Is Medical Marijuana harmful?

Those against Medical Marijuana use their main argument that it is harmful to users. The British lung foundation states that, “3-4 Cannabis cigarettes a day are associated with the same evidence of acute and chronic bronchitis and the same degree of damage to the bronchial mucosa as 20 or more tobacco cigarettes a day.” Hard to believe based on the fact of all of the additives that are in an actual Tobacco cigarette. Not exactly sure which this stat is based off of or whether it be based on a study or not. The British lung foundation also states that, “Cannabis smoking is likely to weaken the immune system. Infections of the lung are due to a combination of smoking-related damage to the cells lining the bronchial passage and impairment of the principal immune cells in the small air sacs caused by cannabis." This seems to be a little bit of a farfetched statement. Not very creditable when they use the words likely in their arguments. On the contrary, Professor Lester Grinspoon of Harvard Medical School states, “Although cannabis has been smoked widely in Western countries for more than four decades, there have been no reported cases of lung cancer or emphysema attributed to marijuana.” You would think if 3-4 Cannabis cigarettes are equal to 20 or more tobacco cigarettes that there would be evidence of lung cancer or emphysema associated with them. The real question is what side do you believe?

Grinspoon, Lester. "Puffing Is the Best Medicine." Los Angeles Times. (2006): n. page. Web. 25 Jun. 2013.

, ed. "Smoking Gun: The Impact of Cannabis Smoking on Respiratory Health." http://www.lunguk.org/. British Lung Foundation. Web. 25 Jun 2013. <http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.source.php?sourceID=798>.

Is Medical Marijuana ethical?

Is Medical Marijuana ethical is the question. The real issue is should we make a now illegal drug, such as marijuana legal for Medical use. Opiates are legal in the form of Medical use, yet the original form is illegal. So what is the difference, not to mention that Marijuana is ten times safer then Opiates. If we were in any other country this topic would not be as big. Just look at Amsterdam, Marijuana is complete legal and is classified as a "soft drug". According to Amsterdam.info, Marijuana is regulated to no more than a 5 gram transaction and it is not sold to minors. If Marijuana is completely legal or decriminalized in other countries then why is it so farfetched to just legalize Marijuana for medical purposes only? How is it unethical to legalize Medical Marijuana when 18 of our states already have in some form legalized it on a state level? Also some of these states have approved Medical Marijuana use for many years now, so what is holding up the rest of our country. We should not completely model what would be our own system for legalized marijuana off of Amsterdam, but we should use Amsterdam as an example and find out their statistics before and after legalizing marijuana, and if they use it for Medical purposes, then what are their methods.

 Skelton, Peter. "Amsterdam drugs." http://www.amsterdam.info/drugs/. Amsterdam.info, 25 Jun 2013. Web. 25 Jun 2013. <http://www.amsterdam.info/drugs/>.

Revenue and job benefits of Medical Marijuana

Not only does Medical Marijuana help with various medical conditions it also helps the states that legalize it for Medical use. Medical Marijuana also bring revenue to the states in the form of sales tax and registration fees, but also creates multiple jobs for people that live in the areas in which dispensaries will be located. According to the U.S. Time article, “Can Marijuana help rescue California’s Economy”, there is currently 200 million in Medical marijuana sales that would have a sales tax associated with it. Just think of all of the money that can be taken in to help the state’s in various areas that are in need. This sales tax could be used to fund education, state high ways or even the states police departments, and the potential is endless. With the legalization of Medical Marijuana come places that will have to distribute the marijuana based upon strict government regulations. According to a Denver Post article, “So far this year, the state has collected more than $2.2 million in sales tax from dispensaries. In Denver, which has more dispensaries than any other city in Colorado, the businesses have also paid more than $2.2 million this year in local sales tax.” $2.2 million just in one state! If this isn’t the nail in the coffin then what more does the governments need proof wise to legalize medical marijuana use. These dispensaries also create jobs for locals in the areas that they will be established in. According to the article, “Jobs, revenue lost in pot dispensary crackdown”, an estimated 2,500 employees lost their jobs in the recent federal crackdown on dispensaries in California. The government always talks about the unemployment rates and trying to lower the rates by creating jobs, yet they themselves created 2,500 jobless people. Those 2,500 people now will be forced to get on unemployment, which will now cost the country money, not make them money. This right here shows how hypocritical the government really is. Medical Marijuana not only has a medical purpose, bit it creates revenue and jobs for thousands of people. What more proof do we need? 

Foster , mimi. Medical Marijuana Makes Money Magically Materialize. N.d. Photograph. http://activerain.comWeb. 24 Jun 2013. <http://activerain.com/blogsview/2468838/medical-marijuana-makes-money-magically-materialize>. 

Roberts , Chris. "Jobs, revenue lost in pot dispensary crackdown." San Francisco Chronical [San Francisco] 25 12 2011, n. pag. Web. 24 Jun. 2013. <http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Jobs-revenue-lost-in-pot-dispensary-crackdown-2295008.php>.

Stateman, Allison. "Can Marijuana Help Rescue California's Economy?." Time U.S. [Los Angeles] 13 03 2009, n. pag. Web. 24 Jun. 2013. <http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1884956,00.html>.

Benefits of Medical Marjiuana on certain Medical Conditions

Medical Marijuana, has become a large issue in today's society. One of the major benefits of Medical Marijuana is the condition and diseases the Medical Marijuana uses helps with. Former Law Judge from the DEA, Francis L. Young states that, "The overwhelming preponderance of the evidence in this record establishes that marijuana has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States for nausea and vomiting resulting from chemotherapy treatments in some cancer patients. To conclude otherwise, on this record, would be unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious." Young is clearly stating that Medical Marijuana does in fact help with Cancer patients and with their chemo. Not only does it help with chemo, but it has been known to help with OCD and Tourette's. Medical Marijuana should be legal all over the US, questions is how come it has become legal on some state levels and not in all of the nation? It has proven medical uses and plenty of people to give their testimonies on how it has helped them with their condition. The Government has made opiates legal for medical use, which can have major harm in the long run on the body. Also the pain killers that are legal are very very addictive. Studies show that Marijuana has no physical addiction what so ever and it can also help for pain the same way opiates do. People have to finally face the facts and realize that Marijuana has a medical purpose and it needs to be something we use in today society. If there were more published media on tv and testimonies shown on a national broadcasted level of how Cancer patients are being helped by using Medical Marijuana then maybe people would start to think the other way. Who really wants to see anyone suffer? And just maybe Medical Marijuana is their answer to make it just a little easier on their selves.

Young , Francis. United States. Drug Enforcement Administration. Marijuana Rescheduling Petition. DEA, 1988. Web. <http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/Young1988.pdf>.

Intro post

I love Sports and my Favorite NFL team is the Kansas City Chiefs, don't ask me how this became my favorite team but I have always loved them since I was young.

One of my favorite things to do is go to the Orioles games with my dad, I am so glad to finally see the Orioles doing well.

This is me and my fiancee, we just got engaged in Dec of 2012. We have been together since we were in high school.

Family is a big part of my life, this is my little brother. We often get that people think we are twins.

I love to hunt, me and my friends like to mess around and use war paint when we go out. lol