Marijuana: The Unaccepted Medicine

Piers, Nathan

Mrs. Perry

English 12

5 June 2019
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Marijuana: The Unaccepted Medicine

“Of adults 26 or older who used marijuana before age 15, 62 percent went on to use

cocaine at some point in their lives; and 54 percent made some nonmedical use of mind-altering

prescription drugs” (“International Statistics”). Marijuana is a harmful drug to the U.S.

population, especially to teens of the next generation. It is a gateway drug that can lead to more

damaging drugs when used. Marijuana has been found to have more negative effects than

positive effects. Therefore, marijuana should not be legalized in the United States.

Marijuana, or “cannabis”, is the concoction of dried leaves from cannabis plants that can

be smoked as a mind-altering drug. The plant and drug can also be referred to as hemp.

Marijuana is derived from the hemp plant cannabis sativa. By itself, marijuana contains more

than 500 chemicals including THC or its molecular name, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. THC

gives marijuana its mind-altering characteristic (“Marijuana 101”).

Marijuana originally appeared in the United States in the late 1500s after the Spanish

brought trade across the Atlantic. It was first used for fibers in the making of rope and paper. In

the 1600s, marijuana was grown on hemp plantations by colonies in Virginia, Massachusetts, and

Connecticut. After time, it was also used for medicinal purposes in helping pain and headaches.

At the time, the drug was called “cannabis” but was eventually called “marijuana” or “locoweed”

to associate it with Mexican immigrants coming into the Unites States called the “Marijuana

Menace”.

In Texas, police claimed the drug would cause violent tendencies and a lust for blood. It

was rumored Mexicans sold the drug to schoolchildren. Overtime, the drug became even less

popular after it was said to be associated with other “inferior” races such as African-Americans

and prostitutes.
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Marijuana eventually became illegal to grow in plantations after the Marijuana Tax Act

of 1937. The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was a very heavy tax on the sale, possession,

or transportation of marijuana to make it banned. Individuals were then arrested if caught selling

cannabis after the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was passed. The last recorded hemp plantation was

in Wisconsin in 1957 (Sraders). By 1931, 29 states had outlawed marijuana. In 2019, 10 states

have legalized recreational marijuana and 33 states have legalized medical use of marijuana

(“Marijuana Timeline”).

Pro-marijuana users claim the drug has major medicinal uses that helps to deal with

conditions such as cancer, AIDS, epilepsy, and pain. Marijuana is used as a painkiller and

soother and is claimed to be safe and effective. The only evidence for these claims, however, are

the testimonies of people’s personal, positive experiences with the drug and is not reliable

(Wilkinson). Only the positive experiences are told while the negative stories of the drug are not

heard. Because the drug can be either positive or negative based on testimony, marijuana is

unpredictable. It is also unpredictable depending on how the body of the individual takes the

hundreds of chemicals entering one’s system. When marijuana is smoked, its major chemical,

THC, is released into the EC, or endocannabinoid, system. The EC system is located in the brain

and affects many functions of the body such as focus and balance. THC attaches to the receptors

of the EC system and throws off the functions of the system. Each individual can be affected by

THC a different way. Some may have their focus obscured while others may lose their balance

(“The Science of Marijuana: How THC Affects the Brain”). The DEA even claim the drug to be

dangerous due to its unpredictability (Leger).

The DEA also claims marijuana has no impactful, medical use (Leger). The medicinal

use of marijuana is not accepted at a national level. Also, the use of marijuana as a painkiller
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serves the same purpose of actual, accepted medication such as Percocet and Ibuprofen, but only

adds the side effect of being unpredictable (Leger).

Another serious issue of marijuana as medicine is it has not undergone thorough,

effective testing as all other prescribed drugs have. It is not accepted by well-qualified experts

because marijuana has not been tested making it unsafe and unpredictable. The FDA has five

criteria before passing a drug. “The drug’s chemistry must be known and reproducible. There

must be adequate safety studies. There must be adequate and well-controlled studies proving

efficacy. The drug must be accepted by well-qualified experts. Scientific evidence must be

widely available” (Madras). Marijuana fails to meet any of these expectations which is why it is

considered unsafe, unpredictable, and useless for medicinal purposes.

Marijuana advocates state that marijuana is not as addictive as claimed by others. This is

also only supported by the testimonies of individuals. Marijuana is labeled a Schedule I drug. “A

Schedule I drug is when the drug has high abuse potential, no medical use, and severe safety

concerns” such as heroin, LSD, and cocaine (“Schedules or Classes of Drugs”). It has a high

potential for abuse because it can be addictive and not trusted. Marijuana has severe safety

concerns meaning it is negative for an individual’s health. Marijuana is associated with all these

factors. Advocates are trying to change marijuana to a Schedule II drug for its “medical use”

(“Schedules or Classes of Drugs”).

Because marijuana is usually associated with narcotics, it affects Americans’

consciousness between “normal” recreational drugs such as alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine, and

“abnormal” recreational drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and meth. It affects whether or not

individuals would like to use it (Head). Regular marijuana users can experience withdrawal from

the drug over time. They can develop a need for it and start to feel ill when not taking the drug.
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Marijuana can then be very difficult to stop. Marijuana will usually take physical dependence

until it gains physiological dependence meaning a mental illness of needing it. When addicted to

marijuana, it can affect an individual’s family, social, and work relations. An addiction can lead

to a divorce, abuse, and affect an individual like alcohol would. Marijuana is dangerous because

of its addictive potential (Ackermann).

Marijuana affects society’s younger generations. Marijuana dependence is more likely for

teens and can cause anxiety, irritability, and trouble-sleeping. It can be harmful for the brain,

especially for adolescents. “One in every six 16 year-olds will become addicted to it” (Sabet).

Marijuana can also affect motivation in teens for academics and achievements. It impairs

memory, attention, and learning due to THC affecting the EC system. At an early age, scientists

have found that marijuana can greatly affect the development of the brain causing lower IQ

scores on tests. “Research shows that adolescents who smoke marijuana once a week over a two-

year period are almost six times more likely than nonsmokers to drop out of school and over

three times less likely to enter college” (Sabet). The marijuana industry target young teens for

business which has also caused an increase in juvenile arrests. Marijuana affects teens’ safety

and health and can be a gateway drug for teens to try more damaging drugs such as cocaine and

heroin (Sabet).

Advocates for legalization claim marijuana has no negative health effects as it “soothes”

the body. This is very false as this “soothing” is due to THC affecting the body’s functions.

Marijuana is harmful to various systems within the body, including the heart, respiratory, and

cognitive systems. Marijuana increases the heart rate by 20 to 50 beats per minute. The normal

heart rate is usually 70 to 80 beats per minute. In some cases, it even doubles the rate. “It forces

the heart to work extra hard to keep up” (“Marijuana 101”). Marijuana can also cause respiratory
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problems for breathing. Similar to tobacco, marijuana irritates the lungs and cause a greater risk

for lung infections and lung cancer. Anxiety and depression have also been linked to the use of

marijuana. It can also cause suicidal thoughts. It can develop effects on mental health and cause

drowsiness and lack of reflexes. Marijuana can have a major effect on pregnant women and

change the development in the unborn brain. The baby can have a lower birth weight and have

problems with attention, memory, and problem solving (“Marijuana 101”).

A major concern with the use of marijuana is its effects on drivers. It can cause slow

reaction time and the ability to track moving objects. “Marijuana impairs the ability to judge

time, distance, and speed” (Wilkinson). For car accidents with fatalities, marijuana is the most

common drug detected other than alcohol. In 12 percent of fatal motor accidents in a study,

recent use of marijuana was found. Research confirms that with the legalization of marijuana, a

significant increase in risk of fatal car accidents with intoxication by cannabis is certain

(Wilkinson).

Advocates for legalization simply do not have convincing arguments or evidence of the

positive uses of marijuana. The beneficial effects of the drug will not come without public or

social costs. The only evidence available by pro-marijuana users are the testimonies of well-

developed adults, not even adolescents. Advocates claim the drug cures diseases and promotes

“creativity, open-mindedness, moral progression, and a closer relationship with God and the

cosmos”. It is also said “inertia is a powerful force in a public policy” (Head). If something is

banned for a great length of time then that is seen as the status quo. Advocates for legalization

need further studies and testing of the drug before a valid argument can be made (Head).

Marijuana should be illegal throughout the United States. Marijuana does not have

accepted medicinal use and is unpredictable. It is addictive and a gateway drug that can lead to
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more damaging narcotics. It has damaging health effects for individuals and drivers. Marijuana

has not been studied for effects and safety as much as other medicinal drugs by physicians.

Drug-use and abusive-use will increase exponentially over time for the future generation.

Marijuana should be processed for approval instead of by votes as all other medicinal and

recreational drugs have been, and made illegal for its dangerous, unpredictable potential.
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Works Cited

Ackermann, Kristina. “Is Marijuana Addictive?” American Addiction Centers. 2019.

americanaddictioncenters.org. Web. 5 April 2019.

Head, Tom. “Top 7 Reasons Why Marijuana Is Illegal.” Dot Dash. 3 January 2019.

thoughtco.com. Web. 2 April 2019.

“International Statistics.” Foundation for a Drug-Free World. 2006-2019. drugfreeworld.org.

Web. 10 April 2019.

Leger, Donna Leinwand. “Marijuana to remain illegal under federal law, DEA says.” USA

Today. 11 August 2016. usatoday.com. Web. 5 April 2019.

Madras, Bertha. “5 reasons marijuana is not medicine.” The Washington Post. 29 April 2016.

washingtonpost.com. Web. 5 April 2019.

“Marijuana Timeline.” WGBH. 1995-2014. pbs.org. Web. 5 April 2019.

“Marijuana 101.” Set To Go. 2019. settogo.org. Web. 2 April 2019.

Sabet, Kevin A., PhD. “Kevin A. Sabet, PhD, Shares Important Lessons from Cannabis

Legalization.” Center on Addiction. 2019. centeronaddiction.org. Web. 2 April 2019.

“Schedules or Classes of Drugs.” American RSDHope. 2017. rsdhope.org. Web. 5 April 2019.

“The Science of Marijuana: How THC Affects the Brain.” Scholastic, Inc. 2011. scholastic.com.

Web. 5 April 2019.

Sraders, Anne. “History of Marijuana: Origins, Legality, and What's Happening in 2018.”

The Street, Inc. 24 September 2018. thestreet.com. Web. 5 April 2019.

Wilkinson, Samuel T, MD. “More Reasons States Should Not Legalize Marijuana: Medical and

Recreational Marijuana: Commentary and Review of the Literature.” Missouri Medicine.

2013. nih.gov. Web. 5 April 2019.

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Bibliography

Ackermann, Kristina. “Is Marijuana Addictive?” American Addiction Centers. 2019.

americanaddictioncenters.org. Web. 5 April 2019.

Head, Tom. “Top 7 Reasons Why Marijuana Is Illegal.” Dot Dash. 3 January 2019.

thoughtco.com. Web. 2 April 2019.

“International Statistics.” Foundation for a Drug-Free World. 2006-2019. drugfreeworld.org.

Web. 10 April 2019.

Lee, Martin A. Smoke Signals: A Social History of Marijuana: Medical, Recreational, &

Scientific. New York: Scribner, 2012. Print.

Leger, Donna Leinwand. “Marijuana to remain illegal under federal law, DEA says.” USA

Today. 11 August 2016. usatoday.com. Web. 5 April 2019.

Madras, Bertha. “5 reasons marijuana is not medicine.” The Washington Post. 29 April 2016.

washingtonpost.com. Web. 5 April 2019.

Marcovitz, Hal. The Opioid Epidemic. San Diego, California: ReferencePoint Press, Inc., 2018.

Print.

“Marijuana Timeline.” WGBH. 1995-2014. pbs.org. Web. 5 April 2019.

“Marijuana 101.” Set To Go. 2019. settogo.org. Web. 2 April 2019.

Sabet, Kevin A., PhD. “Kevin A. Sabet, PhD, Shares Important Lessons from Cannabis

Legalization.” Center on Addiction. 2019. centeronaddiction.org. Web. 2 April 2019.

“Schedules or Classes of Drugs.” American RSDHope. 2017. rsdhope.org. Web. 5 April 2019.

“The Science of Marijuana: How THC Affects the Brain.” Scholastic, Inc. 2011. scholastic.com.

Web. 5 April 2019.

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Sraders, Anne. “History of Marijuana: Origins, Legality, and What's Happening in 2018.”

The Street, Inc. 24 September 2018. thestreet.com. Web. 5 April 2019.

“Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana.” CNBC LLC. 2019. cnbc.com. Web. 2 April 2019.

Wilkinson, Samuel T, MD. “More Reasons States Should Not Legalize Marijuana: Medical and

Recreational Marijuana: Commentary and Review of the Literature.” Missouri Medicine.

2013. nih.gov. Web. 5 April 2019.