Cannabis, also know as marijuana has been a major topic in the United States for quite some time due to its medicinal and recreational use. There have been numerous studies to show the positive effect of medical marijuana but the negative stigmata still exists no matter how positive the outcomes are. In the United States there has been a battle between the federal government and states to legalize marijuana. Some states have created their own policies to bring the benefits to those that are sick and some states have made policies for recreational use to bring income into the state. Whether its for medical or recreational there are many factors that have to be taken into consideration before a general conclusion can be made.
As early as 2737 B.C. marijuana had been used as medicine and some used it for religious purposes. Emperor Shen Neng of China was prescribing marijuana as treatment for various diseases and disorders. With increased popularity the use of marijuana for medical uses spread like wildfire throughout Asia, the Middle East and the coast of Africa (Stack,2009). In the 1840s a French doctor, Jacques-Joseph Moreau did research and found that marijuana could inhibit headaches, aid in sleep and increase appetite. With increased use and research by 1914 the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act was implemented to tax persons that imported and produced opium and cocoa leaves. Although not directly related this becomes a representation to a later drug regulation basis for the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. This act allowed doctors to prescribe marijuana for medical purposes but in order for them to do so they had to pay an annual tax along with registering with the federal government. During the 1970s, with the increased use of marijuana President Richard Nixon began the war on drugs. The Shafner Commission advised Nixon to legalize marijuana but because Nixon had such strong views against it he did not take this advise. He believe that would be moving American in the wrong direction and wanted to take an offensive position not only against American but the world. With numerous laws being enacted to keep marijuana as an illegal drug, by 1996 California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana. In the 2000s more and more states start to oppose federal government law pertaining to medical marijuana and start to produce their own laws. By 2013 Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN came out to say that the world has been mislead about what marijuana can do to a person and believes there is no scientific research to support claims that it cannot help. He not favors the use of medical marijuana and wants his views to know the truth about what it can really do to relieve its medical patients conditions. The Government wants to continue to put harsh penalties on the use of marijuana and medical marijuana but some states are starting to see the benefits it brings to their patients and the history of marijuana is there to help them make a decision....
