... seeds were used as food for canaries and other songbirds. Cultivation of the crop began thousands of years ago in China where the people had little regard for the psycho-active side effects of the plant (Richardson 41). During the seventeenth century, the English navy had a huge demand for hemp rope, since it was stronger than the rope of other materials ... mentioned in his diary. There is no evidence of the people of the colonies eating or smoking the plant due to the fact that those cool climates lessened the psycho-active material (Stwertka 16). Thomas Jefferson also grew the crop, ...

• Word Count: 3551
• Approx Pages: 14
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... medical purposes has emerged once again. For many illnesses, marijuana is considered a medical necessity. Marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known ("The Need toÉ"). According to a National Academy of Sciences report released in 1999, "Marijuana's active components are potentially effective in treating pain, nausea, the anorexia of AIDS wasting, and other symptoms." Loss of appetite and wasting are ... among the most lethal side effects of cancer treatments. Glaucoma, AIDS, cancer and MS patients have all benefited from the drug. Researchers have found evid...

• Word Count: 566
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... than 83 million Americans (37 percent) age 12 and older have tried marijuana at least once, according to the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA).2 The major active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which causes the mind-altering effects of marijuana intoxication. The amount of THC (which is also the psychoactive ingredient in hashish) determines ... .7 Dronabinol (trade name Marinol) is a legal, synthetic THC alternative to cannabis. Nevertheless, many patients claim they find minimal relief from it, particularly when compared to inhaled marij...

• Word Count: 2773
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... with minor cannabis violations; in return they lose their jobs, default on their bills, and become a burden to the American tax payers. By decriminalizing cannabis, these users still remain an active taxpaying member of society, helping the economy by maintaining their jobs and paying their bills. According to a study performed by Dr. Gieringer "by imposing a harmfulness tax" of 50 cents to ... with the answer Cannabis Sativa L., also known as hemp, the industrial plant of Cannabis Sativa. Cannabis Sativa L. is associated with strong fibers and oiled seed', containing less than 0.3% of ...

• Word Count: 2966
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... with minor cannabis violations; in return they lose their jobs, default on their bills, and become a burden to the American tax payers. By decriminalizing cannabis, these users still remain an active taxpaying member of society, helping the economy by maintaining their jobs and paying their bills. According to a study performed by Dr. Gieringer "by imposing a harmfulness tax" of 50 cents to ... with the answer Cannabis Sativa L., also known as hemp, the industrial plant of Cannabis Sativa. Cannabis Sativa L. is associated with strong fibers and oiled seed', containing less than 0.3% of ...

• Word Count: 2966
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Marijuana is derived from a plant called "cannibis sativa" and its active ingredient is delta tetrahyddrocannibino, also known as THC. Marijuana also has a wide variety of street names such as grass, Mary Jane, pot, smoke, reefer, herb, and weed. When people think ... cocaine and morphine are permitted to be legalized then why is marijuana not? The US department of Justice stated, "Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known," If this is so, then why is there sucj a controversy over why it should be legalized? The use and possession of mariju...

• Word Count: 1002
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... Sciences" Institute of Medicine in 1999. After an eighteen-month review of already published research on medical marijuana and testimony from doctors and patients, the report's authors concluded that the active components in marijuana appear to be helpful in treatment of pain, nausea, AIDS-related weight loss, and muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis (Jennifer Thomas, USA Today). Some AIDS patients prefer ... some sort of relief if they are willing to break the law in some states to get it. Also, no one has ever died of THC poisoning which is the active part of marijuana; no one has ever...

• Word Count: 929
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... . It grows as a weed and cultivated plant all over the world in a variety of climates and soils. Cannabis preparations have been used as remedies for thousands of years and the active ingredients of the hemp plant (THC) can be put to use in a multitude of medical conditions. A native of central Asia, cannabis may have been cultivated as long as ten thousand ... glaucoma and in treating the nausea induced by cancer chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Referring to the Internet site, "How Marijuana Works," I found that Marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances know...

• Word Count: 1689
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... multiple studies be done in order to determine if marijuana had any medical value. The decision of the Clinton Administration came two months after a government-sponsored study concluded that "the active ingredients in marijuana, called cannabinoids, appeared useful for treating pain, nausea, and severe weight loss in AIDS patients. Many of those who oppose this say that long-term smoking can ... add to respiratory problems. They want to find a system in which the cannabinoids can be separated from the plant in order to produce the active ingredients without releasing the 400+ other can...

• Word Count: 1007
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... cannabis oil, hoping it will control their seizures [CITATION Jan151 t l 3081 ]. After speaking with the mother of a boy with uncontrollable epilepsy, Ms Palaszczuk said, "I wanted us to be an active participant because I know many Queensland families see real value in this form of treatment" [CITATION Jan15 t l 3081 ]. The trials would be coordinated by NSW Health, and would allow Queensland ... ...

• Word Count: 2315
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... ;According to the Institute of Medicine, there is no future in smoked marijuana as medicine. However, the prescription drug Marinol-a legal and safe version of medical marijuana which isolates the active ingredient of THC-has been studied and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as safe medicine when used as prescribed. The difference between Marinol and smoked marijuana is ... ...

• Word Count: 4020
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... that is also slowed down in growth is tumors developed from cancer. Dr. Peter McCormick, a researcher from the University of East Anglia in England found that "THC, the major active component in marijuana, has anti-cancer properties that can slow down the growth of tumors" (Ferner, line8). Just like with Alzheimer's, the chemicals in marijuana can help slow down ... ...

• Word Count: 1375
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... cigarettes seems ludicrous to most Americans yet more than half of Californians find it ideal. Although the consumption of cannabis may cause health hazards, criminal punishments, and motor impairments, an active social reform is underway in hopes of optimistic outcomes influenced by Washington's and Colorado's movement. The Prohibition era ended decades ago so why is its' lingering principles constricting cannabis' potential ... ...

• Word Count: 1412
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... value for such conditions as MRSA, HIV, hypertension, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Hepatitis C, and Alzheimer's. NIDA.gov reported, "Scientists have confirmed that the cannabis plant contains active ingredients with therapeutic potential for relieving pain, controlling nausea, stimulating appetite, and decreasing ocular pressure" (2010). Testimonials from reliable sources regarding the medical benefits of cannabis flood the internet ... ...

• Word Count: 1371
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... known as Tetrahydrocannabinol, is neither a narcotic, such as heroin, nor a stimulant, such as caffeine or tobacco, nor a depressant, such as alcohol. Its leaves, when smoked, instigate physiological reactions. When the active chemical in cannabis, THC, enters the bloodstream through the lungs and reaches the brain, it triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that induces pleasure (Gettman). This causes several effects upon ... ...

• Word Count: 1639
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... circumstances" (Brookhiser 9). Many American's were surprised when a report released by the White House's drug czar stated. "Scientific study funded by the White House's drug czar reported in March that marijuana active ingredients seem to have medical value, particularly for pain relief" (Dreyfuss 32). The National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine did a study on marijuana and medicine. They released a report and ... ...

• Word Count: 1229
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... Stormy Ray was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1985, and she says, "Medical marijuana has literally saved my life"(Sager 30). James Messer, an AIDS patient, took synthetic THC (the active stimulant in marijuana) pill called Marinol for pain relief. The only nearby pharmacy that sold Marinol had been out of stock for two months. Desperate in need to get medication ... ...

• Word Count: 1571
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... Administration's chief administrative law judge, concluded not only that marijuana's medical utility had been adequately demonstrated, but also that marijuana had been shown to be "one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man" ("Medical Marijuana Briefing-). He also ruled that marijuana has legitimate medical applications and should be available to doctors. Lyn Nofziger, former deputy chairman of the Republican ... ...

• Word Count: 1174
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... stressed subject could smoke, or even ingest some marijuana with, more or less, the same results. Victims of injuries could save themselves from becoming reliant on Tylenols and Advils (whose active drugs acetaminophen, codeine, or anti-inflammatory agents could be nearly replaced by THC) by choosing marijuana. Anorexia, should the victim choose, could be eliminated by, "the munchies," where the user ... ...

• Word Count: 2063
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... and heroin. Marijuana isn't particularly addictive. "One key indicator of the addictiveness of other drugs is that lab rats will self-administer them. Rats simply won't self- administer THC, the active ingredient in marijuana." (Drug scope) Two researchers in 1991 studied the addictiveness of caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana. Both ranked caffeine and marijuana as the least addictive. One ... ...

• Word Count: 2154
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... patients, reducing muscle spasms associated with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, and alleviating eye pressure in glaucoma patients - there is no proof that marijuana is the most effective treatment. The main active ingredient in marijuana (THC) is already available in its legal form, Marinol; it does in fact have therapeutic applications; therefore, the whole substance of marijuana does not necessarily need to ... ...

• Word Count: 608
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... why marijuana should not be legalized from the medical standpoint. For the past fifteen years a drug know has been available as an alternative to medicinal marijuana (McCaffrey). THC is the active chemical ingredient that s responsible for effects of marijuana. The potency and cost of marijuana is determined by the THC content, which can range anywhere from one to six percent. The ... ...

• Word Count: 2117
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... other dangerous drugs such as heroin. As a health aspect, marijuana seems to be a non-issue. One of the DEA's leading judges stated that, "marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man." Also, the common perception that marijuana will eventually kill your future and stomp out your motivation is refuted in this article. The World Health Organization states ... ...

• Word Count: 784
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... deriving the THC (∆9 Tetra-hydro-cannibinol) in marijuana. All it did was make the patients uncomfortable and was not nearly as effective as natural cannabis, which has over 400 active ingredients, THC being only one of them. Skeptics of the Pro-Pot party argue that Cannabis is a gateway drug. They think that by using Cannabis, you are more likely to ... ...

• Word Count: 689
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Marijuana, in its natural form, has been thought to be one of the safest and oldest therapeutically active substances known to man. However, in today's society it's categorized as an illicit, illegal substance. When people hear the phrase, "legalization of marijuana," they only think of the ones smoking ... ...

• Word Count: 1098
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate