Sarah Tunks - What Makes Me Say No To th

Slide 1: 

What Can Make Me Say No To the Government? Sarah Tunks Government 1301

Slide 2: 

Weed, Homegrown, Mary Jane, Kush…marijuana is called many things by many people. The federal government calls it deadly and National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws calls it therapeutic. So which is it? There has been a growing debate regarding medical marijuana reform in the United States for many reasons such as possible health benefits or a call for regulation of a multi-billion dollar industry. The Fight Against Medical Marijuana

Slide 3: 

Currently fourteen states have enacted laws legalizing medical marijuana and in November 2010 Californians will vote on a bill to legalize and tax marijuana for people over the age of 21. On a federal level marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I drug of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and is therefore illegal in spite of state laws.

Slide 4: 

I am not living with cancer...

Marijuana relieves nausea and vomiting in cancer patients: : 

Marijuana relieves nausea and vomiting in cancer patients: “The cannabinoid drug THC has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in relieving nausea and vomiting and increasing appetite in people with cancer and AIDS.” ("ACS: Marijuana." 2)

Slide 6: 

I am not living with HIV/AIDS...

Patients with diseases such as HIV have stated using medical marijuana helps to ease their pain: : 

Patients with diseases such as HIV have stated using medical marijuana helps to ease their pain: “In a trial of 50 patients with HIV-associated nerve pain, published in Neurology, found that a moderate marijuana dose relieved burning, aching, and nerve pain as effectively as the oral pain drugs typically prescribed. More than half of those who smoked the drug achieved a significant decrease in pain, compared with a quarter of those in the placebo group.” (“Marijuana Can Relieve Pain” 1)

Slide 8: 

I am not living with Muscular Dystrophy...

Marijuana relieves muscle spasms in patients with MS: : 

Marijuana relieves muscle spasms in patients with MS: “There is as yet no cure for MS. Treatments for muscle spasticity are only partially effective and have side effects which are not easily tolerated, making the search for new therapies of high importance. Given this background, the CMCR identified MS spasticity as an additional target for therapeutic research. As with all CMCR studies, the research used the most rigorous scientific approach to testing therapies, a randomized clinical trial, supplemented by modern measurement of muscle spasticity, everyday function, life quality, and side effects. Results to date have found a significant improvement in both an objective measure of spasticity and pain intensity in patients whose standard therapy had provided inadequate relief.” (Grant 3)

Who am I to tell someone with Cancer, HIV/AIDS, or Muscular Dystrophy what is best for their body? : 

Who am I to tell someone with Cancer, HIV/AIDS, or Muscular Dystrophy what is best for their body? Especially when it’s regarding something that has been scientifically proven to bring back their appetite after chemotherapy, ease their nausea, relieve their pain, or improve their muscle spasticity?

The legalization of medical marijuana will take profit and power from Mexican drug cartels that kill thousands of people every year... : 

The legalization of medical marijuana will take profit and power from Mexican drug cartels that kill thousands of people every year... The cartels won’t begin to shut down until all marijuana is legalized but it’s a start…a start the War on Drugs isn’t giving America.

Slide 12: 

“According to some estimates, marijuana comprises about 70% of the illegal product distributed by the Mexican cartels. Marijuana will grow anywhere. If the threat of criminal prosecution and forfeitures did not deter American marijuana farmers, America's entire supply of that drug would be home-grown. If we taxed the marijuana agribusiness at rates similar to that for tobacco and alcohol, we would raise about $10 billion in taxes per year and would save another $10 billion we now spend on law enforcement and imprisoning marijuana users and distributors.” (Duke 4)

Slide 13: 

My final thoughts: How can the federal government deny the fact that marijuana has been scientifically proven to have medicinal properties at the sacrifice of those living with very real diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDS and MS? How much hold do the alcohol and prescription drug companies really have on Congress? How can the federal government continue to give the amount of power they do to Mexican cartels through the failing War on Drugs regardless of the lives that have been lost, including those of the American border patrol? The federal government tells me that marijuana has negative side effects (none of which are worse than alcohol or prescription pills) and therefore is not allowed. Where is my right to choose? This is where I use my voice. They can’t keep us quiet for good. I refuse to accept their answers.

Marijuana Reform Websites : 

Marijuana Reform Websites Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Blog Change.org National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Control and Tax Cannabis California 2010 Center For Medicinal Cannabis Research - University of California DrugWarRant.com by Pete Guither

Bibliography : 

Bibliography “Marijuana Can Relieve Pain.” Consumer Reports on Health 20.2 (2008): 10. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 7 Apr. 2010. "ACS: Marijuana." American Cancer Society :: Information and Resources for Cancer: Breast, Colon, Prostate, Lung and Other Forms. American Cancer Society. Web. 07 Apr. 2010. Grant, Igor. Report to the Legislature and Governor of the State of California Presenting Findings Pursuant to SB847 Which Created the CMCR and Provided State Funding. Rep. San Diego: Center For Medicinal Cannabis Research - University of California, 2010. Report to the Legislature and Governor of the State of California Presenting Findings Pursuant to SB847 Which Created the CMCR and Provided State Funding. Center For Medicinal Cannabis Research - University of California, 11 Feb. 2010. Web. 06 Apr. 2010. Duke, Steven B. "Drugs: To Legalize or Not." Wall Street Journal 29 Apr. 2009. Wall Street Journal. 29 Apr. 2009. Web. 06 Apr. 2010. Music by Incubus - Drive