Davis Brightmon Marsh
Ms. Ingram
UWRT 1103
Bibliography
Marijuana Scheduling and Reform
Everyone has an opinion on the legalization of marijuana. These opinions are
formed from personal experiences, advancements in research and also just good old
rumors. No matter what your view, there will always be defining factors on the subject
and I hope to hit on them through my research. Marijuana has been misinterpreted and
falsely accused for too long. There is a drug out there that is completely natural and has
a list of medical values yet is still recognized to be as bad as heroin, LSD, MDMA, etc,
according to the FDA’s drug scheduling system. Marijuana has actual research that
shows its medical value which parts of our country have recognized and taken charge to
legalize marijuana for medicinal use or, in some states, recreational use. With parts of
the "United" States decriminalizing this drug, other states continue to give prison
sentences that ruin people's lives. How can such a innovative country seem to be stuck
in the past. A drug that has been proven to have medical value and shown no significant
harm to anyone's health should not be labeled as a schedule I drug.
Schedule I drugs are defined as the following: "Drugs with no current accepted
medical use and a high potential for abuse. Schedule I drugs are the most dangerous
drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or physical
dependence."(2.) Marijuana was placed under this schedule in the 1970's. It was
believed to be just as dangerous as all other hard drugs, more or less due to the fact no
research had been done or even been able to be pursued. To this day, Marijuana
continues to be difficult to study and experiment with due to federal restrictions. It is
easily understandable that Marijuana would be placed in this schedule when no studies
were possible and the war on drugs was more prominent than ever. What about now
though? We have states in the U.S that have legalized not only medically, but
recreationally. There are numerous reasons Marijuana needs to be rescheduled, the
first being the fact that the definition of a schedule I drug is having no medical value.
According to NORML, an organization dedicated to the reform of laws regarding
Marijuana usage: "Modern research suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the
treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief -- particularly
of neuropathic pain (pain from nerve damage) -- nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and
movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant, specifically for
patients suffering from HIV, the AIDS wasting syndrome, or dementia."(1.)
With such substantial evidence supporting marijuana's medical value, there is no
reason it should remain under its current classification. Hopefully, in the time coming,
there will be a reform on this drug and the people around the United States will be able
to accept a new classification, so that we can reap the benefits of medicinal marijuana.
(1.) "NORML.org - Working to Reform Marijuana Laws." Medical Use. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Sept.
2015.
I believe this source was able to show the research that was valuable to my paper. The article talks
about how the strain on legislation is affecting americans and their health. It is nice to see there is
studies working towards informing others about the benefits and the problems people are facing
without it. They go on to list the medical benefits that the population would be able to receive and
how it has the ability to change people's lives for the better. The site also includes health
organizations that are supporting the cause and granting medical access to people that need it.
(2.)"DEA / Drug Scheduling." DEA / Drug Scheduling. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.
On this website the author includes the FDA’s drug scheduling system. By doing this I was able to
include definitions in my research to have an impact behind my reasoning. My whole argument is
taken place with the information on this page. Without these laws and systems that are put in place
my argument would be no more, I would have no reason for this paper. They explain what reasons
the drugs are located where and the criminal charges for each. All the information helped me gather
the proper research to talk about and an argument that is also a world wide argument currently.
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