Medical Marijuana

Intractable nausea and vomiting (disease related)

Stimulation of hunger in chemotherapy and AIDS patients

Lowered intraocular eye pressure (shown to be effective for treating glaucoma)

Less confirmed individual studies also have been conducted indicating that marijuana be beneficial to a number of conditions from multiple sclerosis to depression.

Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved smoked marijuana for any condition or disease in the United States.

Regardless, 18 states have legalized marijuana for medical use. Canada, Spain, The Netherlands and Austria have also legalized cannabis for medicinal use.

Although the extent of the medicinal value of marijuana has been debated, it does have several well-documented beneficial effects. Among these are• Intractable nausea and vomiting (disease related)•Stimulation of hunger in chemotherapy and AIDS patients•Lowered intraocular eye pressure (shown to be effective for treating glaucoma)

Less confirmed individual studies also have been conducted indicating that marijuana be beneficial to a

number of conditions from multiple sclerosis to depression.

Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved smoked marijuana for any condition or disease in the United States. Regardless, thirteen states have legalized marijuana for medical use. Canada, Spain, The Netherlands and Austria have also legalized cannabis for medicinal use.

13 Legal Medical Marijuana States

1.Alaska1998 Ballot Measure 8 (58%)$25/$20 1 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)

2. California1996 Proposition 215 (56%)$66/$33 8 oz usable; 18 plants (6 mature, 12 immature)

3. Colorado2000 Ballot Amendment 20 (54%)$90 2 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)

4. Hawaii2000 Senate Bill 862 (32-18 House; 13-12 Senate)$25 3 oz usable; 7 plants (3 mature, 4 immature)

5. Maine1999 Ballot Question 2 (61%) 1.25 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)

6. Michigan2008 Proposal 1 (63%)$100/$25 2.5 oz usable; 12 plants 7. Montana2004 Initiative 148 (62%)$50 1 oz usable; 6 plants 8. Nevada2000 Ballot Question 9 (65%)$150 1 oz usable; 7 plants

(3 mature, 4 immature) 9. New Mexico2007 Senate Bill 523 (36-31 House; 32-3 Senate)$0 6

oz usable; 16 plants (4 mature, 12 immature) 10. Oregon1998 Ballot Measure 67 (55%)$100/$20 24 oz usable; 24

plants (6 mature, 18 immature) 11. Rhode Island2006 Senate Bill 0710 (52-10 House; 33-1 Senate)

$75/$10 2.5 oz usable; 12 plants 12. Vermont2004 Senate Bill 76 (22-7) HB 645 (82-59)$50 2 oz

usable; 9 plants (2 mature, 7 immature) 13. Washington1998 Initiative 692 (59%)* 24 oz usable; 15 plants

. Summary Chart: 16 states and DC that have enacted laws to legalize medical marijuana State Year Passed How Passed (Yes Vote) Fee Possession Limit Accepts other states' registry ID cards?

1. Alaska 1998 Ballot Measure 8 (58%) $25/$20 1 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature) unknown1 2. Arizona 2010 Proposition 203 (50.13%) $150/$75 2.5 oz usable; 0-12 plants2 Yes3 3. California 1996 Proposition 215 (56%) $66/$33 8 oz usable; 18 plants (6 mature, 12 immature)4 No 4. Colorado 2000 Ballot Amendment 20 (54%) $90 2 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature) No 5. DC 2010 Amendment Act B18-622 (13-0 vote) 2 oz dried; limits on other forms to be determined unknown 6. Delaware 2011

Senate Bill 17 (27-14 House, 17-4 Senate) * 6 oz usable Yes5 6. Hawaii 2000 Senate Bill 862 (32-18 House; 13-12 Senate) $25 3 oz usable; 7 plants (3 mature, 4 immature) No 7. Maine 1999 Ballot Question 2 (61%) $100/$75 2.5 oz usable; 6 plants Yes6 8. Michigan 2008 Proposal 1 (63%) $100/$25 2.5 oz usable; 12 plants Yes 9. Montana 2004 Initiative 148 (62%) $25/$10 1 oz usable; 6 plants Yes 10. Nevada 2000 Ballot Question 9 (65%) $150+ 1 oz usable; 7 plants (3 mature, 4 immature) No 11. New Jersey 2010 Senate Bill 119 (48-14 House; 25-13 Senate) $200/$20 2 oz usable unknown 12. New Mexico 2007 Senate Bill 523 (36-31 House; 32-3 Senate) $0 6 oz usable; 16 plants (4 mature, 12 immature) No 13. Oregon 1998 Ballot Measure 67 (55%) $100/$20 24 oz usable; 24 plants (6 mature, 18 immature) No 14. Rhode Island 2006 Senate Bill 0710 (52-10 House; 33-1 Senate) $75/$10 2.5 oz usable; 12 plants Yes 15. Vermont 2004 Senate Bill 76 (22-7) HB 645 (82-59) $50 2 oz usable; 9 plants (2 mature, 7 immature) No 16. Washington 1998 Initiative 692 (59%) *** 24 oz usable; 15 plants No

Marijuana issues

Marijuana is a hallucinogen-A substance which distorts how the mind

perceives the world you live in.

Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug

Schedule I.-(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision."

The chemical in marijuana that creates this distortion is known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The amount of THC in any given batch of marijuana may vary substantially, but overall the percentage of THC has increased in recent years

In 1974 the average U.S. levels of THC in marijuana was between 1%- 4%.

In 2008 the average U.S. levels of THC in marijuana was between 7%-10%

Some marijuana in Mexico (sinsemilla) has THC levels as high as 24%

Immediate Effects-Rapid heart beatDisorientationLack of Physical CoordinationDepression/Wanting to sleepPanic Attacks/Anxiety

THC remains in the body for weeks

Marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more cancer causing substances than tobacco smoke.

Long term effects –Break down of immune systemBronchitis (inflammation of the respiratory

tract)Brain abnormalities Memory lossLack of motivationPersonality and mood changesInability to understand things clearly

-Read “The Pothole” answer questions

-Quiz tomorrow over marijuana notes

-Current Health Project is due Thursday, December 20 (optional)

Marijuana vs. Alcohol-Alcohol one substance (ethanol)

-Marijuana- 400 known chemicals (pot smokers tend to inhale and hold in the smoke as long as possible to increase the effect-causing more damage to the lungs.

Alcohol is eliminated from the body in a few hours.

THC can stay in the body for weeks.

THC damages the immune systemAlcohol does not

Alcohol is legal (21 and older)Marijuana is not.

Sinsemilla- type of Marijuana found in Mexico. High in THC

Blunt- Hollowed out cigar with marijuana and laced with other substances

Joint- Loosely rolled cigarettes with marijuana inside them.

Psychoactive Drug- A mind altering drug

Gateway Drug- A psychoactive substance that leads to the use of other drugs. 85% of people that smoke marijuana try a stronger drug.

Marihuana Tax Stamp Act- Made marijuana illegal in the U.S. in 1937

 

Prior to its ban, hemp was a staple cash crop of the family farm in early America. The first two drafts of the United States Declaration of Independence were written on paper made from hemp.

The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 made it illegal to possess, use, buy, sell, or cultivate marijuana in the U.S.

The law classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and no acceptable medical use.

Hemp- Plant that is the source of Marijuana

Anti-Motivational Syndrome - because of build-up of THC in fat cells, user becomes lethargic, lacks drive, energy and motivation and suffers from impaired memory and concentration and a reduced ability to perform tasks which require fine motor co-ordination. 

Marijuana can be accurately traced in urine up to 14 days after use in novice user and 30 days in regular user.

Gynecomastia - a condition affecting male users of marijuana whereby the male breast becomes enlarged and fatty.  This can be pre-cancerous and the effects are irreversible.  Condition develops because estradiol, the female hormone, and THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, are so closely similar in chemical make-up.  The brain is duped into believing that it is taking on artificial estradiol, therefore, telling the male breast to grow.

Burnout" is a term first used by marijuana smokers themselves to describe the effect of prolonged use. Young people who smoke marijuana heavily over long periods of time can become dull, slow moving, and inattentive. These "burned-out" users are sometimes so unaware of their surroundings that they do not respond when friends speak to them, and they do not realize they have a problem

California- State that first approved medical marijuana

Read 510-512Answer Questions 1-5 page 512

Current Health ProjectDue this Thursday- December 20