My reason for choosing this topic is that I believe people suffering have a right to relief. I had a friend who was HIV positive and suffered tremendously from nausea and appetite loss. I’ve heard that Marijuana helps deter these unfortunate side effects. I’m not claiming that it is for everyone or every ailment, but for Cancer and Aids patients, why not?

Marijuana has long been recognized as having medicinal properties. Indeed its medical use predates recorded history. The earliest written reference is to be found in the fifteenth century B.C., Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the Ry-Ya (Zeese website).

Between 1840 and 1900, more than 100 articles on the therapeutic use of cannabis were published in medical journals. (Zeese website)

The federal government in its 1974 report Marihuana and Health states:

The modern phase of therapeutic use of cannabis began about 140 years ago when it was reported as effective as an analgesic and anticonvulsant. At about the same time it was revered in its use in melancholia and other psychiatric illnesses. Those who saw favorable results observed that cannabis produced sleep, enhanced appetite and did not cause physical addiction (Zeese website).

The 1975 report of the federal government began its discussion of medical marijuana by stating, “Cannabis is one of the most ancient healing

drugs." The report further noted: “One should not summarily dismiss the possibility of therapeutic usefulness simply because the plant is the subject of current sociopolitical controversy" (Marijuana Policy Project website).

Advocates for the medical use of marijuana received support recently

from the Institute of Medicine recommendations that clinical trials and drug development should proceed. But its acceptance into the general population of prescribed drugs appears to be years away if it happens at all (Mitka website).

The co-investigators of the report, Marijuana and Medicine: the Science Base, said advances in cannabinoid science over the last 16 years offer opportunities for the development of medical marijuana. The report summarizes and analyzes what is known about the medical use of marijuana, emphasizing evidence-based medicine (Mitka website).

John A Benson Jr. MD, co-principal investigator of the report and dean and professor of Medicine Emeritus at Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine in Portland, states “The data suggests marijuana may help with pain relief, nausea, and appetite stimulation” (Mitka website).

The Institute of Medicine's 1999 report on medical marijuana summarized the medical value of marijuana saying: "The accumulated data suggest a variety of indications, particularly for pain relief, anti-emesis, and

appetite stimulation. For patients, such as those with AIDS or undergoing chemotherapy, who suffer simultaneously from severe pain, nausea, and appetite loss, cannabinoid drugs might thus offer broad spectrum relief not found in any other single medication. The data was weaker, but moderately promising for muscle spasticity. The least promising categories are movement disorders, epilepsy, and glaucoma. Animal data was moderately supportive of a potential for cannabinoids in the treatment of movement disorders and might eventually yield stronger encouragement" (Zeese website).

The medical marijuana issue has emerged as one of the hottest state ballot initiatives in recent years. In 1998, residents of the District of Columbia voted to approve the drug for medical uses but the Board of Elections was not allowed to release the results, because of an amendment to the District's budget sponsored by Representative Bob Barr of Georgia, which forbade the use of funds for ballot initiatives allowing the medical use of marijuana.

After California passed Proposition 215 in 1996 approving marijuana for personal medical use, medical marijuana clubs sprouted around the state. Although permitted by the ballot initiative, the clubs remain in violation of federal laws, which the Justice Department vowed to enforce. California

Attorney General Dan Lundgren went after the clubs and was awarded a court order to shut down more than 20 of them (McCuen website).

So why does our federal government insist on depriving the citizens of this fine country of a substance that has been proven beneficial in medical studies? Marijuana should be made legal for medicinal purposes.

WorksCited

McCuen, Barbara. Website. Speakout. 20 April 2002

Mitka, Mike. Website. JAMA. 20 April 2002

Unknown author. Website. Marijuana Policy Project. 20 April 2002

Zeese, Kevin B. Website. Common Sense for Drug Policy. 20 April 2002