Marijuana has many names: Dope, Marihuana, Ganja, Pot, Mary Jane, Cannabis Sativa (Scientific) to name a few Marijuana originated in the middle east (Taiwan, Korea). China plays an important part in Marijuana's history. Hoatho, the first Chinese physician to use Cannabis for medical purposes as a painkiller and anesthetic for surgery. In the Ninth Century BC, it was used as an incense by the Assyrians Herbal, a Chinese book of medicine from the second Century BC, was first to describe it in print. It was used as an anesthetic 5,000 years ago in ancient china. Many ancient cultures such as the Persians, Greeks, East Indians, Romans, and the Assyrians for many things. These were what they used it for: the control of muscle spasms, reduction of pain, and for indigestion. Imagine that if they still practiced this, instead of taking an Alka Seltzer after you had mom's Chili or Tacos, you might be sitting in the living room on the LAY-Z Boy, smoking a joint or however they would take it. The folk medicine of Africa and Asia have used it as an herbal preparation. A "mythical" and "legendary" pharmacist and e

California and Utah were the first to call it a narcotic and outlawed it completely except for mecial purposes. "From 1914 to 1931, 29 States, 17 of them West of the Mississippi made it a criminal offense to possess or use it."(Snyder,1985,p40) An army report from 1925 concerning the Panama Canal Zone said it wasn't habit forming and no steps should be taken to keep it from being sold or used. The Uniform States Narcotic Act said all states should control drug distribution. "By 1937 marijuana use was restricted by law" (Snyder,1985,p42) and the Marijuana Tax Act was signed by President Roosevelt. This act was made to collect more taxes and locate people selling marijuana. You had to pay $1 for medical use and $100 for recreational use as tax. This was a large factor why doctors quit using it as a medicine. "The Narcotics Drug Control Act of 1965 increased the existing penalties for selling and distribution of marijuana and heroin..." (Snyder,1985,p46) The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) was founded in 1970. Just the facts Ma'am: It is illegal to own or sell marijuana. It is a misdemeanor not a felony. Penalties vary widely in each state, for growing and selling it is almost always a felony. It can cause cancer in the lungs and the throat IF smoked. "Among the reasons to suspect potentially injurious effect of cannabis use on the lungs, pointed out it "the almost ubiquitous occurrence of throat discomfort and irritation associated with marihuana smoking" (Lovinge,1985,p15)but the same carcinogens are present in tobacco smoke. Marijuana takes away the discomfort and nausea associated with chemotherapy taken to stop the growth of cancer. It also helps people with glaucoma and it keeps them from going blind. It doesn't lessen feelings and pain, it heightens them. Users say they hear things better, and they see details they have never seen before. If made legal, it could be regulated by the U.S. government (Food and Drug Administration?) as to how potent it would be. Or there could be a "government monopoly on it controlling the cultivation, importation, manufacture, wholesale distribution, and retail sales. Controls could also be placed on the quantity, potency,, amount, price, time and place of sale, and age of buyers. This would do away with black market activity,

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1556
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)