Mary Jane: The Devil Weed

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Term Paper Title	Mary Jane: The Devil Weed
# of Words	800
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	3.2

Mary Jane: The Devil Weed

Mary Jane: The Devil Weed

ABSTRACT:  This paper, entitled "Mary Jane:  The Devil Weed?" attempts to
examine what we know about marijuana and what problems are associated with its
use.  The paper examines briefly the history of marijuana legislation,
marijuana's known effects, and conclusions about its danger.

     Early in this century, the government waged a war of terrorism on marijuana,
or cannabis sativa.  "By 1937, forty-six states had laws against the use of
marijuana, and its use had already been made a criminal offense under federal
law" (Jaffe, 659).  Andrews pointed out that "not until some time in the early
1930s did the Louisianna legislature pass a state regulation making use of the
drug illegal" (5).  Jaffe noted that "since the early 1900s, marifuana has been
considered the one drug that might introduce the susceptible to hard drugs."
Jaffe pointed out that "since about 1950.... smoking of marijuana has been
linked statistically to the use of other illicit drugs....Most observers have
concluded that the link is sociological rather than biological and...marijuana
is a marker for individuals who are more prone to seek new experiences even when
these violate social norms and local laws."
    Andrews related that "sensational newspaper stories relating...to crime is
generally held to be accountable for the sudden enactment of a law prohibiting
its use."  He went on to note that "users were often subject to heavy penalties-
-up to life imprisonment in Texas."  "After caffeine, nicotine and alcohol,
marijuana is the fourth most popular abused substance" (O'Brien, Cohen, Evans,
and Fine, 175).

does marijuana deserve this reputation?  We must first consider what it is
and what effects it has.  The active ingredient is tetrahydocannabinol, or THC
(Andrews).  THC, found only in the female plant, produces a mild euphoric effect.
Marijuana is considered a hallucinogen, a Schedule 1 drup, under the Controlled
Substances Act of 1970 (O'Brien, Cohen, Evans, and Fine, 177).  A Schedule 1
drug means there is no known medical use.  Recently "a new drug application was
approved for THC (Marinol) to be used therapeutically for control of nausea and
vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy" (Jaffe, 663).  This moved THC from
Schedule 1 to 2 (medical use despite potential for abuse).
     How dangerous is marijuana?  Jaffe notes that "any performance test shows
impairment....although no distinctive biochemical changes have been f...

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