TO : California State Representative
FROM : (Student)
SUBJECT : Addressing Medical Marijuana
DATE : 29/3/2017
Executive Summary
The discussions over the appropriate role of medical marijuana in the society have been considerably mired in political and social controversy. The legalization policies for the drug are in conflict with federal drug laws. Despite the need to allow the use of medical marijuana in medicine, there are serious concerns regarding the long-term health risks it may expose the public to. Marijuana is known to damage brain, lungs, heart and the immune systems hence posing a significant threat to the lives of many. Therefore there are various reasons for the criminalization of marijuana use. Moreover, there are some arguments for the legalization of medical marijuana.
Introduction
Currently, medical marijuana is still a controversial issue in medicine. There are several opinions for and against the use of medical marijuana in the United States of America. Unfortunately, there is relatively little scientific data on which to base medical decisions. Additionally, marijuana is scheduled in Class I, a fact which has limited sufficient research hence fuelling the controversy. The regulation of mind-altering drugs in the US has increasingly expanded since the early 20 th century. In 1909, opium smoking was outlawed after the first law banning a substance was passed. At the time, the only group that was smoking opium on a routine basis was the Chinese Immigrants. However, the law exhibited strong racial overtones. In 1970, the Controlled Substance Act was passed which placed a number of mind-altering agents such as marijuana in schedule I. This ultimately led to the criminalization of marijuana in the US. A great challenge arises from the growing number of medical marijuana dispensaries across the US, particularly in California.
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Review of Proposals
Marijuana is the most popularly used illicit drug in the United States. The use of marijuana is widespread among young people in the US especially after the legalization of medical marijuana in a variety of states. It should, however, be noted that legalization of medical marijuana may be a reckless policy option because it would expose the public to unknown risks. Legalization has the potential of significantly reducing the price of marijuana hence increasing its use, especially among the young people.
Those behind the efforts to legalize the use of marijuana for medical use may be sincere in the beliefs, but disastrous results are inevitable if such efforts become successful. The federal government has scheduled marijuana as a class I controlled substance specifically for a good reason. Marijuana is known to damage the brain, lungs, heart and the immune system in its smoked form. Additionally, marijuana use impairs memory, learning, judgment and perception. This indicates that the use of marijuana may cause serious road accidents as well as accidents in industries especially among people operating machinery. Therefore, putting the word “medical” in front of marijuana may not address the real concerns behind its criminalization. It is important to realize that marijuana is a harmful substance that causes a long list of criminal, health and societal problems (Hasin et al., 2015). Although the legalization of medical marijuana for medical purposes may be well intentioned, it may significantly worsen such problems and consequently have terrible implications for our state.
Legalizing marijuana in our state would negatively affect the public safety because it would be too easy for individuals to qualify for medical marijuana. Additionally, the medical marijuana would be allowed for literally any condition, irrespective of the severity, so long as the physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would be an appropriate option (Reinarman et al., 2011). This will inevitably lead to the further proliferation of the drug use hence increasing the risk of drug abuse. It is worth noting that where laws regarding medical marijuana exist, the criminals will always exploit such laws to their advantage. This may result in a deadly epidemic whereby unscrupulous physicians peddle legal prescription pills which are ultimately diverted for illegal street sales as well as recreational use by the public, particularly the young people.
Using marijuana may technically result in deaths because its use can lead to harder drugs that are known, killers. For instance, the younger an individual starts using marijuana, the more likely it is that he will move on to some drug that is harder such as cocaine and heroin. As such, the spread of legal medical marijuana could result in more crimes and deaths in the society. Therefore, medical marijuana should not be legalized as it would send a message to young people that marijuana is a harmless drug.
There is the option of legalizing marijuana and then be distributed by state-operated entities. This will ensure that the government agencies can effectively regulate the sale and use of the medical marijuana. Additionally, this would effectively regulate the production of the drug. However, this proposal may not be effective because unscrupulous doctors and individuals may legally obtain marijuana and divert it to the black market for sale to the public. Therefore, it may not be a viable option to legalize medical marijuana in California.
Proposed Solution
Based on the disastrous effects that may result from legalizing medical marijuana, it is important to ensure that the drug is criminalized. Legalizing marijuana will endanger the health of children especially where reckless storage of the drug is done. Tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive drug in marijuana, suppresses the dopamine receptors in the brain and it will no wear off like alcohol or beer. Moreover, use of marijuana increases the chance of a heart attack by the user. Due to its effect on the brain, it may lead to accidents and loss of lives. Therefore, the use of medical marijuana should be outlawed in California.
Assessment of Implementation
As much as there is a great need for criminalizing medical marijuana, the legalization advocates are determined to win the debate. The reasons behind the campaign to legalize medical marijuana are compelling because it is impossible not to be moved by the suffering of the people stricken by debilitating diseases such as multiple sclerosis and cancer. Additionally, those advocating for the legalization of medical marijuana are sincere in their beliefs because everyone is determined to ensure that the sick are treated compassionately. Moreover, everything should be done to alleviate their pain and discomfort. However, it is important to realize that the disadvantages of legalizing medical marijuana outweigh the benefits by far.
References
Hasin, D. S., Wall, M., Keyes, K. M., Cerdá, M., Schulenberg, J., O'Malley, P. M., ... & Feng, T. (2015). Medical marijuana laws and adolescent marijuana use in the USA from 1991 to 2014: results from annual, repeated cross-sectional surveys. The Lancet Psychiatry , 2 (7), 601-608.
Reinarman, C., Nunberg, H., Lanthier, F., & Heddleston, T. (2011). Who are medical marijuana patients? Population characteristics from nine California assessment clinics. Journal of psychoactive drugs , 43 (2), 128-135.
