~ November Issue ~
 

Marijuana: To Do or Not to Do?
by James Chow and Naomi Gault, Staff Writers

     Marijuana a.k.a. Tetrahydrocannabinol is classified as a narcotic. Section 1101 of California law states that the use and possession of marijuana is illegal unless it is for medicinal purposes as stated in the Compassionate Use Act. But why limit this wonderful drug that has been proven to clear glaucoma, cure muscle spasms caused by spinal cord injuries, allay nausea caused by cancer treatments and stimulate the appetite? It has so many wonderful benefits!  Utah was the first to place an anti-marijuana law, which was followed by the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. What is the government's reason for this ban? Why did people vote for this? Many biased voters, according to drugwarrant.com, believe that most users are minorities and entertainers. "Their satanic music jazz and swing result from marijuana use," says drugwarrant.com, "This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with minorities, entertainers and many others." Encouraged by the popular opinion that marijuana is bad and degrading to the mind and body, it was outlawed in the early 1930s. The truth is that marijuana is a very safe drug. Laboratory animals (rats, mice, dogs, monkeys) can tolerate doses of up to 1,000 milligrams per kilogram. This would be equivalent to a 70 kg person swallowing 70 grams of the drug -- about 5,000 times more than is required to produce a high (Iversen, Leslie L., PhD, FRS, "The Science of Marijuana"). Despite the widespread illicit use of cannabis, there are no reported deaths caused by marijuana in the United States. While there is an alarming 85,000 deaths a year in the U.S. caused by alcohol, it has remained legal. Therefore, marijuana should be legalized. Junior Craig Sturges says to “use it not abuse it.”  Senior Ashley Morris says that “many people have cancer and they need to relieve their pain and many kids are stressed out and they need it for the same reason.”  Marijuana is a drug not to be feared, but to be embraced for the well-being of the country.
     Marijuana is the dried leaves and female flowers of the hemp plant, used in cigarette form as a narcotic or hallucinogen and is commonly referred to as pot, herb, weed, Mary Jane, or hashish. It is usually smoked as a cigarette; however, it can also be eaten. Most teen users start marijuana because of bad examples set by family, television or movies, peer pressure, or as an escape from life's problems. Senior Kim Ip agrees, stating that marijuana is the "downfall to our generation."
     When considering the legalization of this herb, the negative effects of the drug need to be considered. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are several long and short effects of using marijuana. On the short term, using marijuana can interfere with memory and learning, distort one's perception, and cause problems with thinking, problem solving, and motor coordination. Especially dangerous for those with cardiovascular problems, it increases heart rate by up to 50%. According to the drug rehab center, Narconon, "there have been over 7,000 published scientific and medical studies documenting the damage that marijuana poses. Not one study has shown marijuana to be safe." Junior Sharlene Verma bluntly claims "marijuana is bad!"
     The active chemical in marijuana is Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is quickly absorbed by fatty tissues in the body. The chemical is so strong that it can often still be detected in urine samples of heavy users weeks after usage has stopped. THC can damage the cells and tissues in the body that help protect again disease, weakening your immune system.  Also, marijuana contains some of the same, chemicals found in tobacco, sometimes in even greater quantities, which are known to cause cancer. Studies which have been done on children born to mothers who used marijuana show that these individuals have increased problems with attention, memory, and decision making. "It's really addictive and it's a gateway drug," Senior Brittney Crawford stated.
     Contrary to some beliefs that marijuana could be used for medical purposes, according to United States law since 1970, marijuana has been declared a Schedule I controlled substance. This indicates that it does not have any commonly accepted medical uses. If legalized, marijuana could be even more accessible and easily abused. This would add to the 69 million Americans over the age of 12 who have tried marijuana at least once. Marijuana was clearly illegalized on sound evidence.