The Great Marijuana Divide

THE GREAT MAUIUUAINAI DIVIDE WHAT IS MARIJUANA? Marijuana is 5 bladed leafed plant that grows wild throughout many tropical parts of the world. The leaves and flowers of the plant are dried and generally smoked, vaporized or ingested to give the user a high. GENUS: HIPPOCAMPUS Cannabis Short-term Memory ACTIVE CHEMICAL: CEREBELLUM Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Coordination EFFECTS: BASAL GANGLIA Unconscious Muscle Movements When THC enters the human body it enters the blood stream and is carried throughout the body. The potent THC reaches the brain within seconds of being inhaled and within an hour when ingested. Once in the brain the THC begins to affect cannabinoid receptors in the brain. These receptors are normally activated by anandamide-a natural cannabinoid the body produces that the THC is artificially activates. The highest concentrations of receptors are in the cerebellum, hippocampus, and basal ganglia ,all of which are affected by the THC's presence. CONTROVERSY WHERE AMERICAN SUPPORT HAS BEEN OVER THE YEARS 84% 73% 78% 61% 52% 45% 32% 24% 17% 12% 1969 1980 1991 2002 2013 SUPPORTING LEGALIZATION SUPPORTING KEEPING IT ILLEGAL STATS- 42.1% In 2007 marijuana possession made up 42.1% of all drug arrests and 5.46% of total arrests. 51% AMERICANS WHO HAVE TRIED 48% MARIJUANA According to a 2010 Cato Institute Report, legalization of marijuana could result in $8.7 billion dollars in savings on 16% AMERICANS WHO BELIEVE T7% MARIJUANA HAS MEDICAL USES enforcement costs YES NO DON'T KNOW PROS CONS Tax Revenue: Portraying it as a harmless substance: Colorado has a projected $134 million in revenues. A 2013 survey showed that 60% of 12th graders believed that marijuana was not harmful. Crime: Availability: Since legalizing marijuana violent crime rates and property crime rates have decreased when compared to the first quarter of 2013. With legalizing marijuana new users will come to the market and drug related problems will grow. Job Creation: Gateway Drug: Legalization will create new jobs and help eradicate the black market. An increase in employment will also result in an increase in income tax revenue. Many believe marijuana will lead to more people trying hard drugs. SUBSTANCE COMPARISON RATINGS FROM 3 DIFFERENT DOCTORS ON THE ADDICTIVENESS OF SIX COMMON SUBSTANCES (1 BEING THE MOST ADDICTIVE AND 6 BEING THE LEAST) J. Henningfield, PhD N. Benowitz, MD D. Perrine, PhD Average Rating ALCOHOL 0000 000000 3 000000 2 2.33 CAFFEINE •00000 000000 5 COCAINE •00000 000000 2 000000 4 HEROIN 00000 000000 1 000000 1.67 MARIJUANA •00000 000000 6 000000 6 5.67 NICOTINE •.0000 000000 4 O0000 1 LEGAL VS ILLEGAL AT A GLANCE LEGAL (RECREATIONAL USE) MEDICAL USE ILLEGAL STANCE BY STATE (*WASHINGTON D.C. INCLUDED) LEGAL (recreational use) ILLEGAL (possession decriminalized) MEDICAL USE ILLEGAL YES Alabama Alaska NO Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana lowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming *Washington D.C. 2 23* 15 34* Total LEGAL MEDICAL USE ILLEGAL ILLEGAL *"Maryland has passed the decriminalization of marijuana and the bill will take effect on October 1, 2014. LEGALIZATION On January 1, 2014 Colorado became the first state in the U.S. to have retail stores sell marijuana for recreation use. The results after 6 months: A 10.1% decrease in overall crime has A 5.2% decrease in violent crime in been noted in Denver from 2013. Denver has been noted from 2013. $10.8 million in tax revenue was generated in the first 4 months of legal sales. Colorado has also noted that houses in the 2 deaths have been tied to the state appreciated 8.7% since legalization. recreational use since January. Washington joined Colorado in July of 2014 with its first retail shops opening. SOURCES FEDERALCHARGES.COM http://www.drugs.com/illicit/marijuana.html http://science.howstuffworks.com/marijuana3.htm http://www.people-press.org/2013/04/04/majority-now-supports-legalizing-marijuana/ http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/DrugProhibitionWP.pdf http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ella-jameson/is-legalizing-marijuana-a b 5506634.html http://healthland.time.com/2013/12/18/60-of-high-school-seniors-do-not-think-marijuana-is-harmful/ http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.additional-resource.php?resourcelD=002536 http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21606851-legalising-drug-harder-it-looks-great-pot-experiment http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2014/04/14/gov-omalley-to-sign-marijuana-decriminalization-bill/ http://www.drugpolicy.org/colorado-six-month-status-report http://www.cbsnews.com/news/two-denver-deaths-tied-to-recreational-marijuana-use/ http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/legal-pot/washington-states-first-legal-marijuana-shops-set-open-amid-chaos-n147626 Created by OBizMedia