Marijuana Laws: Medical Marijuana
Marijuana has been used for medical purposes for at least 300 years
Cannabis was recognized medicine from 1850-1942
- could be bought at local pharmacies in Texas until 1919 and Louisiana until 1924
Cannabinoid drugs had therapeutic potential particularly for symptoms such as pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation
In 1988 Francis L. Young, Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Drug Enforcement Administration recommended that marijuana be removed from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act so that it could be used for medical purposes
As of July 2003, 27 states along with the District of Columbia had laws providing the use of marijuana for medical purposes
14 states have laws that protect doctors, pharmacies, and patients involved in federally approved marijuana use from prosecution
13 states have laws protecting doctors who prescribe marijuana or discuss its medical value with patients
3 states moved marijuana from Schedule I to a lower schedule in recognition of its medical value
- These states are in conflict with the Federal Legislation which still lists marijuana as a Schedule I drug
Some government officials have made a stance against medical marijuana saying there is no need for it because the same health effects which are beneficial could be achieved through the use of Marinol (synthetic THC)
- Zimmer and Morgan, however, feel that smoking marijuana is more effective then consuming Marinol becuase it goes directly into the bloodstream, whereas a pill has to be broken down my the body's system before it is released
When marijuana is smoked it delivers most of the THC that is inhaled
Laws are set up allowing to arrest and prosecute medical marijuana providers and physicians who recommend marijuana to their patients
Groups that support the use of medical marijuana
- American Public Health Association
- Federation of American Scientists
- The Physicians' Associaton for AIDS Care
- Lymphoma Foundation of America
- National Association of Prosecutors and Criminal Defense Attorneys
This page provides a lot of good information regarding facts about medical marijuana. It also provides some history and gives what it can be used for and also some alternatives besides using marijuana: http://students.washington.edu/aed/archivemidget/2.htm
Really good website that shows a table about how long a person would go to jail or be charged with a misdemeanor depending on how much marijuana a person has: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?wtm_view=&Group_ID=4547
