cannabisnews.com: Make Decriminalization of Marijuana a Reality Make Decriminalization of Marijuana a Reality Posted by FoM on September 07, 2000 at 09:42:02 PT By Lou Marzulli-Vargas, Daily Utah Chronicle Source: U-WIRE It was Saturday afternoon in downtown Salt Lake City, and the fresh air was a nice surprise in a place that is usually congested with exhaust fumes. The warm temperature invited us to walk through the streets. Salt Lake turned into a real city for the day. Percussionists played their drums on the street corner, and people gathered together for once, taking time away from the busy day to relax. Another band played a few blocks down, encouraging the audience to participate in their ensemble. Vendors lined the street along at least two blocks, tempting passers by with food, unique crafts and art. What brought this all together was the First Annual Salt Lake City Music Festival. Although closed streets inconvenienced a few motorists, many enjoyed a calming afternoon strolling the blocks. Walking from vendor to vendor, we found one booth that stood out from the rest. A tapestry-sized tie dye cloth covered the back of their establishment; on the cloth was a giant green marijuana leaf. The front of the booth showcased shirts of a similar fashion, and inside lay an array of products manufactured from hemp. These vendors weren't just trying to capitalize on potheads who choose to advertise their affection for marijuana through a clever T-shirt -- these guys had an agenda. They provided information about the repression of marijuana in medicinal uses and about a statewide petition for the Therapeutic Humane Cannabis initiative in Utah which proposes the legalization of protected medicinal use of cannibinoids -- medicines produced from marijuana. The people in the booth demonstrated their intelligence through conversations concerning the possible uses and advantages of other hemp products. They told me some familiar facts and some new ones. For example, one acre of hemp, they told me, can produce the same amount of paper as four acres of trees. Cotton is grown and protected with the aid of harmful pesticides. Pesticide residue on many cotton products not only can be absorbed by the skin, but can also cause some allergic reactions to cotton. In contrast, hemp requires no pesticides for cultivation and can be processed to a soft linen-like texture. I left the booth informed and thinking to myself, as I have before, "Why is hemp illegal?" The reason behind the hemp ban in the United States is beyond me. By legalizing marijuana, a multitude of problems could be solved in the U.S. Medicinally, marijuana functions on many levels. Marijuana is a painkiller -- it could potentially aid in the relief of arthritis and migraine headaches. Glaucoma sufferers could benefit from medicinal marijuana as it might give them temporary relief from the eye disease. Upon consumption of marijuana, the body enters a state of induced hunger, usually referred to by pot smokers as "the munchies." A bad case of the munchies could produce the hunger necessary for a body to consume needed nutrients, which would help Chemotherapy patients being treated for cancer. Often, chemotherapy patients cannot hold down food as a result of the treatment. Research institutions like the Huntsman Cancer Institute should seriously consider looking into the medicinal uses of marijuana to aid the already established treatments for cancer. The Huntsman Institute, with so much prestige and respect, could pull a lot of weight in getting marijuana legalized for medicinal purposes. Doesn't it make sense to give those who are afflicted with diseases like cancer as much relief as possible if we have the means to do so? Or should we just keep riding the same horse in circles, dangling a carrot in front of its mouth? Obviously, pot can help people tormented by cancer, arthritis glaucoma and migraine headaches. Prescription drugs exist with higher potentials for user addiction than marijuana has. The worst side effects might result in lowered sperm counts in men after prolonged use, a case of the munchies, much needed relaxation and maybe a nap. When I feel ill, I do as much as I can to feel healthy again; it is my nature as a human being. If marijuana can help people feel healthy and gain nutrients, why not legalize it? In fact, marijuana is a good source of fatty acids and protein. Some label marijuana as a "gateway" drug. The term refers to drugs blamed for getting users to try other drugs. Some say it opens up the "gate" to more powerful, high-risk drugs such as mushrooms, heroin and cocaine. This fear, from a medicinal or prescription-based standpoint holds no weight. Marijuana induces different effects than more dangerous drugs. Cocaine and heroin may be good painkillers, but the likelihood of a person being able to conduct a day's work under their influence is nearly impossible. And that's not to mention the severe harm those drugs cause the human body. Besides, derivatives of cocaine and opium exist in certain prescription drugs, so it's not like prescription marijuana is going to drive patients into use of cocaine and opium in their illegal forms. If patients need stronger painkillers, they can just ask their doctors. What is the fear that drives marijuana into the red tape of illegality? It is practically a wonder plant with its many uses. The pros outweigh the cons. Many countries grow hemp for paper production, and hemp makes high-quality durable rope, not to mention yarn for chokers and other kinds of jewelry. Then there's the thought of the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes. It might even, dare I say it, take us a step further in ending the drug war. The drug war is about persecuting people who want to relax, try something new or make themselves feel better. Alcohol is used for all the same reasons, so why is it legal? Alcohol has adverse effects on the liver after prolonged use and has high potential for user addiction. Alcohol is poison, which is why one vomits upon overconsumption of booze. It is impossible to overdose on marijuana. If marijuana were legalized, I can only see positive results for our nation as a whole -- ailments would be relieved, there would be a new, safer component to the textile industry and fewer people would be prosecuted under trumped-up charges of possession and paraphernalia. I hope the Therapeutic Humane Cannabis, or THC, initiative in Utah gets some much-needed attention and achieves its goals. Web Posted: September 6, 2000(C) 2000 Daily Utah Chronicle via U-WIRE Copyright © 2000 At Home Corporation. Mentioned Web Site:Therapeutic Humane Cannabis http://www.aros.net/~hempower/medical/CannabisNews Hemp Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/hemp.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by Hempenator on January 18, 2002 at 19:32:19 PT: Hempower Has Moved Our New Address is www.hempower.netPlease visit this site to Hempower Yourself. Hempower Home Page [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by m.o.g. on September 07, 2000 at 17:21:10 PT excellent article... you're right kanabys, excellent article...we can win this war... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Kanabys on September 07, 2000 at 10:48:57 PT Once again... a very good article from a conservative state. I hope others around the country take the same initiative and print these informative articles. Make peace not WoSD....... 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