DECRIMINLIZATION OF MARIJUANA JUSTIN KERN MISS ROGERS 3/16/12

THESIS STATEMENT Marijuana will benefit America medically and financially by decriminalizing and selling it throughout America.

1 A little bit about marijuana What it does/used for/how to use it Were it came from and how it got so big -The Pilgrims brought the marijuana plant to the New World to make hemp rope. Smoking of marijuana wasn't introduced to the United States until the 1920's, when it was brought to the U.S. from Mexico. It was recommended for a variety of disorders, and was listed as an official drug until 1937.Pilgrimsdisorders In the hemp plant are tetrahydrocannabinols or commonly know as Thc they are the reasons for the psychoactive effects in marijuana -Its used for medicine, stress relief, or just to get high -U can use it in 2 different ways smoking it or eating it, eating it takes longer to kick in then smoking it. -when using marijuana user feel a mellowing out felling lack of motivation and tirdness. U can use it in various ways with bongs, bowls, joints,or vaps. -marijuana use date back to Egyptian times and ancient china and Indian. -they used it for medicine and worship. -it started to get big in the 70’s and 80’s when the Vietnam war was going on because of all the protests and flower loving people that used it a lot to protest the establishment.

2 How the war on marijuana is wasting taxpayers money Marijuana is always going to be around - over 98 million people in the US do or have tried weed. -its in most of the school in the US -its not addictive witch means more use. -we spend money on people in jail that are there over a plant and its thousands of dollars a year. The demand for product is to high to stop -Drug dealers,supplier's,smugglers and etc all gain money off this drug. -California is gaining to much money from it to have it stopped as a medical benefit. -people love this drug to much to stop.

3 What we could use the money for School budgets If they taxed marijuana they could use the money to buy better books, computer, equipment, learning recourses, also better food for the cafeteria way better food. Americas needs and wants - America is in serious debt we could use the money to help pay china back. -We could use it for a better military keeping Our troops safe is a very important thing. -or we could just save it up or use it for buliding A better world.

4 Medical history of marijuana Where it was first used as medicine - It was first used in egyptian and ancient china. They used it for worship and medicine. -When Marijuana Became a Medicine- Marijuana was first smoked about five thousand years ago, which is in 3000 B.C. The earliest record of it being used as a medicine was in China. It was recommended for malaria, beriberi, constipation, rheumatic pains, and absent-mindedness.malariaberibericonstipationrheumatic pains -In ancient India, they used it to relieve headaches, whooping cough, prolong life, improve judgment, lower fevers, induce sleep, and cure dysentery. They even used it to control dandruff!whooping coughdysentery How it works as medicine Many people around the world suffer innumerable painful illnesses, some symptoms of which can be helped immensely by the use of alternative medicine, -marijuana is one of the most effective and versatile medicines in the world. Marijuana has long been used to relieve complaints such as arthritis, chronic- pains and high blood pressure just to name a few. It can be ingested and prepared hot or cold as tea, or smoked if preferred. The thc in the plant goes though the bloodstream almost as soon as tookin. if it was smoked it takes about 10 to 20 min top kick in but if it has been ingested then yull be waiting for 30 to an hour. When the thc enters the bloodstream it goes directly to the Brian causing a mellow fell effect on the user. Different strains do different things like for example AK-47 is a very strong sativa strain know to help stress relief. so in general u would need to look for the strain that is effective with what u are dealing with.

5 Uses for medical marijuana Desises it helps Marijuana doesn't cure anything, but it can help the symptoms of a lot of things. AIDS and Cancer: Marijuana reduces the nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite caused by both the ailment itself and as a side effect of treatment. Asthma: Several studies have shown that THC acts as a broncodilator and reverses bronchial constriction. Arthritis: In addition to its effectiveness in controlling the pain associated with arthritis, new evidence shows that marijuana is an autoimmune modulator. Depression and Other Mood Disorders: Marijuana has been shown to help dysphoria gently and naturally. Epilepsy: Marijuana is used as an adjunctive medicine to prevent epileptic seizures. Glaucoma: Marijuana can reduce intraocular pressure, alleviating pain and slowing the progress of the condition. Multiple Sclerosis: Marijuana limits the muscle pain and spasticity caused by the disease. Migraine Headaches: Marijuana not only relives pain, but also inhibits the release of serotonin during attacks. Paraplegia and Quadriplegia: Many paraplegic and quadriplegics have discovered that cannabis suppresses their muscle twitches and tremors. Pruritis: Marijuana can be used orally and topically and may be more effective than corticosteroids and antihistamines. Insomnia: Research shows pot can help people sleep without the side effects or tolerance problems of other hypnotics.