This was written by Bruno, one of our student interns. The opinions expressed herein do not reflect those of Civitas other than respect for the value of open dialogue.
Marijuana is now seen as a drug of abuse. While in the twentieth century cannabis had been used as medication and it was like this since ancient times. It was considered very essential medication.
A man by the name Harry Anslinger, made a campaign to demonize cannabis. In that time it was being used by jazz musicians and by Mexican soldiers. This led to the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, resulting in a tax on the medication and its removal from the U.S. Pharmacopoeia by 1941. Ever since cannabis has no longer been included as a medication in pharmacology, and healthcare professionals are taught only that marijuana is a drug of abuse.
In the Controlled Substances Act, cannabis was wrongly placed with drugs like LSD. After thorough investigations it was found that cannabis did not meet criteria for Schedule I. Nixon ignored the commission’s findings, and cannabis remained forbidden.
Awareness of the therapeutic potential of cannabis continued to grow, primarily THC, for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, appetite stimulation; its relief of some of the symptoms of HIV/AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, and multiple sclerosis.
Facts and Myths Over Cannabis Use
| Myth | Fact |
| Marijuana can’t be medicine. | Cannabis has always been used as medicine |
| Marijuana is dangerous | It is one of the safest therapeutic substances |
| Cannabis is extremely addictive | Cannabis has minimal to no addiction |
| Marijuana is a “gateway” drug. | Due to it being illegal it causes excitement. It’s use does not stimulate need for stronger drugs. |
| Marijuana has a lot of constituents | All greens contain hundreds of constituents |
| Marinol is described as legal marijuana | Marinol lacks a lot of the constituents found in cannabis. |
| Marijuana inhibits and destroys brain cells | Marijuana protects and sustains brain neurons due to its neuroprotective properties. |
| Marijuana can cause cancerous tumours | Cannabis has been seen to cure numerous cancers and destroy tumors. |
| Focusing on only certain constituents of marijuana makes it safer for use. | Using the whole plant, enables these chemicals to work together in a manner that heals with minimal effects |
| Marijuana can lead to death | Humans would have to consume 1500 pounds in 15 minutes to incur death |
| Marijuana studies show it causes numerous diseases. Ex: Study Research was once done on rats to prove that cannabis was carcinogenic | Many of these studies trying to prove this have been exposed for their attempt to create a negative outcome. Result:Instead discoveries showed cannabis was effective in killing the lung-cancer cells. The funding for the the study was halted and it was never published in literature |
Legal Status of Cannabis in the United States
Prohibited for any use D (Decriminalized) Map showing legal status of medical cannabis in the United States.
Blue = No doctor’s recommendation required
Dark green = Doctor’s recommendation required
Light green = Limited THC content
Gray = Prohibited
https://www.atrainceu.com/content/5-therapeutic-effects-and-indications-cannabis-use
UN experts on people of African descent stated that “the war on drugs has operated more effectively as a system of racial control than as a mechanism for combating the use and trafficking of narcotics”. Meaning drug law enforcement has caused major, arbitrary arrests, incarseration and police brutality, disproportionately affecting people of colour around the world. With the goal of suppressing the illegal drug trade, the opposite was achieved as UN data shows an extreme steep in the growth of the global market which continues.
White people are incarcerated five times less than black people in the US and Canada. Which is even more in Australia where it is 20 to 15 more times. Drug policies have created suspense in the communities of color. It is sad to understand and realize they were designed for exactly that purpose as they were embedded in the UN drug control system till this very moment. Newly independent countries where extremely weak as they faced the US’ quest for global in stated drug prohibition. That in the process of implementation disregarded the rights of the indigenous. The UN stepping in forced nations to ban the very vegetations at the center of their people’s traditions and belief.
Records have always shown white males deciding which plants black people should be using. Whilst smoking cigars, and allowing alcohol due to Europe being a big producer of wine. This showing the visible double standard. As the ban on marijuana took place it led to the dehumanization of the communities who used it. Hence the extreme consequences of possession of this substances allowed interests to oppress this communities.
“John Ehrlichman, Nixon’s Assistant for Domestic Affairs made a frank admission of this tactic in 1994:
“The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the anti-war left and black people. You understand what I’m saying? We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.” Source: https://idpc.net/blog/2020/06/the-war-on-drugs-is-built-on-racism-it-s-time-to-decolonise-drug-policies”
The world is now echoing the same message end the war on drugs, release the anti-immigrant sentiment, get read of the “they’re bringing drugs, they are criminals and rapists” mentality. And embrace the reconsideration of federal laws, whilst offering redress and reparations as we heal each other’s wounds and work towards unity.
References:
https://www.businessinsider.com/racist-origins-marijuana-prohibition-legalization-2018-2
https://www.atrainceu.com/content/1-cannabis-world-controversy
https://www.atrainceu.com/content/5-therapeutic-effects-and-indications-cannabis-use
Relevant Quotes:
Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself—and where they are, they should be changed.
Jimmy Carter
Drug Abuse Message to Congress
August 2, 1977
In its natural form, marijuana is one of the safest substances known to man. . . . It would be unreasonable, arbitrary, and capricious for the DEA to continue to stand between those sufferers and the benefits of this substance in light of the evidence in this record.
Francis Young, 1988
DEA Administrative Law Judge
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