by Feature08

Created on: December 22, 2008

As the "benefits" of Marijuana are pushed from every conceivable angle, one is led to believe that there is almost nothing that Marijuana can't fix. In an attempt grander than the Tobacco Advocates of the past, those who want Marijuana legalized continue to advance inconclusive research as fact, and substance abuse as having no repercussions.

Touted as harmless and medically beneficial, it is widely believed that the only issue surrounding the use of marijuana is the fact that it is illegal. These same sentiments were expressed in the early 1900's, yet how many wish we knew then what we know today about the effects of smoking cigarettes? Today, similar pressure is being placed on state governments to legalize Marijuana.

While the occasional use of Marijuana produces negligible long term effects, the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) considers occasional use as up to ten joints per year; a standard that is far more conservative than statistics reveal about the habits of those who indulge in this activity. According to the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 3.1 million Americans smoke weed on a daily basis, placing them at risk for throat and lung cancer at rates consistent with that of avid Tobacco users.

And even though much ado is made about the medical benefits of smoking Marijuana, it is not this crude delivery method that provides assistance, but the active ingredient Tetrahydrocannibol (THC) which can be dispensed in smoke free form. Whole weed, the type sold on the streets, the type some hope to make available at the corner store, contains hundreds of chemicals that have no medicinal value.

In addition to its unproven, yet celebrated health benefits, many also choose to believe that legalizing Marijuana would offer miraculous relief to the criminal justice system by easing the burden on court dockets, freeing up prison space and allowing otherwise law abiding citizens to keep their good name. Results compiled (mid-year) 2006 show that of 1.2 million arrests, only 8,400 served time on Marijuana related offences. And in 2005, of the 186 cases involving simple possession, only 63 cases nationwide, resulted in time served.

However, statistics compiled by the US Department of Justice, Bureau of Statistics contrast the myth that otherwise innocent people go to jail for casual Marijuana use. The Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program (ADAM) 2007 statistics show that forty four percent of male and thirty one percent of female arrestees were coincidentally discovered to be under the influence of Marijuana.

Should the correlation between Marijuana use and unlawful behavior be ignored?

The real value of Marijuana is found in its recreational power, and that is what the fight is about more so than anything else. The challenge faced by lawmakers today is to sift through available information, support research and not give in to the trumped up claims of those looking for a high.

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