EXPAND YOUR MIND: A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON MARIJUANA

The History, Opposition and Politics Alongside Medical and Theraeputic
Uses of the Controversial Herb

Marijuana is the topic of discussion for many people lately, including the
state of New Jersey. The drug is being considered for legalization in the
state. To help intensify the debate, it is necessary to see the history of
marijuana in the United States.

The installment of this ethical issue began on Aug. 2, 1937 with the
passage of the "Marijuana Tax Act," banning recreational and medical use
of marijuana.

But before that dreadful summer day, cannabis was used widely throughout
the world and our country for centuries upon centuries. Intellectuals and
artists alike have consumed marijuana for hundreds of years, from Carl
Sagan to Louis Armstrong. The Greek historian Herodotus records in The
Histories that from 450 B.C., Scythians were throwing hemp onto heated
stones under canvas and then becoming inebriated from the smell. There was
widespread use of cannabis and hashish around the globe from the 13th
century to the 17th.

In 1619, America's first marijuana law was put into place. It was enacted
at the Jamestown colony, ordering all farmers to grow Indian hempseed.
Cannabis was legal tender for more than 200 years; one used to be able to
pay their taxes with it, persuading them to grow more. One could actually
be jailed for not growing it in Virginia between 1763 and 1767. George
Washington and Thomas Jefferson had grown cannabis on their plantations
and promoted the use and growth of it. Washington states that as a unified
country we should "make the most you can of the Indian hemp seed and sow
it everywhere."

Furthermore, the Declaration of Independence, as well as the first ever
American flag, was made from hemp. In Jefferson's own words, "Hemp is of
first necessity to the wealth and protection of the country." Ben Franklin
was also a hemp advocate; he owned a mill that made hemp paper, which
allowed our founding fathers to print their literature without English
control.

There is a plethoric amount of uses for marijuana and hemp. Starting with
textiles, one can make all different types of clothing or fabric-based
material with hemp, such as rope. The fibers are longer, stronger, more
absorbent and more mildew resistant than cotton. The products made with
hemp can be made into a variety of different fabrics, from pants and
shirts to bed linen.

Hemp can also be formed into molded plastics, body care products such as
lotion, soap and shampoo and even construction materials! Products such as
medium-density fiber board, oriented strand board and even beams, studs
and posts could be made out of hemp.

Because of the long fibers, the products will be stronger and lighter than
those made from wood. For thousands of years, all well-made paints and
varnishes were made with hempseed oil. Not only is the oil good for
painting, but it can be used as lighting oil, as well as be ingested. It
is the richest known source of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids or,
in other words, the good fats.

Moreover, it is a well-known fact that marijuana can be used as a medical
treatment. In various recent studies and tests over the last decade,
marijuana has been found to have therapeutic qualities in many different
disorders and diseases. One of those diseases is Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's
patients usually suffer from depression, loss of appetite and agitation,
and marijuana provides these patients with symptomatic relief.

Results of a study conducted in 2006 led to the discovery that THC, which
is the chemical in cannabis that makes one inebriated, directly impact the
science and the effects of Alzheimer's. THC simultaneously treats both the
symptoms and the progression of the disease. Also in clinical data
presented in 2003, it was reported that THC reduced agitation and
stimulated weight gain in the late stages of Alzheimer's.

Not only does cannabis alleviate symptoms of Alzheimer's, but it also
helps Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's
Disease. Recent reports indicate that cannabinoids, or substances found in
cannabis, such as THC, can delay Lou Gehrig's disease progression. It also
helps with symptoms related to pain, appetite loss, depression and
drooling. The culminations of data collected on cultured mice infected
with Lou Gehrig's showed that THC protected spinal neurons against the
pathological process by which neurons are damaged and killed, concluding
that marijuana can be considered in the pharmacological management of Lou
Gehrig's.

Tourette's syndrome is yet another candidate for treatment using medical
marijuana. The Department of Clinical Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
reported that there was substantial improvement of tics and
obsessive-compulsive behavior after a treatment with marijuana. In a study
of the patients tested investigators reported no impairment of cognition.

These diseases were found to be treatable in some way with marijuana,
along with diabetes melitus, dystonia, fibromyalgia, gliomas,
gastrointestinal disorders, hepatitis C, hypertension, incontinence,
osteoporosis, prurtis, rheumatiod arthritis, ADD/ADHD, post-traumatic
stress disorder and sleep apnea. The list goes on.

Things are criminalized because they are associated with what they call
the "Dangerous Classes," the poor people. For example, in 19th Century
England, gin was criminalized but whiskey wasn't, because gin was what the
working class drank and whisky was what the upper class drank. The first
criminalization of marijuana was in the southwest and was specifically
targeted at Mexicans.

Marijuana wasn't criminalized in America until shortly after prohibition.
An American Medical Association representative said there is no medical
proof or reason to criminalize marijuana. He was quickly denounced and
quieted. Congress then found a pharmacologist who was also a teacher at
Temple University who was experimenting with marijuana and dogs. He
claimed that when he gave marijuana to dogs, they went insane.

When a senator asked him if he had tried it on humans, he said he had
tried it on himself, and that when he did it, he turned into a vulture and
flew around the room. It was then declared by Congress that it makes
humans insane. Defense lawyers started using this as an insanity defense.

For example, if a person killed three cops, his lawyer could claim he had
marijuana in his system and get off on account of insanity. So they
realized that it does not make you insane and they couldn't use this
excuse anymore.

It's time for everyone to get rid of their parental biases and look at the
true facts. Do the research yourself, or just simply try it. In the words
of Ben Harper:

"My choice is what I choose to do, / And if I'm causing no harm, it
shouldn't bother you. / Your choice is who you choose to be, / And if
you're causin' no harm, then you're all right with me.

If you don't like my fire, then don't come around, / 'cause I'm gonna burn
one down. / Yes, I'm gonna burn one down.

Herb the gift from the earth, / And what's from the earth is of the
greatest worth. / So before you knock it try it first, / Oh, you'll see
it's a blessing and not a curse."