Should Marijuana be Legalized for Medical Purposes?
Marijuana has been used extensively as a medical remedy for more than five thousand
years. In the early 1900s, medical usage of marijuana began to decline with the advent
of alternative drugs. Injectable opiates and synthetic drugs such as aspirin and
barbiturates began to replace marijuana as the physician's drug of choice in the
twentieth-century, as their results proved to be more consistent than the sometimes
erratic effects of the hard-to-dose potencies of marijuana (Grinspoon). The Marijuana
Tax Act of 1937 made cannabis so expensive to obtain that its usage as a medical remedy
in the U.S. came to a halt. Although now illegal in the U.S., marijuana continues to be
used for both medical and recreational purposes by many Americans. There are a variety
of opinions both for and against the re-legalization of marijuana today. Perhaps the most
controversial aspect of the legalization debate is whether marijuana should be legalized
for medical purposes.
All drugs, both prescription and non-prescription, are federally 'Scheduled' by the DEA
(Drug Enforcement Agency). A drug's scheduling under Federal law is determined "according
to [its] effects, medical uses, and potential for abuse" (Claim V). In this
classification system, marijuana is a Schedule I drug, grouped with heroin, LSD, hashish,
methaqualone, and designer drugs. These are drugs having "unpredictable effects, and
[causing] severe psychological or physical dependence, or death" (Claim V).
A closer analysis of the DEA's Federal Scheduling system reveals that, according to
various studies by physicians on both sides of the legalization debate, marijuana does
not meet the requirements of a Schedule I drug, but not those of Schedule II. The
difference between the two classes is that Schedule I drugs may lead to death, while
those on Schedule II are less likely to do so. Proponents of legalization cite
information that indicates marijuana is a relatively "safe" drug. "There is no known case
of overdose; on the basis of animal models, the ratio of lethal to effective dose is
40,000 to 1" (Grinspoon). Even some opponents of marijuana legalization support
reclassification. Two physicians, in a widely distributed opinions piece entitled
"Marijuana Smoking as Medicine: A Cruel Hoax", wrote; "While the reclassification of THC
to Schedule II might be understandable, this would not be the result of smoking the crude
drug marijuana, which would as a result become more available and more readily diverted
for non-medical use" (Nahas). Although this evidence clearly does not support the
legalization of marijuana, it highlights one of many discrepancies that cloud this smoky
debate.
Lester Grinspoon, MD, is a proponent of the medical legalization and re-classification
of marijuana. In the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Grinspoon wrote an
article entitled "A Plea for Reconsideration". In this plea, Grinspoon suggests that
marijuana should be reclassified to a Schedule II class drug, so that it might be legally
prescribed. He writes:
In a 1990 survey, 44% of oncologists said they had suggested
that a patient smoke marihuana for relief of the
nausea
induced by chemotherapy. If marihuana were actually unsafe for
use under medical supervision, as its Schedule I status explicitly affirms, this
recommendation would be unthinkable. It is time for physicians to acknowledge
more openly that this present classification is scientifically, legally, and
morally wrong. (Grinspoon)
Like many other physicians fighting for the re-classification of marijuana, Dr. Grinspoon
makes claims only towards the drug's medical benefits. However, their rhetoric in
calling the issue "morally wrong" suggests that they may have other motives as well.
Furthermore, the fact that "44% of oncologists" suggested their patients use marijuana,
despite its illegality, may suggest that many of these physicians have little respect for
post-prohibition laws. The article also fails to address the negative side-effects of
marijuana that result from smoking the plant.
While there are many physicians who support the reclassification (and, sometimes,
legalization) of marijuana, still others make different claims. In July of 1995, one
month after "Marijuana as Medicine- A Plea for Reconsideration" was published in JAMA,
the Department of Health and Human Services held its first research conference on
marijuana. At this conference, several respected physicians noted that "marijuana use
during pregnancy has harmful effects on children's intellectual abilities... compulsive
marijuana use may lead to an addiction similar to that of other illicit drugs..." (Claim
V); and, finally, that "marijuana use can put a serious choke-hold on users who try to
quit" (Claim V). Conflicting reports, such as these, are at the center of the smoke
filled battle concerning medical legalization. In this case, the physicians assembled at
the conference commented only on the drug's negative effects, and they failed to discuss
any possible beneficial effects.
Although there are physicians both for and against the medical legalization of
marijuana, the DEA enforces the laws. The DEA regularly makes publications against
legalization. Claim V of these publications is entitled "There are no Compelling Reasons
to Prescribe Marijuana or Heroin to Sick people". In this claim, the DEA makes
contradictory claims to those published in JAMA by Dr. Grinspoon. The DEA claims that
"Not one American health association accepts marijuana as medicine. Statements issued by
these organizations express concern over the harmful effects of the drugs and over the
lack of solid research demonstrating that they might do more good than harm" (Claim V).
However, in reading the DEA's clam, one must keep in mind that "drugs" (as they use it)
includes both marijuana and heroin, and therefore may be partially invalid when applied
to the central marijuana debate. By using the word "they", the DEA groups marijuana with
more dangerous drugs. It should also be recognized that the DEA has an obvious bias
against legalizing drugs; if all drugs were legal, who would continue to pay their
salaries?
Doctors and the DEA, however, are not the only ones with opinions about marijuana's
medical re-legalization. Mike Dooley, a member of the National Organization to Reform
Marijuana Laws (NORML), made news when he recommended that Elvy Musikka, a patient
legally supplied with marijuana from the U.S. government, spoke to an "Experimental
Living" class at Western Michigan University: "Elvy Musikkia, a professional speaker,
has glaucoma and take marijuana as part of her treatment for the eye disease. Glaucoma
patients smoke marijuana cigarettes because it relieves the eye pressure that leads to
blindness" (Kemp). However, Dooley supports more than the medical legalization of
marijuana. "Dooley says using marijuana for medical purposes is just one use of the
plant, but people need to recognize that it has more positive uses" (Kemp). Like many
other advocates of legalization, Dooley wants more than just medical legalization: "'Why
are we outlawing this particular plant?' Dooley said. 'What is wrong with adults smoking
marijuana in their own environment?'" (Kemp). Opponents of legalization efforts worry
that legalization for medical purposes will eventually lead to non-medical abuse.
An example of this type of medical abuse can be found in the 1995 Comedy, Friday. In
the film, a corrupted priest tries to obtain marijuana from Smokey, a neighborhood pot
addict. Upon noticing the marijuana, he says "Excuse me brother, what we call drugs at
74th street Baptist Church, we call a sin" (Friday), representing the views of many
Christians today. Only a short time later, however, he changes his mind, saying: "Why
don't you give me a little bit for my cataracts?" (Friday). This film makes a comment
on the attitudes of U.S. society today towards marijuana, and re-legalization. By
making a medical excuse for using marijuana in the film, Brother William conveys the
worries of many Americans today about medical legalization of the drug. While it may be
suggested that Friday is satirist comedy, and therefore not "real", critics of the film
and of legalization will point out that later in the movie, the characters make an
outright plea for legalization.
Religious figures in real life express stronger anti-legalization opinions than those in
the movies. In 1986, "representatives of four Oregon church groups, representing a
combined membership of tens of thousands, unveiled a plan to attack the proposed
legalization of marijuana from the pulpit" (Danks). The representatives cited
experiences like those Reverend John Jackson; Jackson spoke about how his son's drug
habit broke up the family. "'It got to the point that I kept a weapon,' Jackson said.
'My son didn't act like my son. I got to the point where I thought if he came into the
room I would kill him" (Danks). Many would be quick t discount the reverend's opinion,
however, especially after hearing of his fatal mentality. It should also be noted that
Jackson's son, who is now in the army, "graduated to harder drugs after using marijuana
as a 10-year-old" (Danks).
Other religious groups have more extreme views on legalization. In an on-line
publication entitled "Marijuana and Christians: Cure or Curse?", a group for "Aggressive
Christianity" writes that: "Through the innocently appearing guise of the 'natural herbal
high' called marijuana, Satan has found an open doorway for invasion into the minds of
millions of people" (Marijuana and Christians). These "Aggressive Christians" decree
that marijuana is one of Satan's tools and should not be legalized for any purpose.
However, in calling it "Satan's tool" they incorporate little knowledge of the drug's
true effects, both positive and negative. For these extremists, there is apparently no
reason for Satanists not to use marijuana. Groups such as these "Aggressive Christians"
represent the most conservative side of the battle over legalization.
College campuses are often recognized for their liberal views and high drug consumption
levels. Adam Djurdjulov, a journalism senior and Arizona Daily Wildcat opinions editor
writes a column that appears in that publication on Mondays. In his column, titled
"Airing it Out," he recently wrote an article, "Smoking marijuana is as accepted as the
word 'damn.'" In this column, Djurdjulov criticizes the increasing acceptance of
marijuana use. He states his un-professional medical opinion on marijuana, saying it
"[is] a substance that destroys motivation and wazzu brain cells" (Djurdjulov). Although
he makes a valid argument that drug use proliferates on today's college campuses,
Djurdjulov weakens his own credibility when he suggests that Americans 'kick out' Bill
Clinton from President of the United States for exercising his right to free speech,
writing "Hell, on MTV in June 1992, Clinton quipped that if he tried marijuana again, he
would inhale" (Djurdjulov). Although many Americans might disagree with Clinton's
"liberal" policies towards drug use, few would condone his removal from office, solely
for exercising his first amendment rights. Like the "Aggressive Christians,"
Djurdjulov's non-scientific, extremist position somewhat destroys his credibility, along
with the credibility of his statements. Other college students feel differently about
legalization.
Oliver Petri, a freshman at the University of Arizona, is a proponent of marijuana
legalization for medical and recreational purposes. In an interview, Petri explains that
"I once knew a woman with cancer. She grew [marijuana] plants in her backyard and smoked
weed to relive her suffering. It should totally be legal" (Petri).
Petri's comments epitomize the views of many college students who advocate legalization.
Few of these students, however, have any knowledge of the medical uses and properties of
the drug they consume for recreational purposes. Petri also admittedly supports medical
legalization initiatives because he thinks it will make marijuana easier to find.
California's proposition 215 is an initiative that would legalize marijuana for medical
purposes. "[Proposition 215] would permit patients with cancer, AIDS, glaucoma,
arthritis, and other serious illnesses to grow, posses and use marijuana" (Lacayo).
Despite criticism of Prop 215 that suggests the initiative is "too loosely constructed",
polls show that California voters favor it by almost 2-1 (Lacayo). Opponents of the
initiative worry that anyone will be able to legally obtain and use marijuana under
Proposition 215, "'This proposition is not about medicine,' charges Orange County
Sheriff Brad Gates, co-chairman of Citizens for a Drug Free California, the campaign
opposing Prop 215. 'It's about the legalization of marijuana'" (Lacayo). Voters like
Sheriff Gates are unable to consider medical legalization because of their fears of
increased recreational use. There opinion, then, means nothing when applied to the issue
on a smaller scale.
Reputable sources on marijuana's true effects are hard to come by. Conflicting reports
suggest that personal opinion might be more of a factor than it should be in many reports
about the drug's effects and toxicity. Words such as "dangerous" and "harmful" are often
used by figures on both sides of the legalization debate, with little explanation of
their definitions. No-one knows what the results of a non-biased study on marijuana's
medical future might contain, because conflicting "non-biased" studies continue to
proliferate on both sides of this debate. Because of the wide availability of marijuana
today, it is not surprising that marijuana usage for many today is a personal, rather
than legal, decision.
Works Cited
"Claim V: There Are No Compelling Medical Reasons to Prescribe Marijuana or Heroin to
Sick People." DEA- Publication: Speaking out Against Drug Legalization: Claim V.
Online. Internet. 6 August 1996.
Danks, Holly. "Churches Fight Marijuana Legalization." The Oregonian. 21 June 1986:
C1.
Djurdjulov, Adam. "Smoking is as accepted as the word 'damn.'" The Arizona Daily
Wildcat. 14 October 1996: 4.
Friday. Dir. Gerry Lively. Perf. Ice Cube, Chris Tucker, John Witherspoon.
Videocassette. New Line Home Video, 1995.
Grinspoon, Lester, MD, and Bakalar, James. "Commentary: Marijuana as Medicine- A plea
for reconsideration." Journal of the American Medical Association. June 1995.
Kemp, Roxine. "Speaker to Talk About Medical Marijuana, Legalization." Western Herald.
News. Online. 16 October 1996.
Lacayo, Richard. "Marijuana: Where There's Smoke, There's Fire." Time 8 October 1996:
36-37.
Nahas, Gabriel, MD, and Pace, Nicholas, MD "Marijuana Smoking as Medicine: A Cruel
Hoax." Usenet Newsgroups. Online. 16 August1996.
"Marijuana and Christians: Cure or Curse?" Aggressive Christianity. Online. Internet.
6 October 1996.
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