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History of Marijuana

Health Pros Relieves nausea and vomiting Relieves nausea and vomiting Relieves spasticity of the muscles Relieves spasticity of the muscles Helps treat appetite loss associated with HIV/AIDS and certain types of cancers. Helps treat appetite loss associated with HIV/AIDS and certain types of cancers. Relieves pain Relieves pain Safe, safer in fact than most other prescribed medications to treat the same symptoms. Safe, safer in fact than most other prescribed medications to treat the same symptoms. Smoking marijuana alone does not increase the risk of lung diseases. Smoking marijuana alone does not increase the risk of lung diseases. Has been used for centuries as a medicinal agent with good effect. Has been used for centuries as a medicinal agent with good effect.

Health Cons Frequent marijuana use can seriously affect your short-term memory Frequent marijuana use can seriously affect your short-term memory Frequent use can impair your cognitive ability Frequent use can impair your cognitive ability Can damage your lung tissue Can damage your lung tissue Carries a risk of abuse and addiction Carries a risk of abuse and addiction Smoked marijuana contains cancer-causing compounds Smoked marijuana contains cancer-causing compounds

Why legalize medicinal marijuana? It is best used to control nausea in cancer’s chemotherapy or nausea disorders It is best used to control nausea in cancer’s chemotherapy or nausea disorders Marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known. Marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known. In 10,000 years of known use of cannabis, there's never been a single death attributed to marijuana. In 10,000 years of known use of cannabis, there's never been a single death attributed to marijuana. To get a toxic amount of delta-9 tetrahydrocannibinol (THC), you have to smoke 15,000 joints in 20 minutes. To get a toxic amount of delta-9 tetrahydrocannibinol (THC), you have to smoke 15,000 joints in 20 minutes.

States where medicinal marijuana is legalized Marijuana reform is sweeping the nation, at least at the state level. By the end of 2012, over 80% of the country could have some type of reduced penalties for marijuana.

Diseases that Marijuana has been proved to help: Cancer: works to slow down tumor growth in the lungs, breasts & brain considerably. Cancer: works to slow down tumor growth in the lungs, breasts & brain considerably. Seizures: Marijuana is a muscle relaxant & has “antispasmodic” qualities which have proven to be a very effective treatment of seizures. Seizures: Marijuana is a muscle relaxant & has “antispasmodic” qualities which have proven to be a very effective treatment of seizures. Migraines: have been able to treat more than 300,000 cases of migraines that conventional medicine couldn’t through marijuana. Migraines: have been able to treat more than 300,000 cases of migraines that conventional medicine couldn’t through marijuana. Glaucoma: there is not a single valid study that exists that disaproves marijuana’s very powerful & popular effects on glaucoma patients. Glaucoma: there is not a single valid study that exists that disaproves marijuana’s very powerful & popular effects on glaucoma patients. Multiple Sclerosis: it works to stop the neurological effects & muscle spasms that come from the fatal disease Multiple Sclerosis: it works to stop the neurological effects & muscle spasms that come from the fatal disease Tourette’s & OCD: the effects slow down the tics in those suffering from Tourette’s and the obsessive neurological symptoms in people with OCD Tourette’s & OCD: the effects slow down the tics in those suffering from Tourette’s and the obsessive neurological symptoms in people with OCD

Diseases that Marijuana has been proved to help (cont’d): ADD & ADHD: alternative for Ritalin & treats the disorder without any of the negative side effects of the pharmaceutical ADD & ADHD: alternative for Ritalin & treats the disorder without any of the negative side effects of the pharmaceutical IBS & Crohn’s: helps with symptoms of the chronic diseases as it stops nausea, abdominal pain & diarrhea. IBS & Crohn’s: helps with symptoms of the chronic diseases as it stops nausea, abdominal pain & diarrhea. Alzhiemer’s: blocks the deposits in the brain that cause this disease Alzhiemer’s: blocks the deposits in the brain that cause this disease Premenstual Syndrome: used to treat cramps & discomfort Premenstual Syndrome: used to treat cramps & discomfort

Why is it illegal again? Medical marijuana may be beneficial for everyone's health, but it's not very healthy for the pockets of the pharmaceutical companies. Medical marijuana may be beneficial for everyone's health, but it's not very healthy for the pockets of the pharmaceutical companies. Americans in need of a cheap, all-natural alternative medicine, the pharmaceutical industry is the biggest industry in America with powerful connections in high places. And they don't like marijuana. Americans in need of a cheap, all-natural alternative medicine, the pharmaceutical industry is the biggest industry in America with powerful connections in high places. And they don't like marijuana. Pharmaceutical companies don't want you growing your own medicine. Pharmaceutical companies don't want you growing your own medicine. The idea of legalizing a cheap, all-natural medicine that grows out of the dirt is a threat to the pharmaceutical industry's bottom line. The idea of legalizing a cheap, all-natural medicine that grows out of the dirt is a threat to the pharmaceutical industry's bottom line. Since no company can patent a plant, pharmaceutical industries are incentivized to keep cannabis and industrial hemp illegal as they try to recreate the same drug with the same effects. Since no company can patent a plant, pharmaceutical industries are incentivized to keep cannabis and industrial hemp illegal as they try to recreate the same drug with the same effects.

Legality & other issues The US spent $8 billion every year on Marijuana Prohibition Enforcement (taxpayer money) The US spent $8 billion every year on Marijuana Prohibition Enforcement (taxpayer money) Prohibition does not work Prohibition does not work Marijuana use increased from 2000 to 2012 by 5.2% Marijuana use increased from 2000 to 2012 by 5.2% 853,000 arrests for marijuana violation in ,000 arrests for marijuana violation in ,000 arrests were for simple possession alone 750,000 arrests were for simple possession alone Marijuana is a Billion dollar industry Marijuana is a Billion dollar industry Marijuana represents 60% of drug cartel and gang revenue Marijuana represents 60% of drug cartel and gang revenue Alcohol related deaths per year: 2.5 million Alcohol related deaths per year: 2.5 million Tobacco related deaths per year: 500,000 Tobacco related deaths per year: 500,000

History of Hemp In the 18 th century, Thomas Jefferson smuggled illegally obtained Chinese hemp seeds to the colonies. In the 18 th century, Thomas Jefferson smuggled illegally obtained Chinese hemp seeds to the colonies. George Washington said, “make the most you can of the Indian hemp seed. Sow it everywhere.” George Washington said, “make the most you can of the Indian hemp seed. Sow it everywhere.” Until early 1900s, cannabis hemp was treated like any other farm crop and its cultivation required no special regulations or licenses. Until early 1900s, cannabis hemp was treated like any other farm crop and its cultivation required no special regulations or licenses. Hundreds of thousands of acres of hemp grew in Kentucky, Tennessee, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota & Michigan Hundreds of thousands of acres of hemp grew in Kentucky, Tennessee, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota & Michigan

Hemp vs. Marijuana Hemp & marijuana come from the same plant – Cannabis sativa. Hemp & marijuana come from the same plant – Cannabis sativa. But the plants are not the same. The biological difference between them is demonstrated by their respective levels of THC, the plant’s psychoactive ingredient. But the plants are not the same. The biological difference between them is demonstrated by their respective levels of THC, the plant’s psychoactive ingredient. For industrial hemp, the generally accepted THC level is 1% or less. For industrial hemp, the generally accepted THC level is 1% or less. For recreational marijuana, the THC level is at least 3% For recreational marijuana, the THC level is at least 3% Hemp grows lean and tall with flowers on the canopy marijuana branches widely with resinous buds on all sides. Hemp grows lean and tall with flowers on the canopy marijuana branches widely with resinous buds on all sides.

Reefer Madness (1938) Reefer Madness is an exploitation film made in 1938 portraying the tragic events that ensue when high school students are lured by pushers to try “marihuana” Reefer Madness is an exploitation film made in 1938 portraying the tragic events that ensue when high school students are lured by pushers to try “marihuana” A hit & run accident, manslaughter, suicide, attempted rape & madness A hit & run accident, manslaughter, suicide, attempted rape & madness “Assassin of Youth” “Assassin of Youth” After the Prohibition of Alcohol ended in 1929 many gov’t officials were unemployed & now focused their attention of marijuana After the Prohibition of Alcohol ended in 1929 many gov’t officials were unemployed & now focused their attention of marijuana This lead to nations first drug was – public vice #1 became cannabis over alcohol This lead to nations first drug was – public vice #1 became cannabis over alcohol

Marijuana vs. other drugs

Economy It would save the US gov’t $13.7 billion by eliminating enforcement costs and adding billions in tax revenue. It would save the US gov’t $13.7 billion by eliminating enforcement costs and adding billions in tax revenue. $17.4 billion can be cut from the deficit $17.4 billion can be cut from the deficit Could decrease unemployment rate because of the opening of marijuana dispensaries for medical marijuana. Could decrease unemployment rate because of the opening of marijuana dispensaries for medical marijuana. Dispensary ads would boost newspaper revenue. Dispensary ads would boost newspaper revenue.

Economy cont’d There is some controversy over recent events that has happened. There is some controversy over recent events that has happened.

Religious Purposes Use for religious purposes in the US is prohibited Use for religious purposes in the US is prohibited Religious use dates back to 2000 BC Religious use dates back to 2000 BC Ancient Chinese Ancient Chinese Scythian people of Central Asia Scythian people of Central Asia Ancient Germanic Paganism Ancient Germanic Paganism Hinduism Hinduism Rastafarianism Rastafarianism

Public Safety Marijuana impairs driving skills Marijuana impairs driving skills Keeping marijuana illegal funds drug cartels and criminals Keeping marijuana illegal funds drug cartels and criminals It also wastes police resources It also wastes police resources Kids can get it easier illegally Kids can get it easier illegally Marijuana arrests account for more than half of all drug arrests Marijuana arrests account for more than half of all drug arrests

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