Arguing with Sources- Final

Alyssa McPartland

Arguing with Sources

AnDrea Cleaves

November 21, 2008

 

Legalization of Medical Marijuana in Minnesota

 

            Former United States president Jimmy Carter once said, “Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself, and where they are they should be changed” (Felonious Ramblings, 2008). This idea of Carter’s has made itself true in recent years. “Since 1976, Minnesota has been one of 11 states that have marijuana decriminalization laws on the books. The sentence for possession of up to 1.5 ounces marijuana (a typical marijuana cigarette is less than .2 ounces) is $200 with possible drug counseling”  (Birkey, 2007). Marijuana should be legalized in Minnesota for medical use, and it is well on its way towards becoming the 13^th state to do so. Medical marijuana has been proven to decrease pain from multiple sclerosis, help ease nausea and vomiting related to cancer chemotherapy, and despite rumors, it is not harmful like tobacco and alcohol. The use of marijuana as a medicine will benefit many people’s lives, especially those with serious or chronic diseases.

            Marijuana can be used to help cope with symptoms from chronic diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society defines MS as, “.. a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves,” (NMSS, 2008).  Some of the symptoms that MS patients suffer from include, but are not limited to: pain, cognitive function, spasticity, walking (gait), balance, seizures and tremor. The use of marijuana decreases pain, and will help MS patients to better cope with this chronic disease. One study with “51 multiple sclerosis patients smoke 0% or 4% THC marijuana cigarettes daily for three days. Intensity of spasms was reduced by 32% and pain ratings by 50% after smoking marijuana, compared with 2% and 22% reductions after placebo cigarettes” (Adams 2008). Another report by the Americans for Safe Access organization also found similar results in one of their experiments, “Anecdotal reports and a small controlled study have reported that cannabis improve spasticity and, to some extent, improved tremor in MS patients” (Americans for Safe Access, 2008).  The two different studies found that marijuana significantly helped multiple sclerosis patient’s symptoms, which is why Minnesota needs to legalize medical marijuana.

            Marijuana is useful for more than just helping ease pain and tremors, it also works wonders as an anti-nausea drug. One of the other common uses for medical marijuana is to help ease nausea and vomiting due to cancer chemotherapy. Besides just reducing the nausea, marijuana also stimulates the appetite, which is another struggle chemotherapy patients face. “Numerous clinical studies have reported that the use of cannabis reduces nausea and vomiting and stimulates appetite, thereby reducing the severity of cachexia, or wasting syndrome in patients receiving chemotherapy treatment” (Americans for Safe Access, 2008). The legalization of medical marijuana in Minnesota would help many cancer patients have an easier road to recovery, after going through so much already. Another study published in the European Journal of Cancer Care also agrees with the use of medical marijuana for nausea. This study, “analyzed 30 clinical studies using cannabinoid drugs synthesized in the lab and concluded that they were better than standard anti-nausea drugs in alleviating the nausea and vomiting that accompanies chemotherapy” (Adams, 2008). Many cancer patients suffer through treatment, and the legalization of marijuana will make the chemotherapy process easier on those who have been through so much already.

            Lastly, marijuana is not a harmful drug. Many Americans argue that marijuana has more chemicals and toxins in it then cigarettes do, which is far from the truth. There are already over ten states in the United States that have put medical marijuana to work, and it has helped many patients. One study showed,

“There have been no reports of lung cancer related solely to marijuana, and in a large study presented to the American Thoracic Society in 2006, even heavy users of smoked marijuana were found not have any increased risk of lung cancer. Unlike heavy tobacco smokers, heavy marijuana smokers exhibit no obstruction of the lung’s small airway” (Drug Policy Alliance Network, 2008).  The annual causes of death in the United States between alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana also show there is no correlation between marijuana and other substances. Tobacco was responsible for approximately 435,000 deaths, alcohol took 85,000 lives, and the death count due to marijuana remains at zero (Drug War Facts, 2008).  Clearly, marijuana is not a harmful drug and it should be legalized for medical use in Minnesota.

            There are a few Minnesotans who believe that marijuana should not be legalized for medicinal use. Among them are “the Minnesota Chiefs of Police, the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association and the state’s County Attorneys Association” (NORML, 2008).  The main doubt that many of them have, “is that unscrupulous physicians will green-light virtually anyone’s use of marijuana. That’s a valid concern. Reporters for ’60 Minutes’ found one Californian who got the OK to smoke pot because of pain from high heels,” (NORML, 2008).  The main difference between what happened in California and the possibility of it happening in Minnesota, is the length of the law. “At the same time, California’s original law was 11 lines long; Minnesota’s is nine pages, and written more tightly to limit abuse. Unlike California, it requires qualifying patients to register and carry an ID card” (NORML, 2008). Therefore, Minnesota’s medical marijuana patients will have a much more difficult time obtaining a license than Californians do.

            Marijuana needs to be legalized in Minnesota for medical use. Cannabis is not a harmful drug, and it helps ease the pain and tremors from MS, as well as control nausea and vomiting due to cancer chemotherapy. Many steps have already been taken to make this issue a hot topic in Minnesota. The bill passed in the Minnesota Senate, but it never made it for a vote in the House.  Until the next legislative session, Minnesotans need to show their support for medical marijuana by writing to the state representative. Medical marijuana will benefit the sick and dying patients of Minnesota, it’s just a little time before they are given help.

           

           

Bibliography

 

 

Adams, Jill U. (2008, Aug. 18). Pro: Marijuana use for chronic pain and nausea.

Retrieved November 17, 2008, from LATimes Web site: http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/health/la-he-marijuanapro18-2008aug18,0,3980553.story

 

Birkey, Andy (2007, May 17). After the political smoke clears, marijuana will still

be somewhat easy to obtain. Minnesota Monitor, Retrieved November 20, 2008, from http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=B2FA2BBF5DC1C1CFCF8261F4DD164ACB?diaryId=1795

 

Drug War Facts, (2008). Annual causes of death in the united states. Retrieved

November 20, 2008, from Drug War Facts Web site: http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/30

 

Felonious Ramblings, (2008, October 12). Marijuana Quote Archive. Retrieved

December 3, 2008, from Felonious Ramblings Web site: http://www.feloniousramblings.com/2008/10/marijuana-quote-archive.html

 

NMSS, (2008). What is multiple sclerosis?. Retrieved November 20, 2008, from

National Multiple Sclerosis Society Web site: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-is-ms/index.aspx

 

NORML (2008, April 17). Medical marijuana merits state support. Retrieved

November 26, 2008, from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Web site: http://www.mapinc.org/newsnorml/v08/n394/a12.html

 

 

 

~ by alymcp on December 18, 2008.