FREE ESSAY ON WAR AGAINST MARIJUANA, LEGALIZE IT!

WAR AGAINST MARIJUANA, LEGALIZE IT!

War Against Marijuana
A total of 3,470,545 Americans have been arrested for marijuana offenses. In 1997 state
and local law enforcement arrested 695,200 people for marijuana violations. 
That number is the highest ever recorded by the FBI. 
Of the 682,885 arrests made in 1998, approximately 88% were for simple possession. The
remaining 12% were for sale and manufacture. Every 52 seconds, a marijuana smoker is
arrested in America. This is truly a waste of law enforcement and a waste of our tax
money. These people getting arrested are generally responsible adults capable of making
their own decisions. 
Marijuana was made illegal in 1937, but hemp was kept legal to use. Hemp provides from
four to fourteen tons of dry fibers per acre per year. It can be made into paper, cloth,
and cellulose for plastic. If drug laws would allow hemp farming, we'd have an
alternative resource for paper, which would save our trees. When you look at the
one-dollar bill, you are looking at a hemp farmer, George Washington grew hemp. The US
Drug Enforcement Agency is ignorant to realize that there is a big difference between
hemp and marijuana. Hemp can not be used to get high, and it never was used for that, but
it still was put in the same category as heroin. 
Our tax dollars go to feed all the people that are held in prison on marijuana related
charges. Those people are now struggling to feed their children, knowing that they won't
get much help, because they are "criminals" according to a good percentage of society.
Our society thinks marijuana isn't acceptable because it is illegal. Marijuana was made
illegal because congress put up a fight, and went against narcotics. It was found a
narcotic when it was classified along with opiates. It was deemed too dangerous to allow
research, and dismissed all attempts to argue over it. We know that the legal drug
addictions present now, do not cause any crimes. The actions from them, but not the use.
You can't baby all alcohol users, making sure they don't drink too much. You can't tell
someone that they can't smoke marijuana, when their beliefs are otherwise. 
On June 21, 2000, Val Walton a news staff writer for The Birmingham News reported that a
46 year old man could face life in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to running a drug
operation that sold thousands of pounds of marijuana. The man pleaded guilty to his
charges of continuing a criminal enterprise and drug trafficking. Since this is a federal
offense, he is not provided with parole as an option. He could face 20 years to life in
prison. Now this man is not innocent, he was carrying an illegal firearm to engage in
money laundering. His home was searched and authorities found at least 40 weapons,
$30,000 worth of jewelry and more was found in a safety deposit box. This man should
spend some time in prison for these offenses with no doubt. But the 20 years to life is
for the marijuana, and the added 5-year sentence is for the weapons charge. This is just
one of the thousands of cases, and not the usual, most are just for marijuana offenses. 
Marijuana is classified as a minor psychedelic drug. If it is used in large amounts, it
could lead to a psychedelic effect. So can medication and alcohol, and it is okay to
drink alcohol. This is not a new drug either; it dates back to 4,000 years ago in China.
The emperor smoked it, and promoted its use for an all-purpose medication. It spread to
India and other neighboring countries. Early Hindus used it for a variety of purposes as
well. We have used it as a medical aid for thousands of years, and still are used for a
variety of purposes, just not legally in most cases. 
There are many myths about Pot used to discourage use. One is that Pot is nearly ten
times more potent and dangerous than in the sixties. This is based on government data,
and samples from the 70's recently compared to domesticated marijuana of today show that
it's potency has increased moderately by a factor of two or so. The government ignores
that it was available in premium varieties in the sixties, like Acapulco Gold, as well as
hashish and hash oil, which is every bit as strong as today's marijuana. 
Another myth is that Pot kills brain cells. This myth came from animal experiments in
which changes, not actual cell deaths were observed when animals were exposed to high
doses of pot. There is no physical evidence that it causes permanent brain damage. User's
should know that it does cause short-term memory loss has been found in chronic smokers,
after about 6 to 12 weeks of abstinence. This is probably what makes people think it will
damage you brain cells. Other drugs including alcohol have been noted to cause brain
damage though.
People try to say it will cause you to become sterile and lower testosterone in males. In
contrast to alcohol use, there is more of a chance you will become impotent or have low
testosterone levels from drinking alcohol. In females it has been shown that it may
temporarily lower fertility or increase risk of fetal lost, even mildly disrupt
ovulation. Again, if you drink alcohol the same risks are at stake, even worse ones.
Experts generally recommend that drugs not are used during pregnancy, but there is little
evidence that marijuana use implicates fetal harm, unlike alcohol, cocaine, or tobacco. 
A variety of studies indicate that THC may exercise reversible immune-suppressive effects
by causing the activity of the immune system cells to be inhibited. It is dubious whether
they are of import to human health, since it is based mainly on theoretical laboratory
animal studies. Chronic pot smokers have been shown to suffer damage to immune cells, the
ones that are defense mechanisms. It is unclear how much damage is caused due to THC, as
opposed to all the other toxins that occur in smoke. Water pipes and other devices can
filter out many of those toxins. 
Many AIDS patients smoke marijuana to help stimulate appetite and reduce nausea. Cannabis
doesn't actually damage T-cells, which are depleted in HIV patients. Some studies even
found that exposure to marijuana increased T-cell counts in subjects who were not AIDS
patients, but had a low T-cell count. Laboratory studies have suggested that high doses
of THC might interfere with cell replication, Producing abnormal numbers of chromosomes.
There is no evidence that it damages cells and chromosomes. A review done by Dr. Leo
Hollister from the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs said: "The evidence on immune
suppression has been contradictory and is more supportive of some degree of
immune-suppression only when one considers in vitro studies. These have been seriously
flawed by very high concentrations of drugs used to produce immune-suppression. The
closer that experimental studies have been to actual clinical situations, the less
compelling has been the evidence."
Another popular myth is that one joint equal about 4 cigarettes. Critics have exaggerated
the dangers if pot smoking. Dr. Tashkin found that daily pot smokers experienced a "mild
but significant" increase in airflow resistance in large airways. This is greater than
persons smoking 16 cigarettes per day are. What examiners ignore is that marijuana
smokers did much are better than tobacco smokers in aspects of lung health. Dr. Tashkin
himself says that the notion that one joint equal 16 or maybe just 4 cigarettes is not
true. An estimate that marijuana smokers consume four times as much carcinogenic tar as
cigarette smokers per weight smoked. The average joint usually contains 0.4 grams of pot,
a bit less than one-half the weight of a cigarette. A joint is equal to two cigarettes,
which isn't an exact equivalency, but is more accurate. Marijuana affects different parts
of the respiratory tract than cigarettes; tobacco tends to penetrate smaller passageways
of the lungs. One consequence of this is that pot, unlike cigarettes, does not appear to
cause emphysema. 
Most experts agree that occasional or moderate use of marijuana is innocuous, they agree
that excessive use can be harmful. Research shows that the two major risks are
respiratory disease due to smoking, and accidental injuries due to impairment. A survey
from the Kaiser Permanente Center found that daily marijuana-only users have a 19% higher
rate of respiratory complaints than non-smokers do. Marijuana contains virtually the same
toxic gases and tars as tobacco. The hazards of marijuana can be reduced by various
strategies. One is to use higher-potency cannabis, which can be smoked in smaller
quantities, use of water pipes and other smoke reduction technologies, and ingesting pot
orally instead of smoking. People can use marijuana as a tea, or bake it into foods, but
you must use about three times as much marijuana for the effect.
There is no scientific evidence that marijuana is a "gateway" drug. Cannabis is used by
cultures in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America shows no propensity for
other drugs. The theory of marijuana leading to other drugs came from the sixties, when
it became the leading recreational drug. Events in the eighties showed cocaine abuse
exploded at the same time marijuana use declined. There is evidence that cannabis may be
a substitute for other drugs such as alcohol and hard drugs. A survey by Dr. Patricia
Morgan or the University of California at Berkeley, found a significant number of pot
smokers and dealers switched to met amphetamine "ice", when Hawaii's marijuana
eradication program created a shortage of pot. Marijuana doesn't lead to other drugs for
the reason it is illegal, but because dealers are likely to deal other illicit drugs as
well. 
Whatever the risks are when someone smokes pot, the laws make matters worse in several
ways. Paraphernalia laws impede the development and marketing of water pipes, and all
other advance technology that could reduce the harmfulness of marijuana smoke.
Prohibition encourages sale of pot that has been contaminated or adulterated by
insecticides, or mixed with other drugs such as PCP, crack, or heroin. By raising the
price of marijuana, it makes in uneconomical to consume it orally, which is the best way
to avoid the smoke exposure all together. When you eat it, it typically requires two or
three more times as much marijuana as smoking. 
There has never been a controlled scientific study showing that a drug urinalysis
improves work place safety. The largest survey to date, covering 4,396 postal workers
nationwide, found no difference in accident records between workers who tested positive.
Random drug testing of transportation workers was enacted by a reaction to a single 1987
train collision in which 16 Amtrak passengers were killed by a Conrail train that didn't
stop. The engineer and brakeman of the Conrail train were found to have recently smoked
marijuana, though it could not be proven that it caused the accident. The engineer had
extensive record of speeding and DUI. He was known by management to have drinking
problems. Congress mandated that random drug testing be done on the entire transportation
industry. Marijuana is less of a road hazard than alcohol. Surveys have found that half
or more of fatal drivers have alcohol in their blood, as opposed to 7-20% with THC, the
major component of marijuana. The combination of marijuana and alcohol is a hazard. Some
research suggested that low doses of marijuana alone might sometimes improve driving
performance, but not true in most cases. Marijuana appears to produce greater caution,
because users are more aware of their state, so the become more alert. Even though this
is true in some cases, no one should drive when they are high. It should be noted that
these results might not apply to non-driving related situations, where forgetfulness or
inattention can be less important than speed and safety in a vehicle. There has never
been a single commercial passenger airline accident attributed to marijuana abuse. Drug
tests on railroad workers found no elevated incidence of drug use among workers involved
in accidents.
In surveyed blood samples from 1982 drivers killed in a car, truck and motorcycle
accidents in seven states during 1990-91 found that 51.5% of specimens as against 17.8%
for all other drugs combined. Marijuana, the second most common drug, appeared in just
6.7% of accidents. Two-thirds of the marijuana using drivers also had alcohol. Drivers
who use alcohol are especially vulnerable to fatal accidents when the are at the wheel.
Marijuana alone had no indications to cause fatal accidents when not combined with other
drugs.
The Kaiser study also found that daily pot users have a 30% higher risk of injuries,
mostly from accidents. These figures are pretty accurate, and not nearly as high as
comparable risks for heavy drinkers or tobacco addicts. Marijuana can cause accidents
isn't surprising since it has been shown to degrade short-term memory in chronic pot
smokers. It can also impair concentration, judgment, and coordination at complex tasks
including driving. There have been numerous reports of pot-related accidents, some fatal;
saying it is a myth that no one has ever died from marijuana. A survey of 1,023 emergency
room trauma patients in Baltimore found that 34.7% were under the influence of marijuana,
more than alcohol, but almost all were combinations with alcohol use and pot. 
The Partnership for a Drug-free America did a survey among teenagers from 13-15 years
old. Only eight percent believed that people who use marijuana are popular. From this
study they found that fewer teens agree many rock and rap stars make drug use look
tempting, but few believe it glamorizes drug use. Teens thinking that most people use
marijuana at least once or twice, declined to 35 percent in 1998 and 41 percent in 1997.
11 percent of teens think it is difficult to say no to reject invitation to try
marijuana. Statistically, drug use among teens has declined significantly. So why do we
continue to say we have a marijuana problem, when indeed it has gotten much better? Teens
are people too, which make decisions just like adults. There are more teenagers out there
than we think that make smart choices and act responsibly.
One would not condone a child to use marijuana; we don't allow them to use tobacco
products and alcohol. This is a must in keeping them safe, because children are not
mature enough to handle responsibility with drugs. That is where marijuana gets its bad
reputation. Children who are involved with the drug are "curious" and want to try new
things. Adults don't turn to crack when they are out of alcohol, so what makes us think
that marijuana, a drug, would lead to the same thing? 
Knowing the positive side is always nice, but to be logical, you need the negative side
as well. The short-term effects of marijuana use include: problems with memory and
concentration, distorted perception (sight, sound, time, and touch) trouble with problem
solving, loss of coordination, increased heart rate, and anxiety. These effects are even
greater when other drugs are mixed with marijuana. 
Long-term effect is cancer, which is still in question and not known whether or not it
can be caused by marijuana. To determine whether or not it leads to cancer is hard to
find out because so many users smoke cigarettes too. Pot smokers suffer lung damage just
like tobacco users, and reported evidence shows that pre-cancerous cells are found in pot
smokers. Overall, people who smoke marijuana have the same effects with the respiratory
system as tobacco smokers. Un like tobacco, marijuana is not addictive from chemicals, it
is mostly psychological. When people smoke marijuana, they may get depression, fatigue,
and carelessness with appearance, hostility, and deteriorating relationships with family
and friends. This is not effects from all users, but for some it can lead to this.
Smoking marijuana can also cause change in sleeping patterns. 
When we realize the problems that occur from smoking marijuana, it is easier to argue the
point of why it remains illegal in the United States. Nearly all the health risks can be
compared to those risks with smoking tobacco. When a person smokes a cigarette, the body
responds immediately to the chemical nicotine in smoke. Nicotine causes short-term
increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and blood flow from the heart, and causes
arteries to narrow. Carbon monoxide reduces amount of oxygen carried in the blood, which
creates an imbalance in the demand for oxygen carried by cells. Smoking can cause chronic
lung disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke, as well as cancer in various parts of
the body. It is a known fact that smoking tobacco causes cancer, but marijuana is not
known for sure to cause it. Women who use tobacco during pregnancy are more likely to
have difficult birth, low birth weight, and risk of infant death. Nearly 300,000 infants
suffer from lower respiratory tract infections, due to exposure to cigarette smoke. We
all know that smoking is almost a definite "no" for pregnant women. You see the warnings
on the side of every cigarette pack. 
Studies done to prove marijuana doesn't harm a fetus are criticized for obvious reasons.
A woman named Nancy Day specializes in prenatal care. She did a study that was well
controlled; finding that cannabis use had a positive impact on birth weight during the
third trimester of pregnancy. Cannabis use is not recommended in pregnancy, it may be of
medical value to some women in treating morning sickness or helping in childbirth.
Smoking pot is obviously harmful, so I don't know why anyone would recommend that to any
pregnant woman.
Another drug that causes concern among many Americans, but remains legal is alcohol.
Alcohol is absorbed in the stomach, enters the blood stream, and goes into all tissues.
The effects from drinking are different depending on a person's size, weight, sex, as
well as food and alcohol consumed. Effects from drinking can cause dizziness, nausea,
thirst, slurred speech, disturbed sleep, and vomiting. Alcohol impairs judgment and
coordination, causes aggressive acts like domestic violence and child abuse. Prolonged
use of alcohol can also lead to addiction, producing withdrawal symptoms. Drinking can
cause tremors, hallucinations and convulsions. Permanent damage to vital organs can occur
in the brain and liver. Mothers who drink during pregnancy may give their infants fetal
alcohol syndrome, causing mental retardation and other irreversible physical
abnormalities. These drugs are legal for adults, but yet have caused a lot of damage to
millions of Americans. Theses people are generally adults, that are suppose to be
responsible. They aren't making wise choices when they abuse the drug, but the ones who
are wise aren't effected. The same goes for marijuana. It is illegal to use because of
the people who once abused it, which led to suspicion of it's use. The health dangers
steaming from marijuana use are less or equal to smoking tobacco or drinking alcohol. 
Everyone in this country is born with the right to make decisions. We all have choices,
but how we make them is important. If we continue to doubt others, or even discriminate
against them, we will always be in constant battle. The word "freedom" is suddenly
followed by thousands of rules and exceptions. If we make things that can harm
individuals illegal, is it really stopping it. Are we really thinking about what is out
there now to legally screw up lives isn't doing the job already? Let it be our choice,
let it be our right, make it legal to be free to make our own choices. If we could just
take a moment to think about all the madness in our world, the freedom to smoke pot is
just a tiny seed. That is what marijuana comes from, a seed. It is a natural plant, which
somehow along the way got miss-understood. 
Bibliography
Sources 
Partnership for a Drug-Free America, Surveys, Attitude tracking studies
http://www.drugfreeamerica.org/newscenter/factsheets/pats.html
The Birmingham News, Val Walton, News staff writer (June 21, 2000)
The Arizona Republic, "A losing Drug War", 
Pat Flannery and Dennis Wagner, (Sunday, June 4, 2000)
Washington Hemp Education Network (W.H.E.N)
Compare legal drugs with illegal drugs
"Prohibition Ensures Misuse" (November 22, 1996)
http://www.olywa.net/when/part14.html
Donald Tashkin, Physician, New England Journal of Medicine
"Is Frequent Marijuana Smoking Hazardous to Health"
"Cannabis 1977" Ann. Intern. Med. pg.539-49 (1978)
"Respiratory Status of Habitual Marijuana Smokers" pg.699-706 (Nov 1980)
Nicholas Cozzi, "Effects of Water Filtration on Marijuana Smoke: A literature Review"
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies Newsletter, Vol. IV #2 (1993)
Survey on Hawaii's war on pot done by Honolulu Advertiser, April 1, 1994 
Found at: http://www.norml.org/facts/myths/myth18.html
Norman, Salyard and Mahoney 
"An Evaluation of Pre-employment Drug Testing" from Journal of Applied Psychology 
Pg.629-39 (1990)
Most facts were found at 
Http://www.norml.org
What is Marijuana?
http://www.teenchallenge.com
Bureau of Justice Statistics, Special Report, Caroline Wolf Harlow, Ph.D. BJS
Statistician (April 1998)
Office of National Drug Control Policy, Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse fact sheet
Barry R. McCaffrey, Director
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov, or call, 1-800-666-3332, (March 2000)
Social Issues Resources Series
"A Losing Battle" article found in Drugs-SIRS, West View Library, 
Clara Germany, staff writer of Christian Monitor (1991)