Tuesday, July 20, 2010
I think that it is ok for obama to lenghten the unemployment in our country. With this I think that there should be some regulation set in to place for people to be able to recieve these funds. I think they should chck and make sure that these people are trying to get jobs and not just sitting around milking our countries hard workers of there money.I understand that some people are in need and deserve this money but there are some that make the rest of us look bad.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Need for Legalization of Medical Marijuana
Many people suffer from chronic pain that is caused by horrible chronic diseases that cause them lots of discomfort from their illnesses. These sufferers seek any method that might bring them some relief. Some of the diseases that these people suffer from are cancer with chemotherapy, HIV, multiple sclerosis and these are just some of the diseases that cause them severe pain. These sufferers try all the drugs prescribed to them from their doctor. These legal medications seem to have many benefits, but they sometimes come with horrible side effects that make the patient feel worse with vomiting and nausea. After suffering from these horrible side effects these patients look for alternative treatments and who would blame them. As a result, many of these patients look to medical marijuana. Medical marijuana has been a proven treatment of this chronic pain, medical marijuana is being approved in some states, but why are so many still fighting what is obviously working for so many?
Fourteen states have already passed laws that allow doctors to prescribe marijuana for those who suffer from medical illnesses. These states are Alaska, California, Colorado, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. An example of the law is in the state of Michigan which was approved in 2008 states that each individual suffering from a chronic disease can have up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana and up to 12 plants. These laws seem to be working well but why haven’t the other states got on board? (“14”)
Many people that oppose the use medical marijuana claim that medications, such as Marinol (a synthetic THC derivative) are safer than and just as effective as the natural form of marijuana. Current trends set by the National Institutes of Health claim that there is "no scientific justification that smoked marijuana is effective in treating glaucoma or multiple sclerosis and other drugs, such as Zofran, surpass THC's (the main active ingredient in marijuana) therapeutic value in calming cancer patient's chemotherapy-induced nausea" (Voelker 1645). However, these medications may not always work for all of the patients that are suffering. For many patients, the drugs are hard to swallow, slow working, and difficult to dose.
Many patients that take Marinol, a medication that is given to patient’s that are receiving chemotherapy therapy treatment or suffer from weight loss associated with AIDS that have not responded to other treatments. The patient’s that receive chemotherapy often become nauseous and have a loss of appetite. Doctors prescribe to these patients the mediation Marinol that basically is taken as needed for the nausea. Many patients complain about the side effects some of them being drowsiness, dizziness, anxiety and confusion. With these side effects the patients state that when they smoke the natural form of marijuana they don’t suffer the same psychoactive side effects. (“Working”)
Marijuana is a very complex drug and current research has shown that there are over 400 chemicals in crude marijuana that have not all been researched and analyzed. (Oakley) Although this is true marijuana still is less toxic than the other medications that are prescribed today. (Elders) In addition to its lower level of toxicity, marijuana users also claim that it is not addictive. Some user’s have given there viewpoints on withdrawal symptoms compared to other drugs. Only about ten percent of patient’s become dependent on the drug. There is very little proof of marijuana being addictive. Marijuana seems to be smoked less compared to cigarettes which the need for nicotine seems to be on a daily basis. This is also true when compared with harder drugs and alcohol which seem to be really hard to quit because of the high degree of addiction. (Colin) Low toxicity and lack of physical withdrawal symptoms are just two reasons why marijuana is safer and better than many legal drugs currently available. While further funding and research is being conducted, marijuana should be legal for those who are seriously sick and unable to find relief with legal drugs.
Marijuana aids in nausea and loss of appetite caused by the chemotherapy for many cancer patients. For people with AIDS, it has the same relief it gives for the cancer patients and smoking marijuana simply gives the patient an easier way of intake, as compared to swallowing Marinol tablets, and better control of dosage. There is also a new way to of delivering the medication; it is by vaporization this is when the marijuana is heated up to 180- 190 degrees so it is in vapor form. Patients have found this way of administration to work really well for them they don’t have to smoke it or take it orally. This way of administration is also favored because of its rapid onset which helps those with frequent nausea or seizure episodes. This has also proven to be better for the lungs patient’s that are using the vaporization method seem to be getting less respiratory infections. (“Working”) For people who are suffering from Multiple Sclerosis marijuana reduces spasticity, pain and also has been proven to actually slow the progression of the disease. (“Working”)
There is a problem with the laws that were passed in these fourteen states if medical marijuana will be ever approved for all fifty states, a more revised policy for its prescription must be established. Many fear that doctors will prescribe the medical marijuana to patients that are not really in need of it. The doctor may then become a popular go to doctor, like we have seen in the past with pain medications. A firm establishment of regulations must be created for marijuana prescriptions in order to prevent this from happening. Regulations need to be created which give specific chronic illnesses and disabling disorders that qualify for its prescription. The doctor should also have to talk with the patient about the drug and on its abuse as a recreational drug. This may give the patient more insight to marijuana as a medicine and sway him or her away from using it for other purposes.
The key to legalization of medical marijuana lies in the ability of the National Institutes of Health and other government funded organizations to find and examine more of the ingredients in the over 400 that are in marijuana for their effectiveness in aiding the sick. With this lack of support from the federal government, the delay for proving scientifically that marijuana works will just push its development as a medicinal drug further back. Medical marijuana is still a huge controversy in its approval for the fifty states. Only when an established list of regulations for its prescription and use, and only when it achieves more scientific proof that it does work, will it ever be approved in all the fifty states and also the federal government.
Although we have came a long way with medical marijuana laws being passed in fourteen states. Changes must be made at the federal level in approving more research and funding to find out what makes medical marijuana better than the commonly used methods of treatment. Evidence currently comes from personal stories from people with illnesses who have been smoking marijuana legally and illegally, but who better to ask then someone suffering themselves. Until these requirements are met, marijuana will remain illegal for many whom are suffering. In the meantime, many patients will still be using marijuana as there medicine of choice because it works legal or not.
Works Cited
Blakemore, C.”Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option” 2001 Web. 25 June 2010
Elders, J.”Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option?”2004 Web. 24 June 2010
”14 Legal Medical Marijuana States”. ProCon.org. 2009 Web. 23 June 2010
Oakley, R.” What Chemicals are in Marijuana and its Byproducts” 2004 Web 23 June 2010
Voelker, Rebecca. "Medical marijuana: a trial of science and politics." TJOTAMA. 271.21 (1994): 1645. Print.
“Working to Reform Marijuana Laws ”.NORML. 2005 Web. 24 June 2010
Many people suffer from chronic pain that is caused by horrible chronic diseases that cause them lots of discomfort from their illnesses. These sufferers seek any method that might bring them some relief. Some of the diseases that these people suffer from are cancer with chemotherapy, HIV, multiple sclerosis and these are just some of the diseases that cause them severe pain. These sufferers try all the drugs prescribed to them from their doctor. These legal medications seem to have many benefits, but they sometimes come with horrible side effects that make the patient feel worse with vomiting and nausea. After suffering from these horrible side effects these patients look for alternative treatments and who would blame them. As a result, many of these patients look to medical marijuana. Medical marijuana has been a proven treatment of this chronic pain, medical marijuana is being approved in some states, but why are so many still fighting what is obviously working for so many?
Fourteen states have already passed laws that allow doctors to prescribe marijuana for those who suffer from medical illnesses. These states are Alaska, California, Colorado, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. An example of the law is in the state of Michigan which was approved in 2008 states that each individual suffering from a chronic disease can have up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana and up to 12 plants. These laws seem to be working well but why haven’t the other states got on board? (“14”)
Many people that oppose the use medical marijuana claim that medications, such as Marinol (a synthetic THC derivative) are safer than and just as effective as the natural form of marijuana. Current trends set by the National Institutes of Health claim that there is "no scientific justification that smoked marijuana is effective in treating glaucoma or multiple sclerosis and other drugs, such as Zofran, surpass THC's (the main active ingredient in marijuana) therapeutic value in calming cancer patient's chemotherapy-induced nausea" (Voelker 1645). However, these medications may not always work for all of the patients that are suffering. For many patients, the drugs are hard to swallow, slow working, and difficult to dose.
Many patients that take Marinol, a medication that is given to patient’s that are receiving chemotherapy therapy treatment or suffer from weight loss associated with AIDS that have not responded to other treatments. The patient’s that receive chemotherapy often become nauseous and have a loss of appetite. Doctors prescribe to these patients the mediation Marinol that basically is taken as needed for the nausea. Many patients complain about the side effects some of them being drowsiness, dizziness, anxiety and confusion. With these side effects the patients state that when they smoke the natural form of marijuana they don’t suffer the same psychoactive side effects. (“Working”)
Marijuana is a very complex drug and current research has shown that there are over 400 chemicals in crude marijuana that have not all been researched and analyzed. (Oakley) Although this is true marijuana still is less toxic than the other medications that are prescribed today. (Elders) In addition to its lower level of toxicity, marijuana users also claim that it is not addictive. Some user’s have given there viewpoints on withdrawal symptoms compared to other drugs. Only about ten percent of patient’s become dependent on the drug. There is very little proof of marijuana being addictive. Marijuana seems to be smoked less compared to cigarettes which the need for nicotine seems to be on a daily basis. This is also true when compared with harder drugs and alcohol which seem to be really hard to quit because of the high degree of addiction. (Colin) Low toxicity and lack of physical withdrawal symptoms are just two reasons why marijuana is safer and better than many legal drugs currently available. While further funding and research is being conducted, marijuana should be legal for those who are seriously sick and unable to find relief with legal drugs.
Marijuana aids in nausea and loss of appetite caused by the chemotherapy for many cancer patients. For people with AIDS, it has the same relief it gives for the cancer patients and smoking marijuana simply gives the patient an easier way of intake, as compared to swallowing Marinol tablets, and better control of dosage. There is also a new way to of delivering the medication; it is by vaporization this is when the marijuana is heated up to 180- 190 degrees so it is in vapor form. Patients have found this way of administration to work really well for them they don’t have to smoke it or take it orally. This way of administration is also favored because of its rapid onset which helps those with frequent nausea or seizure episodes. This has also proven to be better for the lungs patient’s that are using the vaporization method seem to be getting less respiratory infections. (“Working”) For people who are suffering from Multiple Sclerosis marijuana reduces spasticity, pain and also has been proven to actually slow the progression of the disease. (“Working”)
There is a problem with the laws that were passed in these fourteen states if medical marijuana will be ever approved for all fifty states, a more revised policy for its prescription must be established. Many fear that doctors will prescribe the medical marijuana to patients that are not really in need of it. The doctor may then become a popular go to doctor, like we have seen in the past with pain medications. A firm establishment of regulations must be created for marijuana prescriptions in order to prevent this from happening. Regulations need to be created which give specific chronic illnesses and disabling disorders that qualify for its prescription. The doctor should also have to talk with the patient about the drug and on its abuse as a recreational drug. This may give the patient more insight to marijuana as a medicine and sway him or her away from using it for other purposes.
The key to legalization of medical marijuana lies in the ability of the National Institutes of Health and other government funded organizations to find and examine more of the ingredients in the over 400 that are in marijuana for their effectiveness in aiding the sick. With this lack of support from the federal government, the delay for proving scientifically that marijuana works will just push its development as a medicinal drug further back. Medical marijuana is still a huge controversy in its approval for the fifty states. Only when an established list of regulations for its prescription and use, and only when it achieves more scientific proof that it does work, will it ever be approved in all the fifty states and also the federal government.
Although we have came a long way with medical marijuana laws being passed in fourteen states. Changes must be made at the federal level in approving more research and funding to find out what makes medical marijuana better than the commonly used methods of treatment. Evidence currently comes from personal stories from people with illnesses who have been smoking marijuana legally and illegally, but who better to ask then someone suffering themselves. Until these requirements are met, marijuana will remain illegal for many whom are suffering. In the meantime, many patients will still be using marijuana as there medicine of choice because it works legal or not.
Works Cited
Blakemore, C.”Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option” 2001 Web. 25 June 2010
Elders, J.”Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option?”2004 Web. 24 June 2010
”14 Legal Medical Marijuana States”. ProCon.org. 2009 Web. 23 June 2010
Oakley, R.” What Chemicals are in Marijuana and its Byproducts” 2004 Web 23 June 2010
Voelker, Rebecca. "Medical marijuana: a trial of science and politics." TJOTAMA. 271.21 (1994): 1645. Print.
“Working to Reform Marijuana Laws ”.NORML. 2005 Web. 24 June 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Topic of Paper
I am trying to think about what a good topic to write about for my english class. It can really be about anything that I want. I thought about writing about somewhere I want to visit. I think this would be fun but I don't realy think that there would be enough information for 6 pages. I guess I could talk about the cost of the trip and all the different places to stay. I could also talk about all the things that I could do when I get there. I also thought about writing about something health related such as the perservitives in food and how they effect your body.
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