fourteen among them used marijuana in the past for recreational purposes while the rest used [or used] marijuana for medical purposes.

The questions were designed to explore the reasons behind the marijuana intake of each participant. It is believed that through knowing their reasons, the reasons of the society for opening their perception on legalizing marijuana in the pharmaceutical market could also be measured accordingly. There were 10 questions asked and they are the following:

• When was the first time you ever encountered and used marijuana?
• What were your specific reasons for trying it out?
• Who offered you the use of marijuana? Peers or medical practitioner?
• Were issues and effects of marijuana mentioned to you before you were offered?
• When it comes to marijuana, how would you define the way you were affected by the said substance in a physical, mental and emotional manner?

[Questions number six to ten are dedicated only to those participants who use marijuana for medical reasons]

• Did you immediately approve of using medical marijuana to ease your medical condition?
• What were the primary effects of the substance on your body when you first took it in?
• Do the side effects wear off after some time or do they stay and affect you personally?
• How do you feel about the legalization of medical marijuana?
• If there were other options, would you consider switching from marijuana to other supposedly weaker medications?

These questions entail to measure the knowledge of the participants over the realities behind marijuana intake and how much they are affected by such facts. Along with the knowledge, the questions also hope to measure the attitude of the participants towards the use of marijuana and its legalization especially in consideration to the medical value it serves for some users. The acquisition of participants coming from the people who medically utilize marijuana from those others who use the substance for plain recreational purposes only hopes to create a distinction on the attitude of people that could later on be affected by the overall legalization of marijuana in the society. The following section shall feature the discussion on the specific results that were garnered from the interview that has been conducted for the completion of this study.

Discussion

The preparation of the cannabis plant to become a medical substance has long been used by ancient societies to ease out particular pains. Some other tribes of ancient civilizations use the same preparations of the said plant to be able to lower down the tension in their nerves. Finding out how the cannabis plant works, the preparation of its components became even more complex as the modern years come into place. Later on, as modernization enters the scene, the use of recreational marijuana gradually increased which has become more popular among youths. Some have even found marijuana to be extremely helpful when they are reviewing lessons and are facing a huge examination to complete.

Due to the psychoactive and physiological effects of the substance, people who intake such drug are notably able to improve their memory for a certain amount of time. The effects of marijuana in the body wear off shortly, thus leaving the user craving for more. This is the reason why medical practitioners find it hard to consider medical marijuana to be completely applicable as it is both dangerous and addictive to users. The experimentation on lowering down such effects of the substance in the body still continues to be undergone at present. Relatively though, although medical experts have already formulated a considerably safe dosage of marijuana for medical users, they still do not remove the possibility of making the said users vulnerable to substance addiction.

According to the participants of the interview [the ones who used marijuana for recreational purposes], marijuana has helped them divert their minds from the pains [emotional and physical] that they were experiencing at the time. At some point, this is the reason why they were able to concentrate on their tasks accordingly. Considered as an anti-depressant, marijuana relieves its users from anxieties and unwanted thoughts making it possible for them to develop concentration on matters that were important to them at time [example: examinations] (Russo, et al, 2002). Notably though, as the effect of the substance wears off, the other side effects begin. Dryness of mouth as well as lack of short term memory becomes rampant especially among constant users. Dependency on the drug is a probable result of such utilization of marijuana (Russo, et al, 2002).

Most of the medical users of marijuana indicated that they were less addicted to the substance than with those who were using it for recreational purposes only. Relatively, it was their medical condition that makes them strong enough to shun off addiction impulses (Honan, 2014). The controlled measurement of the substance intake that they are allowed to undergo keeps them off from the option of becoming dependent or strongly hooked to the substance. This is what makes them less vulnerable to becoming fully dependent on the drug. Most of the said interviewees also mention about the warning that they were given before they agree to using marijuana as an additive to their already existing list of medications. Among the warnings included the prolonged effect of the drug in their body and their personality. Discussing with them the possible results of such prolonged intake made them aware of what was going to happen next and how they should be able to deal with it successfully (Flatow, 2014). According to them, their medical attendants could only hope that their prescriptions are followed accordingly and that they areto take notice of the fact that the said substance is addictive and could be dangerous to their health. Likely, the interviewees point out that the discipline of one in relation to how he intakes medical marijuana affects the validity of the medication process that the substance is supposed to support. Without such discipline, there would be more damage than benefit that marijuana could bring about to the user.

Conclusion

The government has a great role and responsibility of taking care of the welfare of its people; and this includes a distinct command on medical maters that could affect the society as a whole. This is the reason why legalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes in the United States continues to falter and be hindered by the fact that FDA continues to impose that marijuana [in general] is dangerous to the health of the public. Hence, when opting to accept medical marijuana as part of one’s recovery process, it is important to make sure that the patient is briefed as to what is to happen and how he should be able to manage the use of the substance accordingly. This will help in the process of avoiding the development of possible unwanted medical results in the future that might make the situations even harder to contend with.

Recommendations

It is suggested that even though this research tried to cover as much issue in relation to the legalization of marijuana in the US, it fails to present the vision and understanding of medical practitioners in the matter. Hence, in upcoming studies regarding the same issue, it is suggested that researchers find a way to get the opinion of the  medical practitioners and cross reference them with the data yielded from the users of the said substance. This will give a balance view of the issue thus creating a more indicative source of information that would be practical for application.

References

McKinney, Mike (2012-06-13). R.I. Gov. Chafee signs into law decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana. The Providence Journal.

Lu, Y.  (2013). “Medical Marijuana Policy in the United States“. HOPES Journal.

Russo, Ethan; Mary Mathre, Al Byrne, Robert Velin, Paul Bach, Juan Sanchez-Ramos, Kristen Kirlin (2002). “Chronic Cannabis Use in the COmpassionate Investigational Drug Program”. Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics 1 (2).

Honan, Edith (8 Jan 2014), New York’s medical marijuana law excludes some who seek the drug, Reuters Report.

Flatow, Nicole (24 March 2014), Prosecutors Can’t Go After Family Treating Child’s Seizures With Marijuana Extract, Judge Rules, Think Progress Journal.