Up In Smoke Essay, Research Paper

UP IN SMOKE

Cannabis has been one of the most controversial and most

misunderstood genus of the plant kingdom. Used for a number of things

including clothing, paper, fuel, food, and medicine, marijuana seems to be a

wonder crop. However in 1937 due to some of its medical and chemical

properties, U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Marijuana Traffic

Act, outlawing the possession and sale of marijuana. Since then the majority of

countries around the world have created similar laws. Why would the world shun

such a fruitful plant? Its is quite a miraculous plant, able to be manufactured into

food, clothing, and more, however marijuana also has medical properties as well

as a mind altering chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. This chemical

when consumed gives the feeling of a mild euphoria, which some call a high .

Though this plant may be the to blame for millions of people for getting high and

having fun, should it really be blacklisted from the society? Alcohol has

continues to be used greatly, giving similar but not as good effects as marijuana,

however with less other advantages.

In 1942 the American government asked farmers to grow marijuana in a

14-minute propaganda piece entitled Hemp for Victory. The campaign was born

because their main hemp suppliers The Philippine and East India were taken

over by Japan. The military had many uses for hemp such as; parachutes,

uniforms, and tents. The fabric canvas s name was derived from the word

cannabis, the main fiber that is used to manufacture canvas. The fibers from the

bark of marijuana plants are used to make a great variety of textile products,

including coarse fabrics, ropes, sailcloth, and packing clothe. The oil in hemp

seed contains LA, and LNA amino acid which, rarely are found in the present

day fast food diet, and are the essential building blocks of life. The seed itself

contains a high amount of protein, making hemp seeds an excellent food for

healthy living.

As a psychedelic recreational drug, marijuana is either eaten or smoked.

Some positive effects are mood shifts, relaxation, creative (philosophical or deep

thinking), increased appreciation of music. More aware of, deeper connections

to music, Increased awareness of senses (taste and hearing) and a general

euphoria. Some other side effects are general change in consciousness,

increased appetite, slowness (slow driving, talking), tiredness, blood shot eyes,

mouth dryness, interrupts linear memory, difficulty following a train of thought

and short term memory loss. Marijuana makes a person more peaceful and less

aggressive unlike its legal competitor alcohol. Alcohol causes people to get a

false confidence and makes them aggressive. It also impairs to the point of not

being able to walk or drive normally. A low THC dose (100 ug/kg) does not

impair driving ability in urban traffic to the same extent as a blood alcohol

concentration (BAC) of 0.04g%, proving that driving high is safer than driving

drunk, however morally wrong. The maximum road tracking impairment after the

highest THC dose (300 ug/kg) was within a range of effects produced by many

commonly used medicinal drugs and less than that associated with a blood

alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08g%.

Lately an alternative to synthetic medicine has come forward. Medical

Marijuana has suddenly flourished with helping to aid people with chemotherapy,

cancer patients, people suffering from AIDS, glaucoma, arthritis, Multiple

Sclerosis, stress and many more aliments. Some states in the United States

have legalized the use of medical marijuana, against federal laws. The Canadian

government will be starting medical marijuana testing early next year. Many

organizations are fighting for the reform of marijuana laws and now are being

heard louder than ever because of the Internet and the sudden popularity of

medical marijuana.

Marijuana has been looked down upon since the 1930 s for the wrong

reasons. It has been misunderstood and classified as a schedule 1 drug such as

heroin. However evidence has proven that marijuana is only as harmful as

alcohol is, which is legal. Marijuana is one crop, which we could use for medical

uses, manufactured goods, and recreation. However until our government

realizes it errors, this fruitful substance will remain something of a mystery to

most. However at the end of the day most citizens will not be affected if

marijuana is legalized. Some may feel better from their sickness and some may

have a little fun. The public should be re-educated on the real facts of marijuana

instead of relying on evil propaganda, because most people have bad concepts

of such a great crop. Marijuana laws should be reformed to fit the need of the

people for which the laws protect.