Brett Painter Tech Writing Slideshow

7/30/2019 Brett Painter Tech Writing Slideshow

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Medicinal Cannabis:

Past, Present, and Future


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History

Cannabis started it's journey to illegality in 1937,via the Marijuana Tax Act. It taxed anyone whodealt commercially in Cannabis or Hemp. [1]

In the 1950's, Congress passed the Boggs andthe Narcotics Control Act. It laid down mandatorysentences for drug offenders, including marijuanapossessors and distributors. [1]
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1931247,00.htmlhttp://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1931247,00.htmlhttp://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1931247,00.htmlhttp://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1931247,00.html


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History

In the 1980's Ronald Reagan struck down onrecreational drugs use with his renowned War onDrugs, which budgeted $1.7 billion to fund the

War on Drugs and specified a mandatoryminimum penalty for drug offenses, includingCannabis possession. [2]

In the end, this plan did very little to reduce the

amount of drugs on the street, and resulted in afinancial burden for America.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9252490http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9252490


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History

Tensions since the 1980's have eased towardsMarijuana, (despite the occasional Above theInfluence PSA ads and slogans), and despite

tradition and staunchness in the older crowd oflawmakers, multiple states have legalizedmedicinal use of Cannabis, starting withCalifornia in 1996.


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Development Up To Present

Originally, smoking Marijuana was thought to benot only dangerous, but morally wrong.

50's movies such as Reefer Madness filled youthculture minds with lies and misinterpretations thatled people to believe Cannabis was something itwasn't.


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Studies show that Marijuana is not harmful.

Previous records that had showed Marijuana WASindeed harmful were conducted on monkeys

wearing gas masks. These monkeys were forced to continuously

inhale Cannabis smoke without sufficient amountsof oxygen.

The experiment showed loss of brain cells, butthis result is purely attributed to suffocation.


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Studies show that Marijuana has medicinalbenefits.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can be used for painrelief, nausea, appetite stimulation, and evenGlaucoma treatment. [3]

Research also shows THC prevents theformation of deposits in the brain associated with

Alzheimer's disease better than any othercommercial drug on the market. [4]
http://www.cannabis-med.org/english/patients-use.htmhttp://www.scripps.edu/news/press/2006/080906.htmlhttp://www.scripps.edu/news/press/2006/080906.htmlhttp://www.cannabis-med.org/english/patients-use.htm


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Additional benefits of THC include: [3]

Reduced spasticity in MS patients.

Pain relief in multiple diseases, includingHIV/AIDS. Ability to fight and reduce harmful brain and breast

cancer cells. Often THC can provide relief to patients better

than prescription drugs, and with less harmful sideeffects.
http://www.cannabis-med.org/english/patients-use.htmhttp://www.cannabis-med.org/english/patients-use.htm


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Present

Currently, there are 20 states that have medicinalmarijuana laws and/or decriminalization lawsenacted.

Two states, Washington and Colorado, havelegalized recreational use of Cannabis, allowingany citizen to legally posses up to two ounces ofdried cannabis and grow up to 3 plants at a time.


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Present

Currently, 10 states have pending medicalmarijuana legislation.

These states include: Florida, Alabama, Illinois,

Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, NewHampshire, New York, and West Virginia.


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Present

Recent polls suggest 52% of Americans want tolegalize recreational Cannabis use. [5]

The amount of people who say smoking marijuanais morally wrong has also decreased dramaticallysince 2006. [6]

The public has finally been informed with the truth,

supported by scientific research. An open mindedutopia of understanding is visible.
http://gothamist.com/2013/04/05/majority_of_americans_want_marijuan.phphttp://www.people-press.org/2013/04/04/majority-now-supports-legalizing-marijuana/http://www.people-press.org/2013/04/04/majority-now-supports-legalizing-marijuana/http://gothamist.com/2013/04/05/majority_of_americans_want_marijuan.php


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Future

The way the United States has recently beentreating Cannabis is lining up with the rest of theworld. Marijuana has been legal in coffee shops inAmsterdam for quite some time, and is legal, or at

least decriminalized, in a number of othercountries.

This country's government should be focusing it'sefforts and resources on more important subjects.

Marijuana smokers should not be a priority.


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Future

Marijuana related crimes have been taking upvaluable space in prisons across the UnitedStates. It is about time that America changes it'sperspective about this situation.

We can hope that organizations such as NORMLimpact legislation at a state level. NORML haschapter meetings in every state, just click the

hyperlink to find out more about getting involved!
http://norml.org/http://norml.org/join-normlhttp://norml.org/join-normlhttp://norml.org/


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Conclusion

It seems that Marijuana, much like gay marriage,

is a taboo that will be legalized in the time it takesfor the stubborn old law makers to die, or changetheir minds about the subject. With almost half ofthe states using legal cannabis, it shouldn't take

more than a decade before all 50 states havedecriminalized Cannabis use. If the people wantsomething, they will get it. It just takes time. Fornow, the legitimate medicinal and recreationalusers of Cannabis in the remaining states mustcontinue to stay elusive from the very sameauthority figure whom swore to protect us.


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References

[1] Patrick Stack and Claire Suddath. A Brief

History of Medical Marijuana. Time Magazine(2009): Web. 21 October 2009. [2] NPR Staff. Timeline: America's War on

Drugs. Special Series (2007): Web. 2 April 2007. [3] Medical Uses of Cannabis and THC. 7 April

2013 [4] Lisa M. Eubanks, Claude J. Rogers, and Tobin

J. Dickerson. Marijuana's Active IngredientShown to Inhibit Primary Marker of Alzheimer's

Disease. News Release (2006): Web. 9 August2006.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1931247,00.htmlhttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9252490http://www.cannabis-med.org/english/patients-use.htmhttp://www.scripps.edu/news/press/2006/080906.htmlhttp://www.scripps.edu/news/press/2006/080906.htmlhttp://www.cannabis-med.org/english/patients-use.htmhttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9252490http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1931247,00.html


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References

[5] Rebecca Fishbein. Majority of Americans

Want Marijuana to be Legal, Survey Says. News(2013): Web. 5 April 2013.

[6] Majority Now Supports Legalizing Marijuana.Publications (2013): Web. 4 April 2013.

* References without author title are left blank intentionally because no author was listed.*
http://gothamist.com/2013/04/05/majority_of_americans_want_marijuan.phphttp://www.people-press.org/2013/04/04/majority-now-supports-legalizing-marijuana/http://www.people-press.org/2013/04/04/majority-now-supports-legalizing-marijuana/http://gothamist.com/2013/04/05/majority_of_americans_want_marijuan.php


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[FIN]

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Brett Painter Tech Writing Slideshow