Medical Marijuana

Medical Marijuana

It has been proven by scientists that marijuana can help ease the symptoms or even help fight off certain terminal diseases. A law should be passed to allow marijuana to be used to help terminally ill patients cope during their last dying days. People are so scared of it for no reason other than someone saying its "bad". Medical marijuana should be legalized.

Today's society shuns marijuana a plant that has been used for centuries for not only healing but also fabrics and even food. Throughout history the plant has been a key material in the growth of civilization. The first recorded use of hemp was before 7,000 B.C. Even in Jamestown farmers were required to grow Indian hempseed or they could be jailed.

The United States Census of 1850 counted 8,327 hemp "plantations" (minimum 2,000-acre farm) growing cannabis hemp for cloth, canvas and even the cordage used for baling cotton. During that time hemp was legal tender, you could even pay your taxes with it. Marijuana has been illegal for only about 1% of the time its been known of. Even George Washington grew hemp as his primary crop at Mount Vernon.

If your loved one were to become very sick and medicinal marijuana could help them deal with the pain and bolster appetite for recovery wouldn't you want them to have it? Studies have show the effects of marijuana can help glaucoma and cancer patients fend off cancerous cells. It relieves the extreme pain of disease. Not only does it help just cancer patients but it has also been proven to relieve nausea, vomiting, and muscle spasms.

The active chemical ingredient in hemp is THC. The chemical is responsible for the drugs therapeutic or psycodelic characteristics. In a study comparing THC to a common pain relief drug called codeine, 10 mg of THC was equal to 60 mg of codeine. Obviously THC is a far more potent pain relief agent. There still is some speculation about its addictive tendencies.

Back in 1930's a man named Harry Anslinger was given control of the Bureau of Narcotics. During this time America was extremely racist and prejudice. He was no exception. He convinced congress to pass the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. He distorted the truth by exploiting people's fear of minorities. He used yellow journalism, basically convincing newspapers to print false stories and statements. Supposedly he worked