MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE POLICY

Medical Marijuana Use Policy

Medical Marijuana Use Policy

Marijuana is a common weed, which is very easy to produce. This is not surprising that thousands of "dealers", have been engaged in the business of marijuana. Despite the great risks they face, including the intimidation of other dealers and the threat of arrest, they were attracted by profit. The law can not change the economics of this market because it operates outside the law (Schlaadt, 1996). The main active compounds in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol - or THC. Marijuana's impact on the user depends on the strength or potency of THC it contains (Randall, O'Leary, 1998). The preparation of short-term psychoactive effects, known as "high" may vary depending on the individual, but may include altered perception, mild euphoria, relaxation / lethargy, paranoia, agitation or anxiety, and increased hunger or increase in assessment of taste. Physiologically, marijuana may increase the heart rate, dry mouth, dilation and redness of the eyes, as well as violations of motor skills, concentration, and the court decision. In the long run, the abuse of marijuana may increase the risk of heart attack, cancer and other problems health, depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and have also been linked with chronic marijuana use. (Alex, 2003)

Based on Congress' definition, marijuana has been considered to have great potential for abuse, no medical use and do not accept the level of security. From this classification, the marijuana was illegal for any use. But due to the validity of its use it was included in Schedule I(Smith, 1998). In a letter to the chairman of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, and then Assistant Secretary of Health Egeberg, Roger noted that there are questions about whether the plant itself has prepared the consequences of the law to be included in Schedule I or even the less restrictive Schedule II. Egeberg said (Alex, 2003) that marijuana should be retained in Schedule I, until a study is completed, because, "... there is still a significant gap in our knowledge about the plant and the impact of active drug contained in it ... "(Alex, 2003)

In 1975, Robert Randall, who suffered from glaucoma, was arrested for growing marijuana. He won his case with the use of "medical necessity defense, forcing the government to find a way to give him his medicine. As a result of the investigation new drug (IND) compassionate access program was created that allows certain patients to obtain marijuana from the government. (Randall, O'Leary, 1998) Marijuana is considered Schedule 1 controlled substance under federal law aimed at protecting the health and safety (Dan, 1997).

Since the 1970s, more than a dozen government-appointed commissions have studied and investigated the effects of marijuana, and made public policy proposals regarding its utilization.

President Richard Nixon ordered what he called 'the largest peace time search and seizure operation' in his campaign against drugs. In it, two thousand customs agents were placed along the Mexican boarder to stop the heavy flow of drugs from coming into the United ...