Truth Behind Marijuana

Truth Behind Marijuana

Written By: Christopher Bentley

History of Cannabis:

Cannabis sativa, or commonly known as Marijuana, was first recorded to be introduced in society around 2727BC in a Chinese pharmacopoeia as a medicine for a variety of health problems. Marijuana has been around for ages as a beneficial medicine for illnesses such as relieving pain. Another common name for the Cannabis family is Hemp althought the term is usually referred to as the cultivated industrial (legal) plant. Hemp was first recordly introduced in Europe by the Scythians around 500BC and in the United States around 1840. Hemp has many useful possibilities such as replacing trees as paper, health foods, and biodegradable plastics. Marijuana became federally illegal in the United States with then Marijuana Tax Act which was passed in 1937, this caused Marijuana distribution and usage to be banned from the united states. Soon after parts of Europe, followed with the illigulisation of Marijuana.

There are supposedly many reasons to why Marijuana became illegal some of these reasons have been debunked such as Marijuana causing major health problems, in fact Marijuana has never been recorded to cause lung or any other type of cancers.

Health Benefits:

Marijuana for centuries has been used for medical reasons. One example of medical use is to increase a HIV positive person's appetite. AIDS can cause a loss of appetite known as "wasting Syndrome", which can lead to a vast amount of weigth loss and weakness. Marijuana can also prevent nausea and can also help glaucoma patients by reducing intraocular pressure which causes damage to the inner eye. There are also reports that Marijuana can relieve pain caused by past injuries to the body. Overall, Marijuana has yet to be scientifically proven to cause any harm to the body.

Other Facts:

Did you know that oil extracted from the Hemp seeds and stalks can be one of the cheapest grown ingredients in biodiesel and alcohol fuel? Well its true. In fact, Henry Ford grew industrial Hemp on his estate after 1937 to prove the cheapness of methanol production at Iron Mountain. In 1892, Rudolph Diesel invented the diesel engine, which he intended to mainly be fueled by vegetable and seed oils. Another fact the reader should know is that California alone could rake in well over 10million dollars annually which would bring California out of its economic down fall. Lastly did you know that the U.S constitution was written on hemp paper? Well its true,

Marijuana & "War on Drugs":

The war on drugs alone has caused thousands of Americans to be put behind bars due to the simple urge to get high and relax. One in every thirty-one Americans is in jail or prison or on probation or parole due to Marijuana. There is an estimated eight million Americans behind bars because of Marijuana and it is understood that more then half of these can be managed safely without being put behind bars and without using the American peoples tax dollars.

Interesting View Point Behind Marijuana Prohibition:

Have you ever wondered if legalising Marijuana would stop some of your local drug crime? Well, when you think about illegal Marijuana you should think about prohibition. The United States alcohol prohibition of the 1920's caused mass killings and arson's within the Chicago area alone. This was due to the fact that when something becomes illegal by law it creates a underground market or a black market, so to speak. When this happens the illegal demand rises to the point of organized crime. If Marijuana was legalised, the crime that comes with smuggling, growing, and selling Cannabis would be banished from society and the profit that could be made by taxing and selling Cannabis could further help the U.S economy and this goes for other countries as well.

Important Sources:

http://www.geocities.com/healthmoon/smoking-marijuana/facts.htm

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/575/pew_center_report_incarceration

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp#Fuel