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Medicinally Speaking

In the 1995 cult classic film FRIDAY, one of the characters named Smokey played by the actor/comedian Chris Tucker made a bold comedic statement when he said “Weed is from the Earth. God put this here for Me and You. Take advantage man, take advantage”. There are some people in the universe that are capable of naturally coping with chemical imbalances, mental disabilities and physical ailments without prescription drugs. Marijuana is a naturally grown alternate medicine that is used to treat multiple physiological and psychological conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, depression, sleep apnea, migraines, and is used to give AIDS and cancer patients who are receiving chemo therapy an appetite. Marijuana should be legalized because it would decrease the numbers of Americans who overdose from and become addicted to prescription drugs, decrease state and national debt through taxation, and improve the economy by adding employment opportunities and improving import/ export sales.

Legalizing marijuana in America would decrease the number of Americans who overdose from and become addicted to prescription drugs.:  According to Bardhi, Sifanek, & Johnson (2007), In April 2004 that Benzodiazepines (common brands include Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, and Ativan) that are used to treat anxiety, insomnia and seizures were responsible for many Emergency Department visits and increased by 41 percent from 1995 to 2002. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2015), Inpatient Emergency Room Opioid related visits from 2005 to 2015 have increased by 55% in males and 74% in females. Outpatient related Opioid Emergency room visits have increased by 103% for males and female visits have increased by 95%. Opioids interact with nerve cells in the brain and nervous system to produce pleasurable effects and relieve pain. Opioids are also chemically related to opioid receptors in the brain which is why addiction easily occurs with frequent use. Opioids are commonly found in pain relievers such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, fentanyl and many more(AHRQ) The leading cause of accidental death in the United States of America is drug overdose and prescription drugs are the cause of more than half of those deaths(AHRQ)There are approximately 260 million active opioid prescriptions in America. Marijuana is also prescribed for pain and there have been no reported overdose deaths in the United States of America or abroad(AHRQ). A prescription of medicinal marijuana is an overall healthier and safer option than opioids for American citizens with ailments and it is also a huge generator of revenue.

The legalization and taxation of marijuana would generate over $100 billion in revenue, however the federal government has not voted to legalize the controlled substance nationally.

There are currently 32 states where doctors can prescribe medical marijuana to patients who have Cancer, HIV/AIDS, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Seizures, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana where doctors can recommend cannabis to treat certain medical conditions. According to Brannon (2013) The legalization of marijuana would generate an estimated $10 Billion a year in in tax revenue “if Congress can create a new revenue stream it would be possible to lower taxes while also reducing the deficit”(Brannon p.3). In 2014 Colorado raked in $40 Million through taxation of recreational and medicinal marijuana and is rated one the fastest growing economies and having one of the lowest unemployment rates In America (extensively lower than the national average). The revenue that the legalization of marijuana generates will help reduce the national debt and bolster the United States economy.

Although positive economic results are evident in states that has legalized marijuana, the United States Government ignores the economic growth possibilities if the controlled substance is legalized nationally. The legalization of marijuana would improve the economy by adding employment opportunities and improving import/ export sales. Farmland is needed for growth of outdoor marijuana strands. Indoor strands are produced in labs to create hybrids that are used to treat psychological and physical ailments. With different strands and qualities being produced in different territories and labs, different strands will be exported nationally and internationally depending on demand which will bolster the United States of Americas economies export of goods position. “In 2015, marijuana sales in Colorado almost reached the billion-dollar mark, while in Washington State the sales reached 257 million dollars” (Glotz, Bogdanoz 2017 p.3). Walmart’s revenue reached approximately $478 billion dollars last year and employs 1.4 Million Americans and 2.3 million people worldwide. If every state reached a billion dollars in sales of a domestically grown herb accompanied with export sales for high demand strands and grades of marijuana that treats different ailments, the economy and quality of life of millions of Americans would be positively affected in an astronomical fashion.

Regardless of the facts, some would argue that the ingestion of marijuana is more harmful than helpful. Studies show the long term and short term negative effects that smoking marijuana has on the human brain, lungs, bones, heart, and the immune system. Some short-term affects are inaccurate perceptions of taste, touch, sound, vision, and smelling. Trouble with memory, problem solving, increased heart rate and low blood pressure. THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) is the active chemical in marijuana(Achq 2017). Some researchers have found evidence that THC obstructs the immune system from fighting off infectious diseases which would cause long term health problems. People who also smoke marijuana suffer the same lung problems that cigarette and tobacco smokers experience such as coughing and phlegm daily, chest illnesses, and more likely to get lung infections because marijuana has three times the amount tar found in tobacco(Achq 2017). All narcotics have side effects whether they are used medicinally or recreationally. Some are more harmful and lethal than others.

Although marijuana has been demonized in past reports and studies by the American government, new studies have shown that the use of medical marijuana is a healthier alternative for people with ailments that have been prescribed opioids. Marijuana should be legalized because it would decrease the numbers of Americans who overdose from and become addicted to prescription drugs, decrease state and national debt through taxation, and improve the economy by adding employment opportunities and improving import/ export sales.