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Up In Smoke


            
            
            
             "Throughout the ages, marijuana has been extolled as one of man's greatest benefactors - and cursed as one of his greatest scourges." (Abel) Either way, marijuana appears to be on the brink of being sanctioned in the United States for human use. For the first time in our country's history, the decision as to whether to allow a drug for use by the public is not being made by the FDA; rather it is being decided at the ballot box. Voters in several states have already voted to legalize medical marijuana, and the issue is pending in many others. Well-organized lobbies on both sides of the issue are flooding the country with studies and testimonials from respected individuals and groups to support their cause. The issue is a controversial one, to be sure. To understand the issues, I will first describe what marijuana is and take a look at its history. Then I will present some of the arguments for legalization of marijuana, and finally consider some of the arguments against its legalization. .
             Marijuana is the common name for a drug made from the hemp plant cannabis sativa. This hardy annual grows up to sixteen feet tall and requires little care to grow. Its primary active ingredient is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinio, and it contains more than 400 other chemicals, most of which are considered unsafe. ("Basic Facts about Drugs: Marijuana"). Most often, marijuana is prepared using the dried flowers and leaves of the hemp plant, and it is usually smoked as a cigarette, better known as a "joint". It can also be used as an ingredient in brownies or brewed as a tea. Common slang terms for marijuana are "weed", "grass", and "dope". .
             Marijuana has been around for a long time. Greek, Egyptian and Persian history document marijuana use as far back at 1090 A.D. (Anslinger). Even before that, there is evidence of marijuana for medical use. As early as 2700 B.C. Chinese Emperor Shen-Nung used marijuana for medical purposes ("Medical Marijuana").


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