"Marijuana"
Cannibis Sativa
Medical
The use of medical marijuana is accepted in 15 states and the District of Columbia.
The use of medical marijuana is accepted in 15 states and the District of Columbia.
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported symptoms or conditions that are allow the use of medical marijuana. They are:
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Anorexia
- AIDS
- Arthritis
- Cachexia
- Cancer
- Crohn's Disease
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV
- Migraine
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nausea
- Pain
- Spasticity
- Wasting Syndrome"
There are numerous ways to consume marijuana. Different types of consumption are applied to different types of conditions. Marijuana is consumed mainly by these methods: Smoking, Vaporizing, Tincture, Oils and Butter.
There are more than 60 unique chemicals that are found in marijuana, termed Cannabinoids. the most abundant of these is called THC (Tetrahydracannabinol). This chemical is associated with the euphoric high that it gives its' consumers. THC binds to cell receptors in the brain that are termed CB1 and CB2. This binding causes the release of a natural chemical in the brain called Dopamine. The natural chemical Dopamine is the chemical that makes you feel "good".
CB1 receptors deal with movement, memory and vomiting. When THC is bonded to these receptors the communication is therefore lost and this results in aiding to inhibit nausea and pain.
When smoked, marijuana has an "almost" affect on symptoms. Through inhalation, effects can be seen within minutes. Fast, temporary relief is the general purpose to medical marijuana Usage.
Economically
Marijuana industry is to be estimated in the range of 35-40 billion dollars. That is, assuming that the market would not drop or increase.
Tobacco and Alcohol typically generates 17 billion dollars in sales/revenue tax each year. Assuming that marijuana could potentially generate the same sales volume (with a 40-50 excise and sales tax), a 40 billion marijuana industry could yield in 16-20 billion dollars in taxes.
Although this is a generous estimate, a more reasonable estimated tax revenue would be around 1.4 billion.
Annual drug related arrests are to be estimated around 1.9 million per year. 44% of these arrest are in connection with marijuana.
In 2006, 11% of marijuana drug arrests were of selling and growing the plant. The remaining 89% were of offenders caught with possession of the substance. This shows just how big of an industry growing, selling, and using marijuana is in America.
The Federal control budget grew from 4.6 billion in 1991 to 9.5 billion in 2002. Given that the majority of arrests made doubled from marijuana offenses, in this time period it is purported that 4.6 billion was allocated to the enforcement of marijuana laws.
In 2001 alone, researchers found that 2.1 billion was spent alone on marijuana law enforcement. 1.7 billion of this was spent enforcing the prohibition of marijuana possession... That's all tax dollars.
The average number of marijuana offenders serving time in federal or state prisons can be expected to be around 28,000. Taken the national average of cost of living associated with prisoners (22,650 annually), it can be estimated that more that 600 million dollars is spent on marijuana offenders each year.
